(Monrovia, Liberia, February 4, 2021)—the Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, has issued a statement declaring polio outbreak within the Country as a ‘National Public Health Emergency.’

The bold move by the Minister followed after a detection of polio virus types two by the National Surveillance System, which has spread throughout the Country from two different environmental sites in Monrovia.

The detection of these isolated viruses in Monrovia have spread throughout the Country. Experience from other countries in Africa and around the world had shown that responding as soon as the virus is detected in an environment, swift intervention is needed to curtail its further spread.

As a result, the Ministry on February 4, 2021, declared the virus sporadic outbreak as a National Health Emergency.

“In line with WHO and the communities for Polio and the International Health Regulation of 2005, recommendations as that in such a case, action supposed to be taken to curtail its further spread; therefore, I am officially declaring this event as a National Public Health Emergency. This means that number one, we have to continue to monitor the situation within the Country; and the second, most important thing we have to do is to interrupt the spread of this polio virus and go back to try and eradicate it,” she declared.

Under the National Polio Emergency, Minister Jallah declared immediate measures that include door-to-door polio vaccination campaign in every community across the Country; monitoring the situation within the country to beef up the fight against polio.

In remarks at a news conference on February 4, 2021, the energetic Minister of Health promised that her administration would move with deliberate speed in ensuring that children from zero to fifty-nine-month old are vaccinated and registered for national birth certification.

 “This exercise will be a door-to-door because we do not have to miss any child. We will be going from door-to-door making sure that each child is vaccinated in your home. There will be a lot more coverage on it so you can know when we coming and who will be coming to your homes. Coupled with that exercise, we want to make sure that children births are registered. So this will us be the opportunity to be able to register all of the children and make sure that they have birth certificates. So two things that will be done: we will make sure kids are protected and vaccinated, and then we will make sure that the birth is registered.”

Dr Jallah urged all Liberians, babies’ mothers as well as local and international stakeholders to work with the Ministry to defeat the spread of the virus in the Country.

“This virus being circulating within the public about a year so we are ready to move things forward quickly to protected the Children. So therefore, all of our teams are ready and we want to bring it to the public officially to let them know that this virus is in the country and the action that will be taken going forward,” she concluded.

Signed: _____________________________________________

                  Felecia Gbesioh

                  Director of Communication, MOH, RL

(Monrovia, Liberia, February 3, 2021)—the Ministry of Health has received a donation of assorted medical consignments from DKT international to aid sexual and reproductive health in Liberia.

DKT international is one of the world’s largest providers of contraception and safe abortion products in mitigating the impending effects of COVID-19 on global access to contraceptives by adopting necessary preventive measures.

The assorted medical supplies which are to be available for free services at the public facilities within Liberia include: 2, 500 MVA kits, 15, 000 MM combi kit (combo), and 15,000 Miso-fem (Misoprostol).

These supplies are intended to reduce preventative deaths by securing abortion care services at public facilities

While presenting the donation to Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, DKT Liberia Country Manager, Antonio Cazares Turcott said, considering the recent global health crisis, his organization is grateful to aid sexual and reproductive health in Liberia.

“DKT is grateful for its partnership with the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) to aid sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) Liberia. Through this aid, DKT is equipped to handle potential shortages due to COVID-19 and expand access to contraceptive and safe abortion”, said Turcott.

He has vowed to do everything, in partnership with the Swedish Embassy and the Ministry of Health, to minimize disruption in the access to and use of high-quality sexual and reproductive Health (SRH) products in Liberia.

“The reproductive health needs of women and men worldwide are not on “pause” during this time, so we are taking steps to address those needs. In Liberia, DKT and the Swedish Embassy responded to this alarm bell, donating all of these medical consignments,” the DKT Country Manager expressed on Wednesday February 3, 2021. “In this unprecedented time, DKT is leveraging its strong links with the public sector to provide support where it is possible by securing SRH commodities at the public facilities.”

