Liberia: Former Indian Honorary Consul General Pays Medical Bills Of Minor Suffering From Eye Cancer; Recommences Feeding Program At Monrovia Central Prison

MONROVIA – From the age of six months old, Mother Alice Weah (not her real name) noticed that the left eye of her child looked different from the eyes of a normal baby of the same age.

The situation compelled her to worry and seek advice on medication from community dwellers and medical practitioners.

Most often, she was told by her family members, friends and others that “some children are born like that and they become alright with time.”

But as time passes, the condition of the six-month old baby worsened.

Mother Weah was so curious and concerned about finding solution to the condition of her child while growing up.

She was later informed by an unidentified friend about the eye clinic at the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital.

Located in Sinkor Monrovia, the JFK is the largest referral hospital owned and operated by the Government of Liberia.

Mother Weah later took her child for examination at the Liberia Eye Center, even though she never had money to foot the medical bills.

After thorough examination, doctors assigned at the health facility informed her that the child had cancer in his left eye and needed CT scan of the brain to check if it has spread over.

The children’s doctors at the JFK administered 6 cycles of chemotherapy which helped the tumor to shrink.

Following the move, an eye surgeon later removed the eye.

After 2 months, the doctors later fitted an artificial eye to match with the one that was removed.

The chemotherapy continues for another 6 months and thus 12 cycles of chemotherapy were completed.

Due to the less fortunate condition of Mother Weah, the expense for the advanced cancer treatment of her child was done at no charge to her family.

The bills were settled through the combined efforts of the Liberia Eye Center- L V Prasad Eye Institute, JFK Medical Center and the famous philanthropist, Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva.

Mr. Sachdeva is popularly known as “Jeety” in Liberia.

He is the Chief Executive Officer of the proposed Jeety Rubber Liberia Limited under construction in Weala, Margibi County and the Jeety Trading Corporation, a premier dealer in the sale of hardware materials in the country.

Mr. Sachdeva is generously supporting chemotherapy of children with eye cancers at the Liberia Eye Center.

At the end of the treatment of her child, Mother Weah said: “I don’t care if the doctors removed her eye, but am happy that now she does not have eye pain and her life is saved. Even though the eye is removed, the artificial eye is serving good purpose to match with the other eye. So overall, I am so happy for my daughter!’ Such complex treatments are now possible at the eye clinic of JFK Medical Center and patients don’t need to travel to other countries for treatment.”

The management of the JFK Medical Hospital expressed thanks and appreciation to the Indian business tycoon for his support towards the center.

Also on Sunday, January 30, Mr. Sachdeva recommenced his hot cooked meal feeding program to inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison.

He presented a bowl of sumptuous meal, cake, water and soft drink, among others to each of the over 1,300 inmates at the facility.

In a brief statement making the presentation, “Jeety” called on foreign business entrepreneurs to get involve into serving humanity in the Liberian society.

He observed that if every foreign entrepreneur residing and doing businesses across the length and breadth of the country “starts feeding about 10 people every day, I can guarantee that nobody will sleep hungry in this country.”

“It’s better to give than to receive. And I urge every fellow businessman out there that we should continue to serve humanity. Everybody has to take some initiatives for themselves and for the society. Don’t give to get; give to inspire others.”

Receiving the donation, the Deputy Superintendent of the Monrovia Central Prison Joel Justin Juah commended “Jeety” for the gesture.

He recounted the numerous gestures Mr. Sachdeva has made to the facility, including the provision of running water and generator, among others.

“Today is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. I want to take this time on behalf of the prison and the Assistant Minister for the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation Eddie Trawali, I want to say thank you Mr. Jeety for your continuous support towards our prison system, especially the Monrovia Central Prison. To feed more than a thousand of inmates is not a small thing. May the almighty replenish whatever you have done for this facility.”

Mr. Juah observed that the gesture buttresses government’s efforts towards improving prison systems across the country.