The provision of essential commodities which has enhanced access to quality healthcare service delivery at various health facilities across the nation that contributes to the reduction in deaths of newborn and children as well as the population in general, has been so passionate and dedicated commitment by Liberia’s Health Minister, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah.
In supra, the Minister joined Chinese envoy credited near Monrovia along with UNICEF Chief of Party to Liberia, to donate assorted medical supplies to Worhn Clinic in Margibi County.
60 IEHK2017, kit, suppl, 1c-cold chain medicine; 50 obstetric, surgical kit, suppl, 2-equipment; 49 obstritic, surgical kit, suppl, 1-drugs; midwifery kit—equipment, 2; 60 Cardiotocograp (CTG monitor), normal and twins Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) AND Uterine contraction (UC) detection; 60 resuscitation kit, basic (adult, neonate and child); 4 scanner, ultrasound, mobile, w/access; 60 Midwifery kit, 1-drugs; 60 resuscitation platform; and 8, 053 ready to use therapeutic food (RUTF) presented to the County Health Team of Margibi to reduce challenges of stock out of essential lifesaving commodities, thereby enabling health service providers to provide uninterrupted services.
The PAPD represents the highest level of government commitment to investing in and driving socio-economic development in the country. Additionally, the interventions on neonatal health are aligned to the Liberia Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) 2019-2023. The main strategic focus and priority of the ENAP is to improve the health of neonates and to ensure availability and accessibility of this services in public health facilities.
The care of children with SAM is aligned to the government’s National Nutrition Policy (NNP) as well as the UNICEF Global Nutrition Strategy.
(April 25, 2022, Paynesville City, Liberia)—The Ministry of Health is hosting a five-day regional training on “Mobilizing Communities for Reproductive Health and Family Planning”. It is being held at the Kendeja Hotel, Paynesville City, outskirt of Monrovia.
The training, which started today, April 25 -29,2022, is organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Breakthrough Action-Liberia.
Firmly grounded in proven practices, Breakthrough ACTION has been working in partnership with the Liberian government through the Ministry of Health, civil society, and communities in twelve counties across Liberia to implement creative and sustainable SBC programming, nurture SBC champions, mainstream new techniques and technologies, and advocate strategic and sustained investment in SBC.
“Breakthrough ACTION is a cooperative agreement funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to lead our SBC programming in Liberia. Breakthrough ACTION is a partnership led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs in collaboration with Save the Children, etc”, Dr. Saratu Olabode-Ojo, Chief of Party, Breakthrough Action-Liberia, disclosed at the opening of the training. “This training a five-day training. It’s a regional community engagement training, organized for Anglo-phone countries. There are seven countries present here. The idea is to training them on community engagement with a focus on family planning and reproductive health intervention.”
Dr. Saratu Olabode-Ojo, Chief of Party, Breakthrough Action-Liberia
“Breakthrough ACTION ignites collective action and encourages people to adopt healthier behaviors—from using modern contraceptive methods and sleeping under bed nets to being tested for HIV—by forging, testing, and scaling up new and hybrid approaches to social and behavior change (SBC).”
However, Hon. Joyce D Sherman, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health, has lauded USAID and Breakthrough ACTION for their continuous interventions and at the same time called on participants to remain focused during the five-day training period.
“Taking responsibility as well as holding together, I see it as part of this training. However, I welcome you again”, she welcomed on behalf of the Minister of Health.
Hon. Joyce D Sherman, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services
The five-day training exercise focus is to strengthen participant’s capacities to carry out Community Mobilization for Reproductive Health and family planning, using the adapted Community Action Cycle (CAC).
At the end of the training, participants are expected to understand various concepts including social and behaviour change communication (SBCC); social and behavior change (SBC); Community Mobilization (CM) and how they interrelate to each other; assess and strengthen community capacity to identify and prioritize reproductive health (RH)/ family planning (FP) issues, plan and implement effective community activities to address these issues; articulate their feelings, values and attitudes about gender and how personal perspectives of gender affects their work with communities; monitor community mobilization process, outcomes, and learning across communities; and plan how the new skills and knowledge will be applied upon return to their respective countries.
