James Sundaygar, 63, is a professional electrician who has been out of job and contracts for years now due to the hydroceles illness he has been bearing for more than 10 years. This makes life unbearable for him and his family in a harsh and shattered Liberian economy.
Hydrocele is the type of scrotal swelling that occurs when fluid collects in the thin sheath that surrounds the testicle.
Sundaygar never thought of generating funds or hoping on someone to sponsor his surgical operations.
He previously doubted a pronouncement made by the medical outreach team of Thomas Nimene Tweh, commonly known as Original Countryman, during the peak of the campaign period of the October 10 Presidential And Legislative Elections.
The team had announced that Tweh was screening patients in District 11, Montserrado County, to carry out free medical and surgical operations.
“I wrote my name down and was screened. But since then, I didn’t hear anything. So, I decided to forget about the surgery business, because people can come to campaign to us and lie,” said Sundaygar, who reluctantly showed up for the screening exercise at the Bardnersville Town Hall, outside Monrovia.
His whole thinking was the pronouncement was a hoax intended to pull votes for Tweh, who was contesting the elections. However, the narrative changed when he received a phone call on a fateful day while sitting in front of his house thinking about his medical condition.
“The person called me and said “is this Sundaygar?”, I said yes; and the person said ‘Original Countryman wanted me to go to the clinic for checkup the next morning and he was going to pay for my surgery.’ I was confused and never knew what to do. I thought about it and I was so happy.”
He successfully went through surgical operations at the Maggie’s Clinic in the same community.
“From the first time they were doing the screening, I thought it was true. But when I heard that the man was not running again and the court denied him from contesting, I thought he was not going to sponsor the surgeries again. I pray that he and his children will continue to prosper; all the good he is doing will not go in vain because God will bless him bountifully,” prayed Sundaygar.
Sundaygar maintained that the gesture being extended to ailing and less fortunate Liberians by Tweh on a regular basis will go down a long way in the lives of the beneficiaries, adding, “It is very strange for somebody who is not related to you to be nice and do things you don’t expect them to do for you. The place Dr. Tweh is taking me from, just like someone who died has been resurrected. He has given me hope to get back on my feet.”
From birth, Jacob Vah, 19, was diagnosed with hydroceles. He was also treated from the illness.
Vah disclosed that he and his parents are very grateful to the Liberian humanitarian for taking the responsibility to sponsor his treatment.
He stated that, prior to being screened, he and his parents never thought of raising money for his treatment.
“I want to tell Dr. Tweh thanks for the good he’s doing for us. We are hopeful that we too will help him in the future because he is far better than others. Dr. Tweh is really the real talk and do,” Vah said.
For the past two years, Bill Holt, 32, has been mocked at and neglected by friends and some family members, due to similar illness.
He expressed gratitude that the public service announcement on Tweh’s free medical and surgical operations came to a reality and solved his medical problem, saying, “I feel very happy to benefit from the surgery today. Many days, my friends used to be laughing at me or take advantage because of my situation. I just want to tell Original Countryman thank you.”
Holt expressed shock over the consistent humanitarian works and assistance being carried out by Tweh, despite his unfortunate denial by the Supreme Court to contest the elections.
Hannah B. Nelson, 35, was diagnosed of umbilical hernia, following severe pains she continuously experienced in her stomach. She carried the illness for about three years.
Umbilical hernia is a condition in which the intestine protrudes through the abdominal muscles at the belly button.
“I never used to eat freely. Even if I had to eat, only soft food I could eat and drink enough water. My stomach really used to hurt me, and most times, I used to feel like throwing out (vomiting).”
She couldn’t afford the nearly US$400 charged by doctors to undergo the surgery. However, she was also among scores of other ailing Liberians who took advantage of the free medical and surgical operations sponsored by Tweh.
“I am feeling fine and happy to go under the surgery. If I had the opportunity to see Dr. Tweh today, I will appreciate him. He has the heart of a real humanitarian. He feels for people. I am really surprised that he did not contest, but he is living up to his promises made to the people.”
Hannah, however, encouraged Tweh to remain hopeful, steadfast, and courageous in contributing towards the improvement of the living conditions of Liberians and the country at large.
She used this medium to call on Liberian politicians to avoid getting elected positions before fulfilling promises made to the electorates during electioneering periods.
Hannah maintained that most often, politicians do not “think about the poor”, especially when they have ascended to elected positions.
“Other people are dying because of illnesses and there is no money for them to go to the hospitals or clinics to cure those illnesses. Our politicians should think about these people and others who need help by extending hands to them.”
Sumo Mulbah, 80, stated: “I was diagnosed of hernia and been reaching out to politicians and other people to help me. But they always told me to wait, no money. I was informed about Dr. Tweh’s sponsoring of our treatment by my brother-in-law. I pray that God will bless him and his rewards are above.”
He disclosed that the lack of finance prevented him from visiting the hospital for surgery for over 10 years.
Tweh was denied by the Supreme Court of Liberia from contesting for the Representative seat of Electoral District 11 Montserrado County, following a domicile case filed against him by few of his political opponents in the just ended elections.
Though the Hearing Officer and the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) earlier ruled that Tweh was a resident of the district, the High Court overturned the decision, something which prompted a high level of division among residents of the district.
Despite the unfortunate situation, Tweh has not surrendered on his humanitarian works and assistance to needy Liberian citizens and groups in the country.
Over the weekend, he sponsored the medical and surgical operations of over 100 citizens suffering from various illnesses including: hernias, hydroceles, lipomas, myomas, and other subcutaneous masses.
The surgical operation procedures conducted on about 82 patients at various clinics in District 11, and other parts adjacent, were herniowaphies, hydrocelectomies, lipectomies, and lumpectomies.
They took place at the Maggie Clinic, Triple MS Medical and Surgical Clinic,
