A border commander of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), known for his long-term service, is facing a severe illness that has left him unable to walk.
The 57-year-old LIS officer, Sam Lomax, feels abandoned by the institution to which he continues to provide services.
His illness is caused by spinal cord complications, a situation that has rendered him immobile.
The state security officer, who has served Liberia for more than 30 years, says he feels neglected by the government as he battles a life-threatening sickness.
“The government, especially LIS, is aware of my condition, and I only sign for my regular salary, which is very small and insufficient to finance my health recovery,” he told Verity Newspaper.
The ailing 57-year-old officer rose to the rank of Colonel and served as Border Commander of the Liberia Immigration Service throughout his public service career.
Colonel Lomax informed Verity News that he was diagnosed with spinal cord complications by Liberian doctors, a condition that has left him paralyzed from the waist down.
According to him, doctors have advised him to seek advanced medical treatment in Ghana or other countries.
The former Border Commander is currently bedridden due to the lack of $13,000 needed to facilitate his treatment and travel abroad.
He explained that the situation began when he went to pick up his deceased wife, who had fallen to the ground. “When I went to pick up my late wife, who died, that was when this whole thing started with me, and up to now it has not been easy,” the pleading LIS officer recounted.
Patrol Commander Lomax lamented during the interview that, despite a series of engagements, the Government of Liberia, through the Immigration Service, has failed to assist with his condition.
Amid his current circumstances, Commander Lomax has expressed optimism that he will recover and return to continue serving his country.
The LIS officer is also seeking financial assistance from the government and other humanitarian organizations to help him undergo the recommended surgery in Ghana.
According to media reports, the LIS Deputy Commissioner for Administration, Elijah Rufus, stated that the institution is fully aware of Colonel Lomax’s condition, describing him as a dedicated officer.
However, he mentioned that the LIS currently does not have the funding to aid the officer but promised that engagements are underway, adding that the ailing officer will be duly informed in the coming days.
Deputy Commissioner Rufus could not guarantee whether the ongoing engagements would result in an aid package to help the ailing security officer.
