FENDELL, Montserrado – After six months of closure due to the Ebola outbreak, the University of Liberia has partially reopened its doors. However, many businesses that depend on the students’ patronage are disappointed at the low level of sales.

The UL Fendell Campus’s large student population serves as a source of income for local merchants. Small businesses such as tea and cook shops line the street along the campus, giving students easy access to their basic needs.

However, the university’s decision to partially reopen has disappointed many business owners.

Matu Lincoln, a cook shop owner already feels the negative impacts of the partial reopening.

“Business is really not good right now. I’m not saying that the university’s decision is bad, but I’m speaking about this as it relates to my business. We have been out of business for long,” Lincoln said. “I used to cook 75 cups of rice but now I’ve reduced it to 20. That should tell you how it is now.”

Although disappointing for some, others were just happy with being in business again. Another food vendor, Korto Roberts, was content with the amount she was making.

‘‘I thank God for the little I am making right now. Despite the fact that business is surely not as booming as I expect it [to be], at least I’m still trying hard to keep at it. Things will gradually pick up,’’ Roberts said.

Along the campus road, Viola Paul sells a mix of different perishable food commodities.  Unfortunately, with fewer buyers on the campus, her produce gets rotten and she is left with no choice but to throw it away.

“I sell bitter balls, okra, and pepper. Not too many students are here now so most of the time everything gets spoiled. Though the community people also buy from us, the students too are an active part of our [customer base].  It is really hard for us. We just pray that this Ebola thing can go away for good,” Paul said.

The university partially opened almost three weeks ago, only allowing a few classes to convene. This was a cautionary measure taken to reduce the risk of Ebola transmission at the university. For the first five weeks after opening, only juniors and seniors (students taking 300 and 400 level courses) were allowed to participate. The following five weeks would see freshmen and sophomore students return to the campus to take 100 and 200 level courses while the juniors and seniors take a break.

Photo: Flickr’s Mama Liberia