Participant will be able to describe strategies to build partnership between communities and health system; explain and model strategies to orient the community to their RH/FP issues; discuss key considerations and model strategies to build trust, credibility and a sense of ownership with the community.
participants
These discussions and model strategies, when applied, would invite and encourage those most affected by RH/FP issues to meaningfully participate in CM. The participants will also assemble a Community Action Group (CAG) to work on key FP/RH issues, describe and modem approaches and tools to explore and prioritize SBC determinants of RH/FP issues; identify community behavior that are easier or harder to change; examine culture changes during their lifetimes; explore the difference between respecting culture and changing culture and discuss when and how it’s appropriate to nudge changes in social and cultural norms; and model the development of a Community Action Plan to address prioritized FP/RH determinants.
Finally, at the end of the training, participants are expected to define process and tools for supportive supervision, monitoring and reporting of community mobilization initiatives, identify the areas of improvement for the workshop, and annex commitment to use their new skills to mobilize communities in their respective countries.
Their interventions will harness the demonstrated power of communication—from mass media to community outreach to user-driven social media campaigns—to inspire long-lasting change, while also taking advantage of innovative approaches from marketing science, behavioral economics, and human-centered design.
All travelers must complete the Health Screening from via the Liberia Travel application (“Lib travel app”) at http://liberiacoviidtravel.org. anyone experiencing problems with the app can access a copy of the form via the National Public Health Institute of Liberia website @ nphil.gov.lr.
All travelers 18 years and above Must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon arrival and present a negative COVID-19 test result no earlier than 71 hours before departure.
All travelers without proof of vaccination will be returned to their country of embarkation at the expense of the airline.
COVID-19 testing is not required on arrival at Robert’s International Airport
Outgoing Travelers:
All travelers Must check the COVID-19 guidelines and regulations of their destination country.
All persons traveling out of Liberia are encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and follow the COVID-19 protocol requirement(s) of the destination country.
All persons traveling to countries that require a COVID-19 test must present a negative COVID-19 test certificate before departure.
COVID-19 sample collection (testing) for PCR and RDT is available at the Union Center located on Sophia Road in Congo Town, Monrovia from 9 am to 4 pm, 7 day7s a week. Travelers are encouraged to register at http://liberiacoviidtravel.org. prior to arrival at the Union Center. To register, select “Request a Travel Certificate” and fill out the requested information. Travelers should ensure they provide correct contact details and will receive a unique identification number to retrieve their test result online (http://liberiacoviidtravel.org). Travelers are encouraged to print a hard copy of their negative COVID-19 certificate before arriving at the Report’s International Airport.
Testing fees for outgoing travelers that require COVID-19 travel certificate: ECOWAS citizens traveling to ECOWAS Countries must pay US$50 for cost of COVID-19 testing while those travelling outside the ECOWAS region must pay US$75. Payments can either be made online or in cash at the UBA banking window at the Union Testing Center.
Travelers who test positive will be denied travel and must adhere to the Liberia’s COVID-19 Case Management Guidelines. A re-test will be conducted on day five (5) based on prevailing health status.
The Ministry of Health with the statutory responsibility of promoting programs for Health and nutrition closely monitored all the processes leading to the passage of March 22, 2022, Nutrition Bill—the Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes (CMBS)—into law, by the 54th Honorable House of Representatives.
Following the passage of the CMBS Bill, there has been misinformation in the public domain based on an erroneous media circulation that Exclusive Breast Feeding is mandatory in Liberia.
Considering the misinformation, we wish to make the following clarifications:
The purpose of the Bill is to regulate te marketing of foods and other products that threaten the welfare and health of infants and young children in Liberia, It Does Not Make Exclusive Breast Feeding Mandatory for Women.
The 34th Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in 1981 as a minimum requirement to protect and promote appropriate infant and young child feeding. It encourages the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding, and guide the proper use of breastmilk substitutes—if they must be used.
