-Woman Seeks Help After Alleged Surgical Complications at C.B. Dunbar Hospital
GBARNGA, Bong County — A 45-year-old woman is appealing for urgent medical assistance after alleging that complications from a surgical procedure at the C.B. Dunbar Hospital have left her in critical condition.
Mercy Kerkulah, a resident of Zeanzue Town in District #6, narrated from her sickbed that her health has deteriorated significantly following a surgery she underwent at the hospital in May 2025.
According to Kerkulah, she gave birth at the C.B. Dunbar Hospital on May 4, 2025, following a surgical procedure. However, approximately two months later, she began experiencing severe health complications—symptoms that intensified dramatically in July 2025.
“When I returned to the hospital for help, the health workers told me that fluid was left in my body after the surgery. That fluid has caused my stomach to swell up badly,” Kerkulah explained.
The mother of one described her current condition as unbearable. Her abdomen has become so enlarged that she struggles to perform basic functions.
“I am suffering from a lot of pain, and my stomach has grown so big that I cannot breathe properly or eat,” Kerkulah said. She added that the swelling has made it extremely difficult to eat or use the restroom, further weakening her already fragile state.
When contacted for comment, Enoch Morris, an administrator at C.B. Dunbar Hospital, confirmed that Kerkulah had sought care at the facility during the period in question. However, he declined to provide specific details about her case, citing the absence of the hospital’s Medical Director. “The patient did come to the hospital for treatment on the date mentioned, but detailed medical information about her condition can only be provided by the Medical Director,” Morris stated.
As Kerkulah’s condition worsens, family members are calling on government officials, humanitarian organizations, and concerned citizens to intervene urgently. Mercy Kerkulah can be contacted on 07770 95958.
Surgical complications are adverse events, infections, or injuries occurring during or after procedures, ranging from minor issues to life-threatening conditions. Common complications include wound infections, bleeding (hemorrhage), blood clots (deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism), and anesthesia reactions. Prompt identification and prevention are critical for recovery.
Medical complications in Liberia are heavily driven by high poverty, severe malnutrition, and a fragile healthcare system, causing11,000 child deaths annually under age five. Top concerns include malaria, tuberculosis, diarrheal diseases, pneumonia, and high rates of maternal mortality. Liberia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with roughly three women dying daily from pregnancy-related complications. According to UNICEF Liberia, newborns are also at high risk, with significant neonatal mortality.
On March 15, 2025, Jamesetta Kugmeh took to social media to share her ordeal after undergoing a cesarean section at ELWA Hospital that left her with catastrophic health complications. In a Facebook post, she detailed how what began as a routine antenatal visit turned into a nightmare, and accused the hospital of negligence and delayed referrals that worsened her condition.
Despite public fundraising efforts that enabled her transfer to Ghana for advanced medical care, Kugmeh succumbed to her injuries (died) on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Monrovia.
