MONROVIA – A Sergeant of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), who sustained severe burns after he was electrocuted while on duty, is calling on the Commander-In-Chief of the AFL, President George Manneh Weah, to ensure that the Government of Liberia (GOL) provides him advance medical treatment abroad.
Report by Obediah Johnson, [email protected]
It can be recalled that on October 19, 2020, Sgt. George Kaifa, experienced severe burns on his chest, legs, and arms when a gun he was carrying mistakenly grabbed a tension wire.
He was attempting to pick up his food while on duty at the Barclay Training Center (BTC) Barracks in Monrovia.
As a result of the severity of the burns sustained from the electric shock, Sgt. Kaifa was rushed to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor, where he stayed for a little over four months seeking medical treatment.
The aftermath
The right thumb and breast of Sgt. Kaifa were cut off after multiple surgeries were done by doctors assigned at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center.
His both hands remain useless, while the scars on his body are uncountable.
Sgt. Kaifa does not easily appear in public as a result of his current condition.
“My hands are not working; even to use the bathroom, I have to call my children to help me. I feel very, very much bad”
Excruciating pains
Sgt. Kaifa continues to experience internal pains since the unfortunate incident occasion on that fateful day.
He wore a bandage on a sore that has not been totally healed since he was discharged from the JFK.
“I continue to fell pains from my foot to my chest. When I am even sleeping-as soon as I turn-I can feel sharp pain in my chest, the doctor from Coast Guard Base can come to dress my sore. But it’s paining me heavily. My chest can haul when I lay down on my back”.
Neglect?
Sgt. Kaifa admitted that authorities of the Ministry of National Defense, particularly the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) previously played a pivotal role towards his recovery process while he was admitted at the government-owned hospital.
He, however, disclosed that since he was discharged from the hospital several months ago, nothing has been done by authorities of the AFL or the Government of Liberia to foot his extra medical bills at home, or give him something additional apart from his salary.
Sgt. Kaifa claimed that the situation has compelled him to use his meager resources to purchase “pain tablets” on a daily basis to be able to sleep properly during the night hours.
“Since I left the JFK and came at my sister place at New Kru Town, no one has been taking care of me even though the Chief of Staff told people to come and treat me. I went at the Benson Hospital and the doctor worked on my hand to be able to grip something; but since then, I have not seen anything since he removed the cast-the hand still the same”.
“My colleagues from the army can come and visit me. But pertaining to medical treatment, a team from Coast Guard Base can come to dress the sore on my left foot”.
Sgt. Kaifa continued: “The pains can be too much at night. If I don’t buy pills, I will not sleep at all and I will be crying whole night on my family. For now, I (myself) can buy my tablets with my small (lil) money”.
Consolation purse
The victim recalled that following his discharge from the hospital, a cheque was presented to him by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFL, Geraldine George as a purse of solidarity.
Since then, Sgt. Kaifa disclosed, that nothing has been made available to foot his extra medical bills at home or to adequately cater for him and his family members.
“When I left the hospital, my commander took me at the BTU Barracks. I met the Chief of Staff and we spoke. I met the Deputy COS and we spoke; she gave me L$10,000 cheque and said it was from her own pocket and I should go and manage it and sit down home”.
Wait
Few weeks after he was discharged from the JFK, Sgt. Kaifa, sought additional medical care at the Benson Hospital in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.
The second medical care was intended to help ensure that the right hand of the victim was properly strengthened and usable.
But despite the efforts applied, the condition remains the same.
This, Sgt. Kaifa disclosed, prompted his call on authorities of the AFL to act swiftly in finding solutions to his current condition.
“My family and I went at the Chief of Staff Office and he told us that he’s waiting for the doctor’s report. When the doctor’s report comes, he will see what to do. The report has been given by the doctor at the Benson Hospital, but up to now, I have not heard anything from anybody yet”.
Plea to C-I-C
“I want to really beg the Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia, President George Weah. I need serious attention to seek medical treatment outside of the country. I feel very bad whenever I see myself”.
Motivation
Meanwhile, Sgt. Kaifa has commended his family members and friends who continue to stand by his during his difficult times.
According to him, the constant visitations, calls and others from friends and relatives continue to motivate him to keep the courage and have hope.
“Since the incident, my family members have always been with me; they are always giving me motivation even though sometimes my fiancée can complain of doing everything for me now. But my family members can come and talk to her; she can come to herself”.
AFL response
When contacted via telephone, the Chief of Staff of the AFL, General Prince Johnson, referred this writer to the Commanding Officer of the AFL Health Services, Joseph Kowo.
Speaking in an interview with FrontPage Africa via telephone, Officer Kowo pointed out that the ailing AFL soldier has not been forgotten or neglected.
He recalled that on January 31, 2020, Sgt. Kaifa received the amounts of US$ 287 and US$100 respectively when he was admitted at the JFK and shortly after his fiancée gave birth.
He prompted that though an insurance company, Medicare Insurance paid for most of the medical cost of Sgt. Kaifa at the JFK, the leadership of the AFL also shouldered an additional cost of L$74,885, and US$95.
“Kaifa George will never be abandoned or forgotten. After he was discharged from the hospital, the AFL gave him L$29,400; he received the money while at home. We attached two nurses to him to dress his wound”.
Commanding Officer Powo pointed out that though the AFL does not encourage the provision of medical care to its soldiers who got injured in an accident at their homes, Sgt. Kaifa was given preference because he refused to be treated in the barracks on ground that he wants to be with his family members.
He further disclosed that Sgt. Kaifa was provided US$150 on March 25, 2020 to purchase additional dressing materials for his wound.
“I visited him at his house along with his Commander; and we saw that his fingers were deformed. We visited him to see what extra we needed to do”.
Commanding Officer Powo further admitted that advance medical treatment was proposed for the ailing soldier by doctors at the JFK, but the delay was caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“A plastic surgeon was supposed to come to Liberia in April, but the Coronavirus broke out. And so, we had a home-based care arrangement with a Physiotherapist (bone doctor) and paid him US$500 to treat George Kaifa in May 2020”.
“Not satisfy with the work of the Physiotherapist-on June 16, 2020- we took him to Benson Hospital and made special arrangement. We paid US$686 cash to a bone surgeon to treat him”.
He disclosed that following the conduct of an assessment, intervention, x-ray, among others, a recommendation was made by the doctor at Benson Hospital for Sgt. Kaifa to seek advance Reconstructive (Plastic) Surgery abroad.
“We just got the final recommendation two days ago; and the doctor reported that the surgery cannot be found in Liberia”.
Why the delay
Commanding Officer Powo further attributed the delay in working out modalities for the ailing AFL soldier to seek advance medical treatment abroad to his ambition to travel only to the United States, instead of other countries.
“He (Kaifa) wants to go to the United States. He has a brother there who is willing to sponsor him to go to the United States; but he cannot sponsor the medical bills. Reconstructive (plastic) surgery is very expensive in the U.S. Most of the time, we sent our soldiers in Ghana, India and Senegal”.
“The accident has happened and the damaged has been done. The doctors have told him that there is no way his hands can be normal”.
Commanding Officer Powo, however, disclosed that authorities of the AFL will decide on whether or not Sgt. Kaifa would be sent abroad for advance medical treatment following the review of the doctor’s medical report.
He added that the report, and photographs of Sgt. Kaifa’s hands and other body parts, will also be sent to reconstructive (plastic) surgeons in several countries to establish whether or not they are capable of performing the surgeries.
He, however, urged family members and others to remain calm and desist from exacerbating the situation.