Last year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) launched at the Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) guidelines along with other partners which DKT is disseminating the new guidelines and distribution of abortion care commodities that will equip health care providers to provide high quality, comprehensive, non-judgement abortion care services that protest patient privacy and confidentiality.

The CAC guidelines seek the provision of CAC services that recognizes women and girls’ right to dignify and respectful maternal health, equal access to high quality services for hard-to-reach, vulnerable, and disadvantaged populations, such as adolescents and productions in rural and remote areas.

The MOH is integrating Sexual, reproductive, maternal, and neonatal health services, inclusive of comprehensive family planning, across all levels of the health system.

The CAC guidelines goals include: to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality related to unsafe abortions increase contraceptive uptake among women and men (including girls and boys) to prevent unintended pregnancies, and provide clear guidance to improve provider skills, attitude, and confidence in the of CAC services.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the government of Liberia, Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah said the donation came timely wherein there are many young people who are sexually active and there are lot of complications that followed during their sexual responsibilities— “Being sexually active is a responsibility.”

“Our health practitioners who are not trained to operate these medicines will be trained to provide the needed services to our people when they get there. These materials are already in there so we as health practitioners have to use it for the intended purpose and to make sure our young girls are safe from these young boys,” Dr. Jallah said.

She assured the public that the Ministry and its partners are exerting every effort to reduce maternal mortality and other complicated health problems young people encounter across the country.  

During the handover ceremony at the Ministry was Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Ingrid Wetterqvist who said Sweden believes norms and laws should work together with the availability of services to reach all young people in urban and rural areas to empower them exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

 “Sweden strongly supports Liberia’s efforts to reverse this negative trend of high maternal mortality and to enhance access to sexual and reproductive health and rights,” she

Through DKT international, Sweden Supports social marketing of wide range of contraceptive products through the private sector, according to H.E. Ambassador Wetterqvist.

She concluded by saying “Sweden is pleased that DKT International extends its support to the public sector through its collaboration with the Ministry of Health.”

Signed: _____________________________________________

                  Felecia Gbesioh

            Director of communication

(Monrovia, Liberia, January 3, 2021)—the Ministry of Health (MOH) through its Emergency Management System Division has officially launched a short code for accident victims across the Country to help alleviate many challenges faced by accident victims in Liberia.

Although there is existent emergency contact on the Ministry’s emergency ambulances for people with medical complications but this new short code is exclusively for accident victims

During the launch on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at the Ministry in Congo Town, Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah encouraged the general public to take advantage of the new code by dialing 5888 on any of the GSM companies in the Country.

Minister Jallah, who is passionate and committed to providing quality health service to the country, told scores of Journalists that there is no cost attached dialing or calling the short code: “You can call any of the GSM companies in Liberia for free of charge—if you don’t have any money on your phone, you still dial it and our team will immediately answer you”.

In terms of capacity (number of ambulances) to rapidly response to accident victims across the country, Dr. Jallah said, though the Ministry is still lobbying for more logistics including ambulances but there are sufficient ambulances across the country to sustain the program.

“We have enough ambulances that could sustain the program in all of the fifteen (15) counties. You can call the code wherever you are in Liberia, because these ambulances are stationed at strategic places to provide you the needed services.”

Dr. Jallah cautioned drivers to avoid drunkenness and speediness while plying roads within the country in order to minimize the rate of accident.

“We want Liberians to be safe, therefore, we want to suggest to you that If you are drunk, do not drive; or if your friend is drinking and you are together don’t encourage he/she to drive.” She added.

For his part, the Director of Emergency Management System Division of MOH, Mark Luke, said introduction of the code is meant to improve the provision of quality emergency services across the country.

“This is part of our responsibility as a Division of the Ministry as mandated by the Minister to improve on the provision of emergency services in the country. Owing to this, we decided to join others through the Road Safety secretariat to source some funding to have this number paid for and other materials that are expected to be here soon,” said Director Mark Luke

Signed: _____________________________________

                  Felecia Gbesioh

                  Director of Communication, MOH