(Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia, December 10, 2021) As part of partnership with the Government of Liberia and the Ministry of Health for the provision of quality healthcare Services delivery in Liberia, the World Health Organization (WHO) has made delivery of assorted medical supplies to the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Congo Town

The mix medical supplies included 5pks (150 test kits) of Syphills kits, 4pks of Sypills Screen Confirm and Assay, 3pks of contact activated lancet, 10,285 cans (2,077,000 tablets), 14 kits of Cholera Investigation complete kit, 1 kit of Cholera laboratory kit, 200 pcs of Absolute alcohol (ethanol), 2,124 pcs of chloride and 1 pc of chlorine.

Other items donated are: 15,000 kits of COVID-19 AG Test kit 20 boxes X 30 pks X 25 kits, 6 pcs of Gene Xpress 6 color module, 120pks of Xpert Xpress SARS-COV2   4boxes X 30pks, 11kits of Nuclic Extraction kit, 10pks of Disposable Virus sampling kit (100 set), 55pcs of DNA Detection kit, 4kits QlAamp virus RNA Mini kits (250), 64pcs of Oxygen regulator, 1pc of Lenovo thinkpad laptop, among other things.

Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic last year, WHO has made earlier donation of PPEs and other essential medical supplies to the Ministry in order to further heighten fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic and other diseases.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the government and people of Liberia, Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah acknowledged the numerous contributions made by WHO, describing it as a milestone in the Country’s health sector.

“We appreciated the last gift you sent to us and it was to continue the fight against COVID-19. We are happy that you are able to provide all of these other materials to us. Everything that have been received here today will be used for its intended purpose—to protect the healthcare workers and to fight this virus,” she said during the donation.

Presenting the donation was WHO Country Representative to Liberia, Dr. Peter Clement: “this is actually meant to increase drugs and other medical supplies at various health facilities across the country.”

He used the occasion to reassured WHO’s commitment to the Liberian government for the provision of quality healthcare to all.

Signed: ________________________________

           Felecia Gbesioh

           Director of Communication, MOH   

A conglomeration of health practitioners from the Ministry of Health including a representative from Partner In Health has returned from Sierra Leone, following their intervention into the catastrophic injuries of several persons, who were involved into explosion of gas tanker.

Earlier, on Friday, November 12, 2021, a team of Health Practitioners from the Ministry departed the country to buttress doctors and nurses of Sierra Leone’s efforts amid an explosion of gas tanker, where nearly 115 people lost their lives and several persons injured.

The explosion is believed to have happened at a junction outside the busy Choithram Supermarket in the densely populated Wellington suburb in the east of the city, last month.

Sierra Leone National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) said the vehicles collided when the tanker was entering a nearby filling station to discharge its fuel.

However, given the situation, the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health (MOH) dispatched a team of health practitioners who— upon arrival—provided basic healthcare interventions including mentorship for Community Health Workers (CHWs) on identification of infected wounds, discovering of  patients for prompt referral, and development policy and guidelines on burn management, Infection Prevention Control  (IPC), and Antimicrobia.

“We were joined by other colleagues from around the world, including Italy, Senegal, Germany, France, the United States; WHO, CDC, etc. to help the people and government of Sierra Leone,” Patience C. Tokpah explained to Health Hour, a health program presented by the Ministry’s Communication Unit on ELBC.

Several victims who were injured have recovered as a result of mechanisms instituted by the Liberian team: “Firstly, I am proud to represent my country. Most importantly, the team from Liberia did extremely well because of the level of seriousness and our methods of mitigation used to treat those patients. We were able to provide mentorship with the different mechanism we took along. This approach helped patients recovered.

However, the Liberian professionals also helped to train their Sierra Leone counterparts in case and disaster management: “We couldn’t keep the ideas onto us, so we were able to train some health workers who were well prepared to take over from us”.

Prior to the departure of the Liberia’s team, a Mano River Union Regional health organization was established for the sole purpose of enhancing efforts in the fight against disaster in the region, and regional IPC Protocols were developed.

Madam Diana Sarteh, Team Lead and Deputy Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer; Dr. Sterman Touissant, Co-Lead, a Surgeon and Clinical Director of Partners In Health; Amos B. Richards, PA; Kathy Gray, RN; Linda Parker, RN; Patience Cooper Tokpah, Deputy Director for County Health Services; Veraus B. Topor, RN; Elizabeth Tamba, RN; Geimeh G. Konneh, PA; Finda Kotio, RN; and Josephine Kermon, RN; were those part of the rescued mission to Sierra Leone.

Signed: ____________________________________

            Felecia Gbesioh

            Director of Communications, MOH/RL

(December 3, 2021, Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia)—a Ghanaian Company, Africa Health Supplies Limited (AHS), has made a donation of medical supplies to the Ministry of Health to buttress national government’s effort in the areas of neonatal care service delivery.

The donation was made at the Ministry of Health in Congo Town on Friday, December 3, 2021.

AHS is the representative of Medical Technology Transfer Services (MTTS), in Ghana and the African sub-region head quartered in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The equipment donated are: Firefly phototherapy equipment, a lightmeter, and colibri phototherapy equipment. Firefly Phototherapy is a double-sided phototherapy device designed to treat neonatal jaundice, while Colibri phototherapy is a LED Phototherapy device for effective treatment of neonatal jaundice.

However, receiving the items on behalf of the Government of Liberia, Dr. Wilhemina Jallah acknowledged that the Ministry has envisioned to setup Neonatal Centers in all public health facilities across the country, but due to some financial constrain, the vision is yet to be realized.

