Liberia honours Ugandan doctor over Ebola fight

By Vision Reporter

A Ugandan doctor has been voted among the best west African personalities for the year 2014.

Dr. Atai Annae Omoruto led a medical team that went to Liberia to offer expatriate services in July following the most deadly Ebola outbreak on record in the world that has so far claimed up to 8,004 people as of December 31 in six countries; Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, the US and Mali, according to WHO.

The team included thirteen medics namely; Dr. Atai Annae Omoruto, Dr. Kaggwa David, Madiraa Kefa, Akugizibwe Rosemary, Waiswa Florence, Komuhendo Judith, Kusemererwa Teddy, Mukandirwa Asiat, Awilo Sarah, Namutosi Catherine, Nakayiza Nakato- Annet, Candiga Richard and Tony Walter Onena.

According to Liberia's Daily Observer, Dr. Omoruto is among 11 personalities, top of which is President Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, that were on the frontline of the Ebola fight in Liberia which was worst hit by the epidemic last year.
 

These experts left their homes, their families and loved ones to come to Liberia’s aid. In the picture are (l-r) Senior nurses Tonny Onena and Florence Waiswa of Mulago referral Hospital and the team leader, Dr  Omoruto, attached to Jinja referral hospital. PHOTO/Wilfred Sanya  

In 2000 and 2001, over 425 people in Uganda were infected, four years later 149 people caught the virus.

Two further outbreaks were recorded in Uganda, but the total number of people infected with the virus was just over 30.

Following the recent outbreak in West Africa Uganda heeded a global call to intervene in the situation.

The team led by Dr. Omoruto came with vast experience in managing Ebola outbreaks, having faced many cases of the disease since 2000.

Speaking of her experience at a farewell function on December 13, 2014, Dr. Omoruto said on arrival in Liberia all she could see were dead bodies littered everywhere and patients and health workers alike had no clue on what to do.

Dead bodies outnumbered patients. “I came in July, what I saw was dead bodies everywhere; there were more dead bodies than patients, and nobody seemed to know what to do.”

Debt of gratitude to Uganda

At the farewell function, a lawmaker, Saah Joseph expressed shock that Dr. Omoruto and her team were returning to Uganda.

“I will really like for MOH to tell me why they are sending these Doctors back when we still have Ebola in Liberia, they can’t tell me there is no money, I won’t believe that,” he said.

An online publication, FPA, puts it that Liberia owes a debt of gratitude to the people of Uganda and those who came to Liberia during its darkest hour to help the country battle what is inarguably the biggest epidemic ever to hit here.

"These experts left their homes, their families and loved ones to come to Liberia’s aid. At least two Ugandans died while helping Liberia.

Dr. John Taban Dada died October at a treatment center on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia's capital while Dr. Samuel Muhumuza Mutooro, died in July," it reads.

It further reads: "We hope that those deaths would not be in vain and the expertise of Dr. Atai and her colleagues would be passed on to Liberian professionals.

Liberia and Liberian MUST never forget the contributions of those who came to our aid; the Ugandans in particular came with a mission of goodwill to aid fellow Africans and even dying in the process.

For this, we must honor and pay homage, they deserve the highest honor Liberia has, because they came to our aid and helped to save lives when we needed help the most.