GIZ Donates Three Ambulances to the Ministry of Health
The German Cooperation Deutsche Zusammenarbelt (GIZ) has donated three ambulances to the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health in Congo Town, Monrovia.
Making the presentation, the Project Director of GIZ Damien Bishop said, the gesture is to buttress government efforts in providing quality health delivery to people in the Southeast especially those in Maryland, Grand Kru and River Gee.
He said due to terrible road conditions in the southeast, ambulance provision on roads is something residents have always complained about and in order to curb this situation the long term perspective was to provide the three ambulances which will facilitate the smooth movement of patients.
He furthered that, the donation came in the wake of engagement held with county health officers in the three counties, where his organization has been providing ambulance support and sometimes fuel.
He also stressed that one of the overriding reasons for the donation is to work with the Counties health teams in making the isolation facility in Fish Town, Maryland County operational which according to him cannot be done without proper ambulance provision.
He further noted that the GIZ has also trained nine drivers and eighteen nurses, three and six from each of the counties for the effective driving of the ambulances and handling of IPC cases for a period of three months.
Receiving the key of the three vehicles on behalf of the Minister of Health Dr. Wilhemina Jallah, Dep. Minister for Administration Hon. Norwu Howard thanked GIZ for the donation and promised that the ambulances will be used for the intended purpose.
Madam Howard further lauded GIZ for its consistent support to counties in the southeast and asked that it continue its support to enhance the sustainability of the ambulances even after the three months must have elapsed.
She also welcomed the trainees on board and cautioned them not to use the ambulances to transport anything order than sick patients during their three-month service to the Ministry.
In remarks, MOH Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Francis Kateh expressed thanks and appreciation to the GIZ and urged the trainees especially ambulance drivers to set a different standard in terms of patient management and care.
According to Dr. Kateh riding on an excessive speed just because one is driving an ambulance may often be detrimental to their life and that of the patient they intend to safe especially in the case of pregnant women, he thus cautioned drivers to drive with care and not to run above the speed limit. Meanwhile, he admonished the ambulance drivers to take their IPC measure very seriously else they could get themselves infected from patients carrying transmitted diseases or viruses and to take proper care of the vehicles given them.
Healthcare Federation of Liberia Holds First Ministerial Stakeholders Forum with Ministry of Health
The Healthcare Federation of Liberia (HFL) a newly founded organization has held its first Ministerial Stakeholders Forum (MSF) with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to establish a public, private sector partnership aimed at working together to improve the provision of quality healthcare delivery system in the country.
The meeting which brought together scores of healthcare provider from the private sector was held on February 13, 2020, in the Minister’s conference room at the Ministry of Health headquarter in Congo town, Monrovia.
According to the head of the African Health Business (AHB) Dr. Amit Thakker, the Ministerial Stakeholder Forum MSF is use in several countries around the world with the Ministry of Health of every country sitting as the senior administrator along board members of the HCFL in order to open the environment to discuss the challenges and potential solutions in the health sector especially in the private sector.
Dr. Thakker meanwhile acknowledged the concerns of the Ministry in those several areas that they have been engaging the private sector including the area of sanitation and promised that the coming into existence of the Federation will seek to address some of those major concerns.
He noted that, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Health and the MSF whose membership comprises of both private and public healthcare institutions, the provision of quality healthcare services would be sure.
Chairing the meeting on behave of Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, Liberia Chief Medical Officer Dr. Francis Kateh welcomed the move by the group, and noted that, the establishment of the Federation came at the time when the country need quality ways to begin working together to serve humanity.
Dr. Kateh further disclosed that, some of the country’s major health issues in time past came from the private, stressing that to see the very sector coming to ask for a partnership to work together in making sure that healthcare delivery is improved is something that worth commending.
Meanwhile, the Liberia’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Francis Kateh pledged the Ministry’s commitment in working with members of the Healthcare Federation of Liberia in achieving its goals.
Also speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister for Administration of the Ministry of Health Hon. Norwu G. Howard stressed the issue of proper accountability, noting that the ministry has been dealing with several other organizations in the private sector, but there has been no accountability.
In remarks, the President Elect of the Healthcare Federation of Liberia Dr. Nicole Cooper said, between July of 2019 and February 2020 the Federation has been in contact with one hundred and eleven different institutions in the private sector and of the one hundred and eleven institutions, 40 have fully signup as members of the Federation, adding that, the Federation membership is open to any organization whose primary business is in the health sector.
Madam Cooper also lauded the Federation’s partners for helping to create a strong organization structure within her institution, which according to her, will enable the Federation to be an effective partner to the Ministry of Health and to help work with the Ministry to achieve its policy goals.
Chrisitian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL) DONATION
As part of preparations to fight the corona virus which continue to spread in other countries around the world, the Ministry Health have receive a donation of two hundred boxes of face mask from the Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL) a non-governmental organization operating in the country.
