U.S. Public Health Service Monrovia Medical Unit

In my first week in Liberia, not only did I tour the laboratories in the Monrovia area, but I also had the privilege of touring the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Monrovia Medical Unit (MMU) before it opened.  This MMU was specifically built for treating healthcare workers and U.S. government employees in Liberia for the ebola outbreak.  We were very fortunate that our tour guide was Rear Admiral Giberson, the Acting Deputy Surgeon General of the United States.

The orange fencing separates green "cold" from red "hot" zones

Air conditioning is not standard for ebola treatment tents

Far right building is the exit for patients that are released

Dilute bleach is piped in to the treatment center for disinfection

Inside the administration/supply side of the MMU they were hard at work preparing for the opening of the facility the following weekend.

RADM Giberson

Pharmacy

Next we moved on to the tents with the treatment wards and laboratory.

Staff practicing donning protective gear

RADM Giberson demonstrating the
green versus red zones

From there went went to the red zone which includes the laboratory and treatment wards.  The red zone transitions from "warm" to "hot" based on whether or not the patient is a confirmed ebola case.  Many treatment facilities also separate patients based on whether they are dry or wet (vomiting and diarrhea) cases.

Laboratory for CBC and chemistry tests

 Confirmed patient ward

Outside of the red zone treatment area is where patients can see their loved ones in a structure on the other side of the fence.

Patients would see their loved ones in the structure on the other side of the fence

There were multiple toilets that were divided between the warm (suspect) and hot (confirmed) cases.

The MMU opened after we toured it and soon after that they got their first patient, a Liberian health care workers.   More soon followed.  Only two weeks later they released their first two survivors!  In the article there is a photo of one of the healthcare worker's putting their handprint on the survivor's wall.  This is something that is done at most of the ebola treatment units.

If you are interested in learning more about the set up of ebola treatment units, there is some really great information on MSF's website here.