(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