Making the donation, Madam Patricia Kamara, Executive Director of the organization said the donation of the masks is to complement government efforts in preparation to fight the corona virus is fast spreading around the world.
Madam Kamara noted that the early preparation of the health sector to fight any outbreak in a country is the best thing to do by the Ministry of health of that country and commend the government through the ministry of health for their efforts.
“We from CHAL don’t want it be like what happened during the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in 2014 that claimed the lives many of our people, when the health sector of our country was not prepared for any outbreak”, she stressed.
Receiving the donation on behave of the ministry, Madam Nuwoh Howard, Deputy Minister for Administration thanked CHAL for the donation, noting that the items came right at the time when the Ministry is in preparing to ensure the protection of anyone that would enter the country with any sign or symptom of the virus.
Minister Howard disclosed that the ministry is making sure that systems are setup to contain the spread of any respiratory disease and virus in the country.
According to her the Ministry in collaboration with the National Public Health Institution of Liberia (NPHIL) has being working to ensure that structures are erected at the airport and various points of entry in order to scare up surveillance all over the country in making sure that citizens are well protected.
Minister Howard, “it is our prayer and hope that this virus does not hit us, but viruses have no border, so all we can do is to be in the state of preparedness”.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister for Administration of the Ministry of Health Nuwoh Howard has called on all of the Ministry’s partners, NGOs, INGOs and other civil society organizations in and out of the country to join the fight in the prevention of the corona virus and that the ministry is opened to more donations.
World Bank have donated two Buses to the University of Liberia Medical School of Pharmacist.
In opening remarks, Minister Wilhelmina Jallah used the occasion to thank the World Bank and welcome participating institutions and organizations partnering with the ministry of health in achieving a resilient health care system within the country. She in her presentation indicated that the buses were in fulfillment of the World Bank promised a year ago based on the request by students of the medical school and the school of pharmacy at the University of Liberia.
According to Dr Jallah, the Bank has been supportive in the Health Work Force program which is one of the key pillars of the ministry of health investment plan for resilient health system. She stated further, that the Bank has also provided immense support for infrastructure development and has since supported the A.M Dogliotti School of medicine with preclinical faculties in 2017 as well as given support for associate Dean Position.
The minister said that most of the support has ended and she’s hopeful that the program would start again. She however disclosed that the buses will be used to transport students and staffs commuting between fendell campus, sinkor and Congo town respectively.
Representing the World Bank during the ceremony was Dr Khwima Nthara country manager World Bank Liberia. Dr Nthara said, he sees the donation as a milestone that would boost Liberia’s health care delivery system. He also acknowledged that Liberia, like any African country is facing challenges in managing its health system. He however lauded the ministry of health and A.M Dogliotti College of medicine for their level of professionalism exhibited in handing over the two new vehicles. According to Dr Nthara, the World Bank provided initial support of US$2.45m to finance construction of two state of the art and fully furnished 48-bed dormitories, 2 furnished classrooms and one skilled laboratory, which was aimed at strengthening the learning environment of the college and to also enhance the health workforce and contribute to the improvement of health care services in Liberia.
Dr Nthara then added that the support was in response to findings conducted by the ministry of health in 2015, whose results revealed the poor leaning environment and living conditions that contributed to low enrollment and high attrition of medical students. Meanwhile, the findings also revealed the following:
- Unsuitable electricity and internet
- The lack of a skilled lab to learn through hands-on practice; and
- Overcrowded dormitories with no desks or tables for studying
Still on the findings, 18 students were housed in each 3- bedrooms apartment, with 6 students sharing a bedroom, and all 18 students sharing one bathroom with no running water. Dr Nthara than concluded by saying that he’s of the conviction that the new dormitory and skilled laboratory project commissioned on December 20, 2018 to address those bottlenecks was conceived. He appealed to the college and the ministry to ensure proper maintenance of the vehicles.
Also representing the university of Liberia at the occasion was Dr Moses Zinnah vice president for academic affair who proxy for the president of the university of Liberia Dr J Sarwolo Nelson jr. Dr Zinnah in remarks begun by appreciating the World Bank and the ministry of health for procuring the vehicles for the medical school and the school of pharmacy.
He said the students and faculties would be required to move between Monrovia, fendell campus for classes and JFK hospital for teaching, learning, and clinical rotation. Dr Zinnah outlined impeding circumstances that have challenged the medical institution ranging from economic to political turmoil and disease outbreak which have jeopardized the school very existence. He extended appreciation to heroic faculties who have stood the test of time in this difficult period.
