- Written by Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
- Published: 10 September 2014
Monrovia - Mr.
Oscar Kollie, a ranking officer of the Liberia National Police, turned
himself in Tuesday to the Health Ministry to be tested for Ebola after
experiencing symptoms of the deadly Ebola Virus.
According to some employees of the Health Ministry, who were on the scene, Kollie had gone to the Ebola isolation center at the ELWA hospital, but was told he could not be accepted because of limited capacity. This led him to go to the Health Ministry instead.
“Kollie said for the past two weeks he had experienced unbearable fever, but did not say whether or not other symptoms like Diarrhea and the headache had also been experienced by him,” an eyewitness said. Some of the bystanders who claimed to know Kollie, said his wife died mysteriously two weeks ago, but it was not known if she died of the Ebola virus.
Mr. Kollie who drove himself into the compound of the Health Ministry, spent almost four hours in the compound before he could receive an attention from the health workers. His vehicle was sprayed and the areas - the bathrooms he frequently visited was also disinfected.
A few hours later an ambulance from the Health Ministry came and staff on it questioned him and he was asked to get into the vehicle and he was taken away after. Many on the scene described the police officer as a hero, but what many were still finding difficult to comprehend is the length of time he spent at the health facility before receiving attention.
Recently FrontPageAfrica reported that the 18 Police officers had been quarantined in Bloc C at the Police Barracks in Monrovia. According to sources, one Police officer serving the Police Support Unit (PSU) contracted the virus and is currently undergoing treatment at the ELWA Ebola center. One senior Police source confirmed to FrontPageAfrica that the officer is in critical condition at the Ebola treatment center. The Police officer is said to have contracted the virus from his wife who is a nurse, who transferred the virus to her husband after also getting infested from work.
The health of the PSU officer prompted the quarantining of Bloc C of the Police barracks where accordingly the 18 Police officers are residing. Located at the intersection of Camp Johnson Road and Capitol By-pass the Police Barracks is home to several Police officers and their dependents.
According to one member of the Ebola Task Force, several items have been supplied the quarantined Police officers including chlorine, biscuits and other materials. Police officers are used in protecting clinics and other medical facilities also accompanying various medical teams, including burial, collection of sick patients and others. http://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/2961-ebola-surrender-showing-symptoms-police-officer-seeks-treatment
The officers are usually not seen wearing protective gears including gloves and other PPEs while providing protection in medical facilities and carrying out other duties closely related to Ebola. Police officers are also used to implement quarantine in several communities as they were recently deployed to ensure the quarantine of the West Point community and some are now in Dolo's Town, Margibi County performing similar duty.
