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Konteh Dying Slowly Makes SOS Appeal, By J. Gboko Stewart January 27, 2008  Prince
H. Konteh, a 35-year-old resident of central Monrovia is dying
slowly and is in need of an urgent medical attention.According to Konteh, who recently walked into the offices of the Daily Observer in tears, explained that he had a mass on his liver and needed surgery. Ten months ago, he told the Observer, my stomach started paining for about five to 10 minutes. When I got to the hospital, the doctor always prescribed antibiotics and sleeping pills. According to Konteh, he decided to do a full medical checkup concerning his problem. I went to the SOS Clinic where the doctor told me I have a mass on my liver that needed urgent surgery. Not being satisfied with the doctor's result, I went to several hospitals and took about 27 lab tests which proved that there is a mass on my liver and cannot be extracted in Liberia, except in South Africa or Ghana because of the lack of stable electricity and poor laboratory facilities, he added. A copy of the medical report signed by Dr. Mahamed El-Sayed Mahmoud, Consultant Internal Medicine & Cardiology, St. Joseph's Catholic Hospital, which is in possession of this paper, stated: Mr. Konteh went to OPD on December 30, 2008 complaining of progressive abdominal enlargement - which causes heaviness after food. On examination, he has a protuberant abdomen disproportionate to body configuration. Bp 100/80, chest clear: C.V.S. S1+ S2+o, P/A Mass in R. Upper quadrant down to umbilicus in midlime, it is hard and nodular. Ultrasound showed an enlarged liver with multiple hyper-echoec masses 3x3cm each. Chemically liver functions tests were not deranged. The report concluded by saying that Konteh needed further investigation like C.T. Scan of abdomen and pelvis, Liver biopsy [C.T. guided], Alfa-Fetoproteins and to look for secondary and possible primary lesion in pelvis. According to Konteh, after the examinations, he made a contact through some friends and family in Ghana to do an estimate of the cost of the surgery at Ghanaian hospitals and was surprised that the amount came to US$5,660 for the treatment. I do not have such an amount for treatment and there's no way I can get such an amount, he told this paper. Konteh is appealing to well-meaning citizens, especially the President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro-tempore and United Nations Organizations (UNOs) to come to his rescue. Konteh is a Bata trained cobbler technologist for eight years with specialty in suitcase manufacturing and foot wear designing. He worked with one of UNICEF's outing programs for four years producing orthopedic shoes for disabled kids, but that came to an abrupt end due to the April 6 fracas. He also helped in the DDR program in training former combatants in tailoring, shoe-making and later worked as a civil servant, serving the township of Congo Town, sanitation health worker, sanitation supervisor, technical inspector and lastly township inspector general. Anyone wishing to contribute to Konteh's treatment can do so by calling (+231) 77 790-070. |
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