Moderating the occasion was Mr. Matthew T.K.Flomo Wolrd Bank project manager ministry of health. Mr Flomo who also gives the vote of thanks for the program said “the buses were procured by the ministry of health and funded by the World Bank through the Ebola response and emergency project. This is simply the result of the fulfillment of a promised made by the outgone regional director of the World Bank for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone Dr Henry K. Enririen in December 2018, with an appeal from the University of Liberia”.
According to Mr Flomo, the monetary value of the two buses is one hundred twenty one thousand including one year insurance benefit (US$121,000.00).
Ministry of Health Graduates Obstetric and Neonatal Clinicians Today
Health Ministry graduated 11 obstetric and neonatal clinicians at its HQ in Congo town today through the family health division unit.
On behalf of the ministry at the opening ceremony Dr. Catherine T. Cooper assistant minister for curative services made the welcoming remarks .Dr Cooper said ‘’the ministry of health is truly honor to be hosting this graduation today because we are seeing this graduating class as another millstone in our fight against maternal mortality’’. She further went on to appreciate the partners for standing with the ministry in these perilous times.
Meanwhile, speaking and giving some brief historical information of the organization Maternal and Child Health Advocacy International (MCAI) was Mr. Emmanuel D. Hne an obstetric clinician. Mr. Hne said that the organization maternal and child health advocacy international (MCAI) aim is to save and improve the lives of seriously ill pregnant women ,babies and children in low resource countries , a charitable organization that was founded since 1995. Initially, MCAI was called child advocacy international (CAI) which changed her name to MCAI in 2019. The organization has worked with 11 countries and was relocated from England 2012 to Scotland. Providing additional information on the organization functions, professor David Southall Honorary Medical Director, said this world does has human right implication and that this program only works in the public health system not the private system. It doesn’t mean that they are not working with the private system he maintained. He also stated that the real essence of this work is to look after the poorest people who cannot afford hospital or clinical funds.
Closing the program was the deputy minister for administration Norwu G. Howard said our training midwife has successfully performed several functions with very minimum mortality, neonatal care has been put on charged and group of staffs that you can actually count on and that will contribute significantly to the reduction in our neonatal motility rate in our country .she strongly believe that if the right people are giving the skills, knowledge ,and tools to performs a task, and if appropriate steps are taken for all procedures and supervisors who do the jobs for which they signed up for which is to mentor, coach , and supervise the system will get its intended results .This program have trained staffs on the use of new skills of performing surgery. Madam Howard cautioned teachers and maintained that they must provide path way to evaluate pain, provide path way to follow for the use of pain medication every time a drug is used. She emphasized the need to develop a registry that would be monitored closely having the inclusion of clinical details and photos of pregnant women before and after their delivery of visitation.
UNODC makes donation through the Ministry of Health
UNODC with funding from the European Union has donated several IT equipment worth US thirteen thousand five hundred thirty nine dollars nine cent # 13,530.9 USD to six (6) faith-based institutions through the ministry of health in Congo town.
Making donation on behalf of UNODC, Mr. Jose Manued Lopez Alvarez who proxy for Dr. Abiola Olaleye, program officer for UNODC projects in Liberia thanked the European Union for providing the funding to enable his organization initiate such remarkable donation through the ministry of health. He further added that his organization remain committed in collaborating with the ministry of health and faith-based institutions to provide financial, technical and moral support to the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health. Mr. Alvarez, encouraged service providers to use the equipment for its intended purpose.
Receiving the items on behalf of E.S Grant Memorial/ JFK Mentor Hospital, Teen Challenge Liberia Chapter, Liberians United Against Drugs Abuse (LUADA), Youth Establishing Safe Society (YESS), Kimberline Youth Foundation and its Secretariat headed by ECOWAS focus person within the ministry of health, Mrs. Esther Grant thanked EU and UNODC for the financial and technical support provided over the years to the ministry and asked service providers to use the equipment wisely in order to collect accurate and qualitative data on the number of persons using illicit substances in the country as well as to further inform stakeholders in making the right decision and to also influence policies-makers
Mrs. Grant said, the donation was very timely and called on other partners to follow the good gesture of EU and UNODC to enhance the smooth workings of the ministry.
Also making remarks during the turn over ceremony, Deputy Minister for Planning, Policy and Research A.Vaifee Tulay used the occasion to appreciate EU and UNODC for such a timely donation to the health sector.
Minister Tulay then cautioned service providers to use the items very wisely in uplifting the lives of young Liberians who are trapped by these deadly and harmful substances brought illegally in the country. He maintained that the situation at hand is becoming a threat to national security and as such the equipment, most especially the computers, should not be used to watch movies. Anyone caught in the act of doing so will be penalized by the ministry says Minister Tulay.
Minister Tulay in closing stressed the importance of the equipment and lauded the partners for the kind gesture in this difficult period. He said he’s convicted that the donation is a dream come true especially at this most needed time for the end users.