Monrovia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Tuesday made a brief stopover at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Sinkor, Monrovia, to assess the conditions of Steven Patricks, age 5, who was diagnosed of “Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome”, identified in the 19th century and Hawa Brown, age – 20 of Hayes Mission in Bomi County reportedly diagnosed of sickle cell.
According to an Executive Mansion release, little Steven Patricks and Hawa Brown were admitted at the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital upon the request of President Sirleaf for medical treatment – who doctors say are responding to treatment.
President Sirleaf said she was emotionally touched after reading the May 2, 2016 Edition of the Inquirer Newspaper in which she read about little Steven’s condition, that drew her immediate interest to help bring improvement to the condition of the ailing child. She particularly thanked Dr. Wannie-Mae Scott-McDonald and the nurses of J.F.K. for the care given the 5-year old boy since his arrival at JFK.
Speaking during the assessment stopover, the Liberian leader said at one of her many visits at Hayes Mission in Bomi County, Western Liberia, she came in contact with 20-year old Hawa Brown who was stripped to a wheelchair and very sickly looking at which time she took interest in finding out her plight.
President Sirleaf said following the explanation from Hawa’s mother who narrated what was happening to her daughter, she recommended her without delay immediate treatment at the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital medically respond to her condition.
During a brief interaction – President Sirleaf asked Hawa Brown’s mother and medical doctors as well as nurses on call about the state of health of the child?
The Liberian Chief Executive then thanked doctors and nurses at the John F Kennedy Medical Center for saving lives, like it has been doing before. Addressing the media following the stopover, the Liberian leader commended the Fourth Estate Media, particularly so the Inquirer Newspaper for highlighting the plight of little Steven Patricks. She said although she could not do it by herself, but noted that it is part of her responsibility to save lives in the country.
She challenged other privileged in society to come forward and help those in need similarly. She said she is always such interventions for people who do not have parents or people who do not have the means to doing these things for themselves. Meanwhile, both little Steven and Hawa have expressed thanks and appreciation to President Sirleaf for coming to their aid at such critical juncture.
Also speaking was the Chief Administrator of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Dr. Wannie-Mae Scott-McDonald. She said the two patients have been making remarkable progress and are recuperating from such hereditary diseases they have been suffering from and thanked President Sirleaf for the visit.