The Director of Nursing Services at John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Joana D. Joekai, has addressed public concerns by clarifying that recent training sessions for nurses were purely precautionary and not connected to any confirmed Ebola case in Liberia.
In a statement released on Monday, Joekai explained that the sessions were part of her professional duty in supervising the ES Grant Memorial and Maternity Hospitals within the JFK Medical Center system. She emphasized that the initiative was designed to enhance preparedness rather than respond to an active outbreak.
According to her, the goal of the training was to improve nurses’ readiness and ensure a safe environment for both patients and healthcare workers in case of any highly infectious disease, including Ebola Virus Disease.
Joekai pointed out that Liberia’s past experience with Ebola, along with a recent alert from the Ministry of Health about cases reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, made it essential for medical staff to stay alert and well-informed.
She explained that the sessions covered key areas such as patient triage protocols, infection prevention practices, and the correct use of personal protective equipment, including impermeable gowns, double gloves, and face shields.
Joekai firmly stated that neither she nor her team ever indicated that Liberia currently has any confirmed Ebola cases. She stressed that only the Ministry of Health has the authority to officially declare such cases and reiterated that the hospital’s actions were strictly preventive, aimed at strengthening preparedness in light of regional health risks.
She also reaffirmed the JFK Medical Center’s commitment to maintaining high standards in patient care, safety, and public health readiness.
This clarification comes after comments made in a recent FrontPage Africa interview, where Paula Bedell—who had raised a false alarm about suspected Ebola cases—claimed that the information originated from an internal meeting at JFK.