It is medically proven that breastmilk is the breast food for infants in their first 1000 days. Among several other benefits, exclusive breastfeeding, 0-6 months of birth, makes a child healthy, intelligent, strong, and creates stronger bonds between a child and the mother, and reduces families’ spending on medication and breast milk Substitutes.
Liberia, as a member of the Comity of nations, is taking steps to domesticate the World Health Assembly’s recommendations. Over 84 countries have domesticated the Code.
With the foregoing, the Ministry of Health, therefore, commends the Honorable House of Representatives of the 54th National Legislature for passing the Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitute Bill into Law. We, therefore, encourage the August Body to review recommendations are still opportunities to listen to more opinions before the Senate concurs.
Special thanks to the Ministry of Health through the Nutrition Unit, and other agencies including Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, and the Joint Committee on Health and Judiciary of the House of Representatives. We also appreciate the support of our development partners including WHO, UNICEF, the Irish Embassy, UN REACH, WaterAid, Action Against Hunger, Concern World Wide, and SUNSCAL. We are grateful to other national and international institutions, women’s human rights and protection groups, the mothers, families, and the entire citizenry of the nation who continue to demonstrate support for under-five nutrition. It is hoped that this effort will double to accelerate a healthy and better future for Liberia.
Education doesn’t end after nurses graduate and become licensed RNs. Instead, they start on a path of lifelong learning that goes on throughout their nursing careers. It’s critical that they continue gathering information to keep abreast of changes in nursing.
Nurses continue to learn throughout their careers to gain knowledge so they can competently fulfill their scope of practice and standards of care. It may include formal or informal educational opportunities.
Healthcare is complex and practices are always evolving. A large segment of the patient population is over the age of 65, and older patients tend to suffer from one or more chronic health conditions. Nurses must have the necessary expertise to treat elderly patients and help them manage illnesses such as heart or kidney disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, dementia, Alzheimer’s and obesity.
Lifelong learning gives nurses the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills needed to resolve issues they may encounter while taking care of patients. When nurses are up to date on new techniques, policies and procedures they take concrete steps in saving lives. This lifelong learning is gained from clinical practice and learning from colleagues.
Based on this, a US based Liberian health and humanitarian organization has completed training of over 200 nurses in Liberia. “It is our organization of giving back a country from. We believe coming back to Liberia to contribute an obligation as Liberian nurses who based in the United States providing services for the people of that country”, Joyce Kolu Mator, Chief Executive Officer of the Organization.
The team of trainers includes: Joe Mator, Jozelle Mator, Famata Williams, Rachel M. Garnett, Zelina Clarke, and Johnetta Sumo, who are conglomerate of nurses grown from different health facilities in the US.
(Greenville, Sinoe County, Liberia)— over one hundred eye patients across Sinoe County and its environs have received free screening and eye surgery, as part of efforts to minimize people living with blindness or eye condition. This was a joint effort by the Ministry of Health, and Samaritan’s Purse in collaboration with New Sight Eye Center.
The Cataract Surgical outreach began with pre-screening from March 7-11 in several parts of Sinoe County including Greenville City, Taryuowon, Solokai, Yumobo, Karquekpo, Konwiah, Chebioh, Government Camp, ITI, among other places, as a prerequisite to the surgical eye operation. Official eye surgery stated at the F. J. Grante Memorial Hospital in Sinoe County, from Monday, March 14 to Thursday, 17, 2022. Over 800 persons were screened while 104 of the number successfully underwent surgical eye operations.
As a way of providing patients with free access to mobility, the Samaritan’s Purse (the supporting partner to the project) transported closed to eight-hundred patients from the aforementioned localities to the F. J. Grante Memorial Hospital, to and fro. Few of them suffered from cataract, pterygium, and cyst. They received free medical and surgical eye operation, logging, feeding and transportation in the package.
