(February 2, 2022, Paynesville, Liberia)—the Ministry of Health (MOH), through the Montserrado County Health Team, on February 2, 2022, received a donation of assorted medical supplies from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The donated supplies, consisting of buckets for handwashing stations, liquid soap, hand sanitizers, liquid bleach and posters for promotion.
The US$5,500.00 donation was made at the head office of the Montserrado County Health Team in the City of Paynesville.
Those Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) materials will be mainly used at health facilities in Montserrado County to strengthen COVID-19 response and routine health services, according to Nakata Yoshimi, JICA’s Deputy Head of Office in Liberia.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Ministry of Health was Dr. Yatta Sackie-Wapoe, County Health Officer (CHO) of Montserrado County Health Team, who lavished praises on JICA for continuously contributing to the Country’s health sector, Montserrado county in particular.
“On behalf of the Montserrado County Team, yea Liberia, we like to appreciate JICA for all what you have done for the people of Montserrado and Liberia. Your support cannot be overemphasized. This has significantly helped us, especially to improve IPC situation in our different facilities,” Dr. Wapoe remarked.
The Montserrado County Health Team’s head used the occasion to assure their commitment to use the donated items for its intended purpose.
However, the donation is part of the technical cooperation project between the Ministry of Health and JICA. The Technical Cooperation “Project for Management Capacity Development for Improvement of Health Services in Montserrado County’’ aimed to strengthen management capacity of the Montserrado County Health Team, so that health service delivery, especially Maternal and Child Health care, is improved.
Accordingly, it is a three-year project, being implemented until September 2024. Under the project agreement, JICA is expected to closely work with the Montserrado county Health Team to enhance its staff management capacity through the following activities: to conduct managerial training for MCHT staff on planning, monitoring & evaluation, provision of technical support in developing an annual operational plan, and conducting performance review and report;; to enhance capacity of project management and to support the development and implementation of mini projects through a step-by- procedures; to strengthen health facility management; and to conduct learning and sharing activities on learning experiences and good practices.
Since 2012, JICA has been supporting MCHT and working together to improve basic functions of the county health team. It started this new technical cooperation in 2019, to address the need of improving maternal and child health services at local public hospitals, health centers and clinics.
Signed: ____________________________
Felecia Gbesioh
Director of Communication, MOH/RL