GBARNGA, August 3 (LINA) - Bong County Health Officer (CHO), Dr. Samson K. Arzoquoi, has dispelled rumors that the Phebe and C.B. Dunbar hospitals have closed down.

According to Dr. Arzoquoi, both hospitals remain functional but at a low scale due to the absence of nurses and other support staff at these health facilities.

He told citizens during the weekend that nurses at the hospitals pulled out when they witnessed the deaths of their colleagues who contracted the Ebola virus due to the lack of protective gear.

He said the nurses are insisting that the situation be addressed before they can return to work.

He said as a result of the nurses' demand for training, compensation and protective gear, health authorities forged a partnership with the Christian Health Association of Liberia that has provided training for health workers on their protection and that of others.

Dr. Arzoquoi added that in line with demand of the health workers, health officials are considering the issue of compensation since the staff will be working under difficult circumstances.

“Due to the pullout of health workers, we have not been able to send specimen to Monrovia for testing but this does not mean that people are not dying of the (Ebola) virus,” he stressed.

He said he has reason to believe that many of deaths in the county are a result of the disease due to contacts they may have had with those who died of the virus.

According to hospital records, six persons have died of the virus in Bong County, while scores of them remain off record due to the lack of testing.

“I am calling on our people to take this virus seriously,” Dr. Arzoquoi warned.

By Ballah Kollie, LINA Bong County Correspondent

LINA BK/TSS/PTK