Via the Daily Observer, an editorial: Adieu, Dr. Brisbane and Other Ebola Victims. Excerpt:
The Liberian nation was deeply saddened when, amidst the subdued celebration of our 167th Independence Anniversary, we learned in the early afternoon of July 26 that one of our most senior and most distinguished medical practitioners had fallen victim to Ebola.
Dr. Samuel Brisbane spent a considerable portion of his career at the Firestone Medical Center where, from 1992 to 2003, he served as medical director. He later transferred to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), where he rendered services based on his nearly a half century of experience as a general practitioner. He had already begun his medical practice at the JFK when he returned from medical studies in Germany at the turn of the 1970s.
In his long career Dr. Brisbane trained hundreds Liberian medical students as well as many from foreign lands, who have gone on themselves to become medical practitioners.
In his passing, Liberia has lost an outstanding medical doctor, who was in good health, ready and able to continue for many more years to come serving his country in the vital field of medicine. His unswerving commitment was doggedly maintained when so many of the younger doctors he impacted have since the 1980 coup d’etat and the outbreak of the civil war sought greener pastures abroad. Dr. Brisbane remained on the ground throughout the war making, at great sacrifices to fulfill his invaluable services to his people.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led the nation and people last Saturday in paying tribute to all our health and medical personnel who have paid the supreme sacrifice in service to their compatriots since the outbreak of Ebola.
And these include the widow and family of Dr. Sam M. Muhumuza, the Ugandan doctor who also lost his life last week treating Ebola patients in Caldwell, Monterrado County. We think it was appropriate for President Sirleaf to honor his widow, Mrs. Muhumuza, during the Independence Day ceremonies last Saturday.