Speaking on behalf of government and the Ministry, Dr. Joseph Kerkulah, National Eye Health Program Director of MOH, said: “A new strategy was employed to motivate the general public to pull in for medical services. We carried a patient on one of the community radios for interviews, both before and after. And he was taken to his community where there was jubilation amongst the locals. This strategy worked for us as a team”.
He thanks the Sinoe County Health Team for their warmth welcome and Cooperation throughout the exercise.
Dr. Kerkulah at the same time lauded Samaritan’s Purse and the New Sight Eye Center for unremittingly buttressing government’s efforts, and reassumed government’s commitment and collaboration with partners for providing and delivering quality health services for all Liberians.
William Bedford, Community Health Department Director of the Sinoe County Health Team, in remarks, thanks the team for rendering such a remarkable service to the people of the county, and asked for the team’s return in the future.
The Ministry’s press statement further noted that most people who regained new sight were adults, constituting about 95% of the total number of patients who underwent the surgical operation.
To meet the designated target by the Surgical Team, a strategic was drafted by the team on its first working day (Monday, March 13, 2022) to encourage people living with eye complication can move to the hospital for free medication. During the meeting, field teams were constituted to mobilize and track patients with eye complications. It was agreed to selected a patient who will encourage other patients through radio talk show to create awareness.
This strategy employed by the team worked well as patients were in their numbers at the F.J. Grante Memorial Hospital, when Mr. Stephen T. Chie, 62 years old, made two appearances (before and after) on Liberty Broadcasting System. He was firstly accompanied by Dr. Robert Dolo, New Sight Eye Center Executive Director. They both encouraged patients to seek eye medication at the hospital.
On that same Monday, a team led by Jetty Zebeh went to ITI in River Cess County to create awareness and screen patients. Through their joint efforts an influx of patients pulled to the surgical site in Greenville.
Tuesday, about 28 patients’ sights were restored including Stephen T. Chie, who was at the center of creating awareness in his local Sarpo and Kru vernaculars.
Stephen T. Chie, a farmer, who had gone blind over four years explained his ordeal: “I have been for over four now. Almost all my women including some friends have abandoned me because of my condition.’’ He continued: “I am sure the reason this is because I am unable to do what I used to when I was seeing”.
He explained that he woke one morning in 2018, his eyes started itching. Few months later, his sight started declining, which led to his blindness.
Meanwhile, after a successful surgical operation, he was glad to have his sight restored; hence, his people in the outskirt of Greenville were in total jubilation upon his arrival along with the surgical team at his resident.
His grandchild asked him whether he could see them clearly: “I can see clearly: every color of cloths on you I can it now. Oh this is my daughter who can give me hard time that her here? This time around you will not fool me again”, he said jokingly.
In the same vein, Morris Swen, 59, said: “I am the Town Chief of Government Camp. I got blind for almost 2yrs, now. Though, I am the Town Chief but doing my own work is not easy. I cannot do anything by myself. Somebody has to help me through. But by the grace of God, I am sure through this operation, He will help me through,” he said with conviction before undergoing the surgical operation on Wednesday afternoon.
Immediately after his successful operation he noted: “Being blind wasn’t easy but by the grace of God, I was able to regain my sight. I am happy and I feel blessed because if it weren’t for God Almighty I wouldn’t had regained my sight,” Mr. Swen expressed with joy.
Gabriel Worjloh, a resident of Solokai explained: “I suffered 6yrs of blindness. I don’t know what the cause is. But one day my eye started hitting. From that day, my eye condition has worsened. I cannot even see you. I am only hearing your voice.”
After the operation he noted: “I bless God for my children who stood by me throughout my years of blindness. I am grateful to God for his intervention in my life and the chance. I have once more life to live again.”
The surgical outreach ended with a program, with supporting and implementing partners using the occasion to appreciate government for providing them the space to contribute to humanity, especially in the Country’s health sector.
