JFK Nursing Director Clarifies Ebola Preparedness Training Amid Public Concerns
May 25, 2026
Monrovia: The Director of Nursing Services at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Mrs. Joana D. Joekai, has issued a statement clarifing that the recent educational sessions conducted for nurses at the hospital were strictly precautionary and not linked to any confirmed Ebola case in Liberia.
In the statement issued on Monday, Mrs. Joekai explained that the awareness and preparedness initiative was carried out as part of her professional and ethical responsibility overseeing the ES Grant Memorial and Maternity Hospitals under the JFK Medical Center.
According to her, the training was aimed at strengthening the readiness of nurses and ensuring a safe working environment for both healthcare workers and patients in the event of any highly infectious disease outbreak, including Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
Mrs. Joekai noted that Liberia’s painful past experience with Ebola, coupled with a recent alert from the Ministry of Health regarding reported Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, made it necessary for healthcare workers to remain informed and vigilant.
She said the training focused on patient triaging procedures, infection prevention measures, and the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including impermeable gowns, double gloves, and face shields.
“It is important to clearly state that at no point during these educational engagements did I, or any member of my team, disclose or suggest that Liberia has any confirmed Ebola case,” Mrs. Joekai emphasized.
She stressed that only the Ministry of Health has the authority to declare confirmed Ebola cases in the country, adding that the hospital’s actions were purely precautionary and intended to improve preparedness in response to regional public health developments.
Mrs. Joekai reaffirmed the JFK Medical Center’s commitment to maintaining high standards of patient care, safety, professionalism, and public health preparedness.
The clarification follows a recent Frontpage Africa interview in which Madam Paula Bedell, who recently raised false alarm about suspected Ebola cases in Liberia, claimed that the in information was revealed during an in-service meeting at the JFK.
