At the last count about 3000 Liberians have regrettably kicked the bucket as a result of the Ebola viral disease in the past seven months.
One would have thought any move to thwart the rampaging disease whole receive the wholehearted support of the other Liberians as yet untouched by Ebola.
Not so this current breed of Liberians. Despite President Barack Obama’s public declaration of the mission of the 3000 military personnel he has ordered in Liberia to help stem the tide of the biggest outbreak of Ebola, Liberians still suspect the American troops of ulterior motives.
The streets of Monrovia are awash suspicion and fear Obama has sent the men to Liberia to overthrow the government of President Johnson Sirleaf and not to help in building treatment units and a 25-bed field hospital for healthcare workers and to secure the Roberts International Airport, where supplies and personnel would land.
They will also set up testing labs and build 17 treatment centers in Montserrado and other counties in Liberia.
So massive were the speculation and rumour mongering that the US Ambassador to Liberia Deborah R. Malac has had to take time off to dispelled the perception that the 3000-strong United States military contingent deployed by President Obama has no interest in interfering with the Liberian political system, but to help fight the Ebola epidemic.
At a press conference at the U.S. Embassy, Ambassador Malac was emphatic that other than helping to fight Ebola in line with President Obama’s instruction, the U.S. troops and their Government have no clandestine motive for coming to Liberia.
Ambassador Malac said she had heard repeatedly from community dwellers that the 3,000 U.S troops coming to Liberia and other Ebola affected countries is not only meant to fight Ebola, but to change the Government of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
“Let me say this. The U.S. troops are not here to change government as being speculated all around here. I have heard from community dwellers that the U.S. troops are here to change the government. This is not true; the troops are here to help fight Ebola and nothing else, period,” Ambassador Malac stressed.
In the wake of the worsening Ebola crisis, President Barack Obama announced sending 3,000 U.S. military personnel to Liberia to help the fight. The personnel comprise engineers and medical practitioners, who will help to construct treatment units and provide other assistance to the health sector.
However, the announcement and subsequent arrival of the U.S. troop have been met with public misconception that there is a hidden agenda that the U.S. Government would want to achieve as its troop arrive Liberia in the name of fighting Ebola.
The public was especially prompted to speculate when a suspended local daily, The National Chronicles newspaper, earlier published a number of stories indicating that an interim leadership was underway to replace the administration of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The press briefing was attended by Bill Berger, USAID Ebola Disaster Assistance Response Team Leader, Dr. Brendan Flannery, U.S. Centers for Disease Control team leader in Liberia, and Major-General Darryl Williams, Operation Assistance Joint Forces Commander.
Gen. Williams reiterated that he and his men have only one aim in being in Liberia – to help with the fight against the epidemic by providing technical assistance to government and people of Liberia.
Gen. Williams also said they were bringing in helicopters to help transport materials to places where treatment centers would be sited.
At the time of the press conference only 175 American personnel had arrived while the remainder were expected.