(March 1, 2022, Monrovia, Liberia)—the government of Liberia, through Ministry of Health, has officially commissioned Liberia’s first National hemodialysis center, named Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Dialysis Center; in honor of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
The dedication followed after a thorough assessment of the need to establish a dialysis center in Liberia, the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led government in 2014, entered into a bilateral agreement with the Government of japan to build the first National Hemodialysis Center.
Subsequently, a medical team from the JFK Hospital was sent to Japan for training in early 2014. Regrettably, after their return, the project to establish the hemodialysis center was put on hold due to competing priorities from the devastating effects of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic that left our health system. The epidemic inflicted many Liberians, but we are told that the death of health workers reduced our health workforce by a little of over 8%.
One of such disastrous consequences evolving from the deadly EVD epidemic was the unfortunate death of one of the medical team members who traveled to Japan for hemodialysis training. Dr. Abraham Borbor, the nation’s dialysis pioneer, lost his life due to the deadly EVD in 2014.
On May 9, 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Liberia as the first country in the West African nation to eradicate the deadly EVD epidemic; Liberia had to make plans for recovery. The government developed a new post-Ebola five-year strategic plan to rebuild the health system; this plan included training of Medical Doctors and Nurses in various specialized health related fields.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Dialysis Center
As government is continuity, in early 2018, the government of Japan met with the newly elected government of President George Manneh Weah, through the Ministry of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah and her able deputies without any hesitation, welcome the invitation to re-engage and further strengthen bilateral partnership to ensure the establishment of the National Hemodialysis Center.
Participants at the Opening Ceremony
At this point, Tokushukai Medical Group, sent Dr. Milanga to established, and plans were made to send the members of team on a study tour to Ghana to prepare them for the task of building a National Hemodialysis Center. The role of the Tokushukai Medical Group was 2-fold; to train a team of 6 (2 medical Doctors, 1 surgeon, 2 nurses and 1 biomedical technician), and purchase the equipment to run the Center. Through NIPRO (a partner of Tokushukai Medical Group) to new dialysis machines, a water system, and one-year warranty on the maintenance of machines were purchased and sent to Liberia.
Participants at the Opening Ceremony
Due to the need for additional resources, a proposal was submitted by the MOH to the World Bank, requesting additional support for the Center, World Bank approved our request for funding, and provided the much-needed support through the World Health Organization (WHO).
It is through this support of over $400,000 from the World Bank that the team completed the study tour, and the building was completely renovated, and extra consumables were purchased. Efforts to acquire the critical facility began a decade ago during the regime of former President Sirleaf to provide access to much-needed dialysis care in Liberia.
However, President George Manneh Weah, who officially opened the Center, acknowledged difficulties Liberians had endured in accessing advanced dialysis-related medical services outside of the country.
President Weah Making Remarks at the opening Ceremony
With the existential issues of Liberians travelling abroad for kidney treatment and other disease complications, he recounted: “For too long, Liberians have had to travel out of the country to seek dialysis treatment. No one needs to tell you how costly that is. Not only would you have to worry about the cost of treatment in a foreign country, there is airfare, accommodation, and so many other associated costs which make the overall cost of this lifesaving treatment unaffordable for many.”
President Weah expressed optimism that with the opening of the first Dialysis Center, “anyone and everyone can get affordable dialysis treatment right here in Liberia.”
He described the ten-bed facility as a good beginning, which he insisted is insufficient to address the needs of the entire country.
Dr. Weah unveiling the Center
“I therefore wish to call for the early expansion of this facility, and its replication in other counties in order to provide easy access for our citizens who reside in the rural areas,” the Liberian Leader asserted.
President Weah stressed the need for appropriate budgetary support for the operation and maintenance of the facility, including the adequate supply of consumables and medications, and training.
President Weah reflected how he was briefed in 2018 upon taking office by the then newly-appointed Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah who told him that there was an urgent need for dialysis facilities in Liberia.
Dr. Jallah leading dignitaries touring the center
Dr. Jallah had told the President about existing efforts in the pipeline since 2011 under the previous administration for the establishment of a National Dialysis Center.
