Monrovia– Popular Liberian comedian Paul Flomo has shared a harrowing account of his experience at a quarantine center where he was treated for the Monkeypox virus.
By Jaheim T. [email protected]
He described the facility as a “place of pain, silence, and death,” and accused the Ministry of Health of failing to raise public awareness about a disease he believes is spreading faster than many realize.
Flomo recounted his horrifying ten-day ordeal, referring to the “hellish scenes” he witnessed inside the main facility for Monkeypox patients.
His emotional testimony, captured in a viral video posted on social media, provides a rare insight into the grim reality of Liberia’s underreported Monkeypox outbreak.
Flomo was taken to the center after a test at Duport Road Hospital confirmed he had contracted the virus.
“When I first encountered this, I went to the pharmacy, and they said I had malaria and a chronic infection because I started experiencing bumps around my private area,” he recalled. “Later, some people suggested it was chickenpox. I began using castor oil and drinking kin juice. But my greatest surprise was still to come.”
After receiving his positive test results, an ambulance rushed him to the quarantine center, where he witnessed scenes he claims will haunt him for life.
“When I arrived, my spirit left me from what I saw,” he recounted. “I saw young men, girls, and even children under 16, including some as young as 12 or 14, along with pregnant women. When you see their condition, it’s heartbreaking. People were crying and yelling at night, some even begging for death.”
Flomo described the center as a site of pain and despair, where many patients suffer in silence and some die without their families ever knowing.
“In my first week, we lost three people,” he said. “There was a young girl whose private area was leaking blood. Before her sister could see her, she died. I’ve seen people literally scream for death in my presence. I’m sharing this for the safety of every Liberian. Don’t dismiss me as just a comedian—believe me.”
He further described disturbing scenes of patients with severe skin lesions, swollen body parts, and open sores.
“Some people’s private parts are damaged,” he narrated painfully. “When I say damaged, I mean completely gone. You will hear people crying all night, calling for help. Some men urinate in their own skin, and their flesh turns red like raw meat. It’s something you don’t want to see.”
Despite the dire conditions, Flomo revealed that the medical staff at the facility were doing their best under pressure.
“The nurses and doctors are trying. They are professional and caring. They bring medicine three times a day, and they make sure we eat,” he said. “But they need help. They need support from the Ministry of Health. The government must take this thing seriously.”
Flomo also criticized the Ministry of Health for its lack of a robust public awareness campaign regarding Monkeypox, warning that it could “kill more people than Ebola” if not addressed effectively.
“There is no awareness about Monkeypox,” he lamented. “We need radio publicity, TV drama, jingles, and bloggers to carry the message. People are walking around sick, and doctors are touching them without knowing. We need action, not silence.”
Flomo has become the second Liberian comedian to contract the virus, following Comedian Jabateh the Kruman, who reportedly became infected while traveling from Lofa County through neighboring Sierra Leone earlier this year.
“When Jabateh first came out saying he had the virus, people thought it was a joke,” Flomo said. “But I’m telling you, you weren’t in that center. What I saw there is no joke. It’s real, it’s dangerous, and it’s deadly.”
While commending the efforts of frontline health workers, Flomo accused the Ministry of Health of failing to report deaths and critical cases to the public.
“My question is, those that are dead, are they reporting it to the media to create awareness?” he asked. “Those in critical condition—are they showing them? No. People are dying in silence, and their stories never reach the media.”
The Ministry of Health has not yet responded to Flomo’s allegations. However, in a separate Seasonal Flu Alert issued this week, the MOH confirmed a nationwide increase in influenza cases, urging citizens to take preventive measures and seek medical attention for flu-like symptoms.
In the statement signed by Dr. Catherine Thomas-Cooper, the MOH reported that Montserrado County has the highest number of infections.
The Ministry emphasized the growing health risks facing the country and the need for preventive measures across all communities. The advisory identified elderly persons, pregnant women, children, students, and individuals with chronic illnesses (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease) as high-risk groups.
The Ministry advises citizens to seek medical attention if they develop flu-like symptoms and to wear a mask when around others.
Flomo, however, believes the silence around Monkeypox represents a larger failure in Liberia’s public health communication system.
“You can’t wait for everybody to die before you take this thing seriously,” he warned. “The Monkeypox virus doesn’t know if it’s rich or poor—it can kill anybody. Liberia must speak up now.”
He said he Is grateful to be alive but fears that others may not be as lucky.
“The Monkeypox virus is real. It’s dangerous, it’s deadly, and it’s spreading quietly,” he concluded. “The Ministry of Health must break the silence now.”
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