Liberia: Special SOS Call for Medical Assistance

The father of a 4-year-old boy is calling on Liberians and other international organizations to assist his son to seek further medical treatment outside of Liberia.

Armah Konneh, in his SOS call on Friday, December 17, narrated that his son, Success Konneh "had a little eye problem where I was advised by my fiancée to take him to an eye doctor for medical advice.”

According to him, upon his fiancée's advice, little Success was taken to a medical doctor in Ganta, identified as Beh Maweah Gehi, who according to Armah claimed to be an Ophthalmic at a medical facility in Ganta.

“When we took the boy to the facility, he said the boy's eye is good and he could do the surgery work” Mr. Konneh explained.

According to a Press release from the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) dated October 28, 2021, preliminary investigation has shown that Dr. Gehi is a graduate of the United Methodist University's Winifred J. Harley College of Nursing and licensed by the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery with License #: 2142 and, according to the report, Doctor Gehi was certified as a surgical Ophthalmic Nurse by the Gambia Nurse & Midwives Council.

Konneh, in a frustrated mood, further asserted that he was charged Five hundred United States Dollars (US$500.00) by Doctor Beh Maweah Gehi and he lobbied with a few family members as well as using his entire business money to ensure that his son's health condition was resolved.

According to him, his son's eyes were operated on twice in August 2021 by Gehi whereas his eyes were closed for nearly two weeks, but when he contacted the doctor he instructed them to continuously use eye drops, a situation that has led to his son losing his eyesight.

"I visited New EyeSight'' and another Doctor identified as Robert Dole referred me to JFK Medical Center to an Indian doctor. Upon my visit at JFK, the medical doctor there again told me that my son's situation can’t be handled here in Liberia except in India.

“My son was diagnosed with “Revitreous Cavity along with Cornea Opacity and I was advised that my son should undergo lens aspiration + cornea transplant,’’ he narrated.

Meanwhile, Armah said he has come across a medical facility in India, identified as Centre for Sight, that is willing to do surgical work on little Success Konneh with a cost of US$2,500.00 excluding air ticket which, according to him cost a little over US$4,000 for a two-person round-trip.

For his part, Dr. Gehi said in a phone interview with this reporter that he reserves all comments due to the Liberian Medical Dental Council's intervention into the matter.

Konneh is however calling on the government of Liberia, through President George Manneh Weah, Philanthropists, and other humanitarian organizations in and across Liberia to swiftly intervene to avoid his son losing his eyesight.

Parents of little Success Konneh can be reached via +231775200461 / +231886211260 /+231777454560