The President said he quickly instructed the Minister to exert every effort to bring the project to fruition, giving her his every encouragement and support.
“And so today, four years later, I am pleased to be here to participate in the Opening Ceremony of the first Liberia National Dialysis Center,” the President said.
President Weah emphasized the importance of the National Dialysis Center, describing it as a major milestone in the Government’s effort to provide comprehensive and modern health facilities to the People of Liberia. He particularly acknowledged the efforts of former President Sirleaf and ex- Health Minister Dr. Walter Gwinegale.
Dr. Weah also extolled the extraordinary role played by former Liberian Ambassador to Japan, Madam Youngor Telewoda, who is now accredited to Germany.
The President added: “I would also like to express my thanks and appreciation to all of those who, under my Administration, have worked tirelessly to complete the Liberia National Dialysis Center, including the Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah and her able team, as well as the administrative and medical leadership of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center.”
He extended profound thanks and deep appreciation to Dr. Tokuda Torao, the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Administrators of the Tokushukai Medical Corporation for what he termed “his kind philanthropy, without which this project might have taken much longer to realize.”
President Weah cutting ribbon of the center
Meanwhile, Liberia’s Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, in remarks, thanked the Chairman of Tokushukai, Dr. Afuso Hisaaki, World Health Organization, World Bank, USAID, and her able staff at the Ministry for their continuous support to the project as well as the country’s health sector.
She expressed excitement for the project which will able treatment of kidney and other disease complications instead of Liberians travelling abroad for treatment: “I am excited because many Liberians suffering from kidney disease will receive treatment at their own health facility, which is a great achievement and a blessing for all of us, as a nation”.
Dr. Jallah, Liberia’s Health Minister, making remarks
Given her quest for the provision of quality healthcare delivery and to seeing the completion of the project coupled with its furnishing, Dr. Jallah recalled: “To seeing this project completed, I moved from store to store in Ghana to get some equipment that are not seen in Liberia. Fortunately, after all the turnaround, I was able to find them in one of the store.”
Earlier, Dr. Jerry Browne, Chief Executive Officer of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, underscored the importance for human resource development for the full operationalization and maintenance of the nation’s only dialysis center. A team of international medical practitioners has been providing instinct training to Liberian nurses and doctors are to take charge of the Center in the near future.
Dr. Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, making remarks
“Today, we are dedicating this beautiful facility but we should make sure this facility is maintained, nurses and doctors are trained and paid, hence, there should be stable electricity and there should be stand-by generator for this facility, so our people can’t suffer.”
Dr. Clement, WHO Country Representative to Liberia, making remarks
“For the full advancement of health development, it needs holistic approach. The Ministry needs support in advancing the health agenda of the Country, which the World Health Organization (WHO) is committed to”. Dr. Peter Clement, WHO Country Representative to Liberia.
Several speeches were made during the dedication, as partners commit to contributing to the country health sector in order to meet universal health benchmarks.
(Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia, February 18, 2022) As part of bilateral relations with the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health for the provision of quality healthcare Services delivery in Liberia, the Italian Embassy near Monrovia through its Ambassador-At-Large H. E. Riccardo Milici, has donated one laptop computer and a Samsung iPhone to the Nursing and Midwifery Division of the Ministry of Health. The donation was made in Congo Town on Friday, February 18, 2022.
The donation will enhance equipment of the Ministry’s newly established mini health post aimed at providing healthcare services for employees of the Ministry, according to Diana T. Sarteh, Acting Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer of the Ministry.
“We have brought these equipment to enhance the working of the mini post being established by the Ministry. We are grateful for being in partnership with the Ministry and Liberia as a whole”, H.E. Riccardo Milici noted.
The Italian Embassy has made significant sacrifices and needed contributions to the health sector of Liberia, with assorted medical supplies donated to the ministry being few.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the government and people of Liberia, Hon. George Paygar Jacobs, Assistant Minister for Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Health recounted the numerous contributions made by the government and people of Italy, describing it as a milestone for the provision of quality service delivery.
