– Police Charged Female Health Worker for Manslaughter
By Jenneh Kemokai
Kinjor Town, Grand Cape Mount County: A shocking case of alleged medical malpractice has rocked the small community of Kinjor in Grand Cape Mount County, where 37-year-old pharmacist Jerrolyn J. Lobo now faces manslaughter charges following the tragic death of one-year-old Winifred A. Fahnbulleh.
The incident began on the morning of May 22, 2025, when the child’s mother, 26-year-old Hawa Kamara, brought her daughter to Lobo’s pharmacy seeking medical treatment. According to Kamara’s statement to police, Lobo initially attempted to administer intravenous treatment but failed to locate a suitable vein in the toddler’s arm.
Court documents reveal that after failing to establish an IV line, Lobo proceeded to give the child two injections of unspecified medication. What happened next has become the center of the criminal investigation – Kamara alleges that Lobo then inserted a medical tube into the child’s anus and vagina in an attempt to administer fluids, a claim partially corroborated by Lobo’s own admission to police.
The situation quickly turned tragic when the child began bleeding profusely from the areas where the tube had been inserted. By the time Kamara rushed her daughter to Sinje Health Center that evening, medical personnel pronounced Winifred dead upon arrival. A preliminary autopsy report cited severe internal bleeding and traumatic injuries consistent with forceful penetration by unsterilized medical instruments.
During police interrogations, Lobo admitted to the unconventional treatment method but claimed she hadn’t intended to harm the child. “I couldn’t find the vein, so I tried another way,” Lobo reportedly told investigators, adding that she became alarmed when she noticed “blood and water coming out in a way that wasn’t normal.”
The Liberia National Police have charged Lobo with manslaughter, and she currently remains detained at Bo Waterside prison awaiting trial. County Attorney Samuel B. Rogers emphasized that the case highlights the dangers of unregulated medical practices, telling reporters, “This was not just an accident – this was a reckless disregard for proper medical procedures that cost a child her life.”
The tragedy has sparked outrage throughout Grand Cape Mount County, with local residents staging protests outside the shuttered pharmacy and calling for stricter oversight of medical practitioners. Health officials confirm they are investigating whether Lobo had proper qualifications to perform such procedures, while child welfare advocates are demanding stronger protections for vulnerable patients.
As the community mourns little Winifred, her case has become a rallying cry for healthcare reform in rural Liberia. The Ministry of Health has announced plans to launch a county-wide audit of pharmaceutical practices, while legislators are considering new regulations that would impose harsh penalties for unauthorized medical procedures.
The trial date for Jerrolyn J. Lobo has not yet been set, but legal experts predict the proceedings will draw significant attention as Liberia grapples with balancing access to healthcare with patient safety protections in remote areas. Meanwhile, Winifred’s family has established a memorial fund to raise awareness about medical malpractice, hoping to prevent similar tragedies in other communities.