“One of the things the Ministry and its partners have tried to do is to set up neonatal centers in all of our health facilities across the nation. We have an idea of what is needed and I think this collaboration can take us closer toward reducing neonatal mortality in the country.” Dr. Jallah remarked.

“We have to make the investment in this collaboration because we also need the proper equipment to make sure that it works; thereby an ongoing training after which participants would be requested to those neonatal centers in the various facilities because they cannot work without the opening of these centers.”

She, at the same time, lauded the Company for remembering Liberia amidst a global health crisis.

Earlier, while hand delivering the items over to the Ministry, the Chief Executive Officer of African Health Supplies, Mr. Albert Ankrah, underscored the importance for the prioritization of equipment if the health system is to function properly. Mr. George Fabio Collins, Country Manager for AHS indicated the company’s desire to also set up a medical assembling facility, akin to that of AHS in Ghana to support government effort at combating neonatal jaundice in Liberia.

“The Health System needs to function properly which is something that we must prioritize and we are doing”, Mr. Ankrah expressed.

In closing, he vowed to strengthen partnership and heighten cooperation with commitment to continuously contribute the country health sector for the provision of quality healthcare service delivery for all.

During the donation, the Minister was accompanied by Madam Christine Brooks-Jarrett, Policy Adviser to the Minister and other staff of the Ministry.

Signed:____________________________

Felecia Gbesioh

Director of Communications, MOH/RL

(November 30, 2021, Monrovia, Liberia)—the Ministry of Health (MOH) through its Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries (NCDIs) Division has begun a five-day intensive capacity training for doctors, nurses and midwives in Cervical and breast Cancer screening and management in Monrovia, under the Theme: “Early Detection and Prompt Management of Cervical and Breast Cancers Save Lives”.

The training, which started on Friday, November 26, 2021, is being funded and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), and aimed at eliminating cervical cancer world, with Liberia being of no exception.

Cervical Cancer is a cancer that’s fund anywhere in the cervix. The cervix is the opening between the vagina and womb (uterus). It’s part of the reproductive system and is sometimes called the ‘Neck of the Womb’. Studies show that nearly all cervical cancers are caused by an infection from certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV).

However, predominantly, the trainees were selected from two of the fifteen political divisions of the country, where the ministry has envisioned to setup screening and treatment centers before moving to other regions or parts of the country.

“The national Cancer policy has series of activities… Now, we are beginning firstly with Montserrado and Bong counties. In the next years ahead, we are contemplating on increasing the numbers of counties, so our people can get the needed and deserved health services”, Mrs Florence Yahnquee-Kiatamba, National Cancer Palliative Care Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, making remarks at the opening of the training.

Meanwhile, in an effort to prepare participants of the training, Mrs Kiatamba praised World Health Organization for hiring a health consultant, who developed a comprehensive Cervical Cancer module for them (Doctors, Nurses, and Midwives), which will serve as a guide to their works.

“You know sometimes in 2020, there was launch of a strategy to eliminate Cervical cancer by the World Health Organization. Other countries have started working in progress to see how best they can follow the WHO’s guide in eliminating Cervical Cancer; and since then Liberia dis sign to that commitment, but we have not been fortunate due to some financial constrain to start our own process in our country. So, the ministry has been working with WHO, seeking funding to establish a screening center in Liberia. And, this one of the criteria before you can do the screening center: to develop a module for the Country”, She explained.

Hence, upon completion of the capacity building, Cervical and breast cancer problems encountering female during pregnancy and child birth are expected to be eliminated.

“This will help our people who face these cancer problem, because we will have trained health workers who help will patients in treating the sickness”, Dr. Sopousassi V. Nicholas King, Developer of the National Cervical Cancer Module. “The module help deepened workers’ knowledge Cervical Cancer and at the same time provide clearer analyses on the drawbacks, challenges, and causes of the sickness.

For his part, Dr. Anthony Tucker, Program Director, NCDs Division at the Ministry of Health believed there are proven health interventions that can address NCDIs: “The interventions selections are based on potential health impact, cost-effectiveness, financial risk protection, and priority for the “worst-off”; We can prevent early deaths from NCDIs with the implementation of proposed interventions,”. 

“I am actually proud of this interventions that will see some of the health facilities in those two selected counties to screen patients suffering from Cervical and breast cancer”, Dr. Tucker.

He at the same time, on behalf Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, lauded WHO as well as participants for making the training a success and called for collaborative front to

Signed: _________________________

            Felecia Gbesioh             Director of Communications, MOH

(November 13, 2021, Buchanan, Grand Bassa)—County Health Offices as well as officials of the Ministry of Health, partners and stakeholders have concluded a three-long-day “County Level COVID-19 After Action Review Meetings”. The meeting focused on specific areas of needed action plans and scenario mechanism measures for future improvement and way forward for the provision of quality health services delivery. This enabled participants, who were predominantly health, to share hybrid experiences on COVID-19 response, patients’ management during emergency; burial of COVID-19 victim, amongst other things.

Several Participants in separated remarks asserted that the COVID-19 vaccination drive was very instrumental as they engaged the public through taken door-to-door and asked local leaders having low inoculation to adopt innovative ways to boost the campaign. They made remarks at a meeting, held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

Sharing further, they said special emphasis was placed on taking message of religious leaders spreading awareness and encouraging the vaccination drive to the people.

At the closed of the meeting, Mr. Abraham Nyenswah, Pillar Lead for Coordination of the Incident Management System,  at the Ministry of Health lauded participants for sharing their thoughts on experiences gained since the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus pandemic early last year.

Signed: _____________________________

            Felecia Gbesioh

            Director of Communications, MOH/RL