“On behalf of the Minister of Health, we want to appreciate you for the delivery of these items. And thanks also for the support and commitment to the health sector over the period,” Minister Jacobs remarked.
(February 17, 2022, Monrovia, Liberia)—the Ministry of Health in collaboration with local and international partners has concluded a three-day long mental health workshop aimed at developing a theory of change that would provide a strategic directions to mental health and psychosocial integration into selected countries’ national emergency preparedness and response plans on the African continent.
The workshop, which started from February 15 to 17, 2022, was held in Monrovia under the theme “Strengthening Mental Health And Psychosocial Support Integration Into Emergency Preparedness And Response.”
Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah who officially kicked off the opening told participants that Mental, neurological and substance use disorders are highly prevalent and burdensome on the African continent as a result of large numbers of emergencies, including conflicts and outbreaks; such as Ebola, COVID-19 and other disasters, saying “All such emergencies have a huge impact on the mental health, causing widespread of distress and impact negatively on national development”.
The Liberian Health Minister was concerned about the permeating and unfortunate mental health emergency that causes suffering and migration which continues to impose threat on the African continent.
She said, those unfortunate situations are increasingly rare in the region of West Africa; of which Liberia is inclusive in experiencing emergency, and “we have seen the negative impact of war and other traumatic experiences on our people’s mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola epidemic and many other outbreaks, including fewer and diseases mainly increase the mental health need of the people in Liberia.”
In supra, the MOH recognizes the need for action to reduce the burden, and to enhance the capacity of healthcare service providers to respond to this growing challenge. The National Mental Health Program is aimed at scaling up services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders across the country.
“As a recognition of the importance of mental health, the MOH and partners have been working hard, to experience access to and improve the deliverables of mental health services.
“Hundreds of healthcare workers across the country were trained and equipped with skills to provide mental healthcare.” She remarked earlier.
However, the development of comprehensive description and illustration of how MHPS integration will translate into positive health outcomes in short, medium and long range to contribute to the overall goal of strengthening mental health system in Africa, especially in emergency response was highlighted and discussed among participants.
Shared lessons from COVID-19 and other emergency responses; and familiarizing the participants with MHPS minimum services package for effective emergency response were part of the three days learning sessions.
Hon. Angie Tarr Nyankoon, Director of National Mental Health Program at the Ministry of Health shared with participants some gains Liberia has made in drafting mental health legislation that are expected to be in circulation for public consumption.
“The Liberian government has passed a mental health law that is printed into handbill and is ready for dissemination to educate the public on mental health issues and ways forward”, she noted.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah, Africa’s CDC Health of Division for Disease Control and Prevention, called for sustainability of such educative international engagement to ensure an integrated mental health emergency preparedness response on the African Continent.
“What’s next for us? How do we link it to a sustainable in order to ensure that we integrate it into an emergency preparedness response. What do we do concrete to move this forward in our countries. The consortium is here to support, Africa CDC is here to support and this one areas where Africa CDC does very well to integrate what you are doing into a sustainable system within the country,” He averred.
Climaxing the workshop, Montserrado County Health Team’s head, Dr. Yatta Wapoe, speaking on behalf of government and the Ministry of Health, used the occasion to thank the organizers for selecting Liberia as host.
“We are happy to have this opportunity to collaborate with a coalition of mental health experts from the African Center for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), the Eastern African Health Community and the UK Health Rapid Response. We are also glad to be joined by representatives from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Cameroon as well as the very hardworking mental health and psychosocial health support representative in Liberia and other countries. This workshop is an important step towards making mental health a priority and the essential part of the emergency response and the overall strengthening of mental health system in Africa.
The National Mental Health and Psychosocial pillar as part of the IMS has worked tirelessly in responding to various outbreaks. Moving forward, the government through the Ministry of Health commits the full support and integrate mental health and psychosocial support into the emergency preparedness and response.
Successful scaling up is the joint responsibility of governments, health professionals, civil society, communities, and families, with support from the international community.
