Healthcare personnel in Liberia, and possibly in Guinea and Sierra Leone, are heaving sighs of relief that their days on earth will no longer end prematurely because they are treating Ebola patients.
The relief and broad smiles are sequel to the release last Monday of two Liberian healthcare workers, who contracted the deadly Ebola viral disease in the line, from the Monrovia Medical of Unit.
The MMU is a 25-bed field hospital constructed by the U.S. Department of Defence. Its mission is to care for health care workers who become infected with Ebola.
Stanley Sayonkon, a 42-year-old nurse, and Mark Tate, a 43-year-old clinic records specialist, were admitted to the MMU early November and were successfully treated for Ebola.
The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps announced that two patients, both Liberian healthcare workers, were released Monday, November 24, from the MMU. “Both patients have recovered from Ebola and are virus-free”, the announcement added
Both Mr. Sayonkon and Mr. Tate have returned home to their families. Before they left the facility, both men left their “mark of survival,” a yellow handprint, on the MMU’s Ebola survival wall. The colors of the wall, maritime blue and quarantine yellow, are the official colors of the USPHS and symbolic of the long history of the USPHS’ fight against infectious pathogens.
Both men expressed gratitude to the staff at the MMU for providing care, and helping them recover from Ebola.
“We couldn’t be more honoured to have Mr. Sayonkon and Mr. Tate walk out of the clinic cured of Ebola,” Rear Admiral Scott Giberson, Acting U.S. Deputy Surgeon General, said. “They are health care heroes. I also want to thank all our officers for their superb service in providing care to Mr. Sayonkon and Mr. Tate, and to future health care workers, who may seek care at the MMU.”
Health care workers, such as doctors and nurses, are at a higher risk of infection, because they are in close, sustained contact with Ebola patients who are symptomatic and infectious.
Since opening its doors at the beginning of November, the MMU has received and provided care for 4 patients, all Liberian health care workers.
The USPHS announcement is not only good news for the two patients, but a positive sign for other brave health care workers on the front lines, that there are resources for them if they become ill with Ebola.
The MMU is staffed by a specialized team of officers from the USPHS Commissioned Corps. The Liberian mission is led by Rear Admiral Giberson.
The Commissioned Corps, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a deployable uniformed service of the United States, with more than 6,800 full-time, highly qualified public health professionals, serving the most underserved and vulnerable populations both domestically and abroad.