Monrovia-Following the launch of the Ebola Natural History Study (ENHS) otherwise known as PREVAIL-3 a little over one year ago in June 2015 at the JFK Hospital in Monrovia, the Partnership for Research on the Ebola Virus Disease in Liberia (PREVAIL) few months ago added seven sub medical studies to the on-going five years ENHS.
According to PREVAIL, only Ebola survivors who earlier enrolled in the ENHS will be permitted to enroll in the sub studies which include semen collection/testing, eye testing, neurology (brain and nervous system), birth cohort and breath milk testing among others.
However, female Ebola survivors who are expected to enroll in the breast milk testing sub studies have been told to take precaution in catering to their young babies by doing their breast milk test before breast feeding their babies.
Speaking June 28, 2016 during a one day Community Engagement and awareness program held in Larjoy, Caldwell, PREVAIL Lead on Advocacy Mr. Joseph Boye Cooper noted that enrolling in the breast milk test sub study will place female Ebola survivors in the best position to know when to feed and when to stop feeding their young with breast milk.
Mr. Cooper explained that female Ebola survivors are encouraged to enroll in the birth cohort, virginal swipe and breast milk testing sub medical studies as this was necessary to find a lasting treatment/medical solution to their post Ebola health complications which include persistent headache, body pains, joints pains, weakness and unstoppable erection in male survivors, and miscarriage in female. He at the same time admonished male Ebola survivors to enroll in the other sub studies like semen collection/testing, eye testing and neurology (brain and nervous system).
For his part, Mr. Daniel Bumie who represented the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP) admonished stakeholders to encourage Ebola survivors in their localities to hurry and join the ENHS. Mr. Bumie whose boss Amb. Juli Endee heads PREVAIL lead pillar on Community Engagement said although the medical Study to know the cause of sicknesses troubling Ebola survivors is set for five years, however the enrolment period is only one year as the remaining four years are meant for follow-ups and monitoring health conditions of Ebola survivors and their close contacts enrolled in the study.
Also speaking at the program, PREVAIL’s Survivors Lead Mr. Patrick Farley told participants that included Local, Traditional, Religious, Community leaders as well as heads of youth and women groups to help PREVAIL sensitize Ebola survivors and their close contacts to join the sub studies saying it is meant to correct the medical complications they are being faced with.
Meanwhile, PREVAIL Social Mobilization and Communication team in collaboration with its Community Engagement and outreach partner, the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP) June 30, 2016 held a daylong advocacy meeting at the Monrovia City Hall with Ebola survivors local leadership, religion, local, traditional, community leaders and heads of women and youth groups sensitizing them about the ongoing enrolment in the ENHS, the seven other sub studies and the newly launched PREVAIL-4 sub study for male Ebola survivors over the age of 18.