Published: October 27, 2025
BUSHROD ISLAND, Monrovia — Patients being treated for Mpox at the Liberia Center for Infectious Diseases (LCID) Emergency Treatment Unit at Star Base, near the Bong Mines Bridge, are raising alarm over a severe shortage of essential medicines, calling on the government and international partners to intervene as supply gaps worsen.
Over the weekend, several patients, including journalists and professionals currently admitted, told The Liberian Investigator that nurses at the ETU have advised them to purchase their own drugs because the facility has run out of key medications.
“When we got here, we were told to call our family members to bring medicines such as Acyclovir tablets and Vitamin C,” one patient said. “Some of these medicines cost more than ten U.S. dollars, and not everyone can afford them.”
Questionable Drug Use Raises Alarm
Patients say Acyclovir, an antiviral drug typically used to treat herpes simplex and chickenpox, is being widely recommended at the ETU. However, medical experts have warned that Acyclovir is not approved for the treatment of Mpox, which is caused by the Orthopoxvirus.
Health professionals emphasize that Tecovirimat (TPOXX) is the only authorized antiviral for severe Mpox cases, while prevention relies on vaccination and public awareness.
“If patients are being told to buy or take the wrong drugs, it undermines treatment outcomes and public confidence,” a medical professional familiar with the facility told The Liberian Investigator.
Facility Praised, but Supplies Critically Low
Despite the medicine shortage, patients complimented the ETU’s overall condition, describing it as clean, comfortable, and well-organized.
“There is electricity, running water, air conditioning, and good food,” another patient said. “But what is the use if we have no proper medication?”
Rising Infections and Growing Stigma
Patients reported that new Mpox cases are rising daily, with some individuals voluntarily checking into the facility to avoid stigma and discrimination in their communities.
“People see the rashes and start avoiding you,” one patient said. “Some even think it’s a sexually transmitted infection and try to self-medicate at home because they don’t know what Mpox really is.”
Health experts warn that misinformation and limited public education on Mpox symptoms and prevention could worsen the outbreak. Many Liberians reportedly remain unaware that vaccines are available for high-risk groups.
Calls for Urgent Response
Patients and concerned citizens are appealing to the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), and international partners, including the World Bank, which reportedly supports the treatment center, to respond urgently.
“We appreciate the World Bank’s support, but the government must ensure that the ETU has adequate supplies,” one patient urged. “There should also be a national awareness campaign to stop the spread.”
The growing crisis at the Star Base ETU underscores a larger challenge in Liberia’s health response: the need for stronger coordination among government agencies and partners to ensure patients receive the right treatment, that supplies remain stable, and that public education keeps pace with the country’s expanding Mpox threat.
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