(Congo Town, Monrovia, January 22, 2021)—The provision of quality healthcare service delivery remains paramount concern of the Ministry of Health (MOH), although outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus earlier last year has impeded fabrics of the sector. But the Ministry’s commitment to the health need of Liberians cannot be over emphasized.

In this vein, the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health and its partners in the health sector have embarked on plans gear towards vaccinating children across the Country with typhoid vaccine.

Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhoid bacteria. It is still a serious health threat in the developing world, especially for children.

The Ministry and partners will commence the four-day typhoid vaccination campaign in the Country beginning February 24 to 28, 2021.

The vaccination is expected to target children between nine (9) months to fifteen (15) years old in the fifteen counties of Liberia.

“Parents please take your children who are from 9 months old to 15 years to the nearest vaccination sites, clinics or hospitals for the typhoid vaccine”, Lahannah Ville-Jawara, Coordinator for Health Promotion at the Ministry, said during a media briefing.

During the campaign, vaccine will be given at special locations in communities and at clinics or hospitals, which citizens will have free access to so as to minimize the rate of typhoid fever in the country, according to Mrs. Jawara.

According to her, the Ministry in collaboration with its partners has developed simple typhoid messages which will be played on various communities’ radio stations for publicity.

“We are engaging stakeholders including the Medical and Dental Counsel, the Marketing Association of Liberia, Crusaders for Peace, the Traditional Counsel, among other groupings to create massive awareness on this upcoming vaccination campaign”. We believe they will motivate mothers to take their children for the vaccine,” she opined. 

Also speaking was William T. Gaye, who attributed delay of the campaign to the Coronavirus outbreak. He said they have already started engaging different sectors in educating parents about the importance of the vaccine: “due to the outbreak of the virus we decided to pause the exercise. Now, we have resumed it.

People with typhoid can have several signs and symptoms including persistent fever, general body weakness and sweating.

The disease can be spread fast through facial-oral route (Saliva, Kissing), using unclean hand when eating, using contaminated utensil, unclean environment where rats, roaches, live in the home or community.

Signed: ______________________________________

            Felecia Gbesioh

            Director of Communication, MOH

(Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia, January 19, 2021)—In an effort to enhance corporation and collaboration in the Liberian Health Sector, the District Governor for District 403A2 of Lions Club International, Lossou G. Hermann Djibom has paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah. 

The Lions Club District Governor’s visit to the Minister’s office is aimed at reviewing health projects implemented by the organization, undertaking two (2) new projects to include malaria and sickle cell, as well as identifying challenges faced by the Country health sector for amicable intervention. The visit is also geared towards strengthening collaboration and heightening cooperation between the Ministry and the Lions Club for the sole purpose of building resilient health care system for all, and to also buttress government’s efforts.  

The Lion Club International has been partnering with the Government of Liberia through the Ministry, particularly, in the areas of healthcare delivery as its way of contributing to the Country’s Health system and humanity. It is one of the biggest not-for-profit charity Organization in the world that seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of local communities especially the blind, the visually impaired, and the underprivileged through direct services to communities.

In supra, the organization has initiated several projects in the country’s health sector including renovation of the Government Hospital Eye Center in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, equipping of the Eye Clinic at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, among others. 

Making remarks during the visit, Governor Lossou G. Hermann Djibom named malaria, sickle cell and other diseases as leading diseases in the West African region that need serious attention by stakeholders, which the organization has decided to make immediate intervention.

Governor Djibom, who is a progressive Melvin Jones Fellow with five (5) diamonds, told Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah that, following an assessment by the Lion Club international, additional two projects (investment in malaria and sycosis control) have been considered to be implemented under his organization. “Under this mandate we have decided to add two additional projects: Malaria and sycosis. You know intense of tropical diseases in the sub-region, these two diseases are most important. So it is important Lion that focuses on these two diseases.”

Before his departure to Lomé, Togo, he is also expected to tour the Liberia Government Hospital Eye Center in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, and the Eye Clinic at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center.

Welcoming Governor Djibom and delegation, Dr. Jallah lavished praises on Lions Club International for its numerous contribution to the country’s health system amid outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Minister said the implementation of major projects in parts of the Country by the Lion Club International are welcoming initiatives that have been appreciated by Liberians, naming the renovation of the Government Hospital Eye Center in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, and the equipped Eye Clinic at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center. 

 “On the line of the eyes, the people of Liberia really appreciate all that have been done by the Lion Club, especially the new eyes services at J. F. K. I am sure the people of Grand Bassa County are taking full advantage of the state of the act equipment were placed there,” Minister Jallah, who is egger to improving the Country’s health system, said. “I am very pleased to hear about the new project, especially in the line of sycosis which I have a passion for.”

The Minister made the statement on January 19, 2021 at the Ministry of Health in Congo Town

The Minister used the occasion to call on Liberians to continuously follow all health protocols prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and health authorities in the country for their safety, saying “We should not forget that the virus in the Country. Please let’s continuously follow all of the health measures prescribed by WHO and health authorities in the country to avoid further spread of the virus”.

Signed: ________________________________________________

            Felecia Gbesioh

            Director of Communication, MOH

Liberia’s Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah has officially dedicated a newly constructed county Health Team office in Sinje, Garwula District, Grand Cape Mount County.

The new county health office dedicated yesterday, December 22, 2020 will host health officers assigned in the county and effectuate free flow of administrative communication between the county and the Health Ministry. The one hundred eighty thousand United States Dollars ($180,000.00USD) project was funded under the Fixed Amount Reimbursement Agreement (FARA) project. 

Speaking on behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Health, Dr Wilhelmina Jallah said: “On behalf of my boss, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah and the Ministry of Health family, I want to extend sincere thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Louise Mapleh, Program Manager of the USAID sponsored Project, and her team that worked diligently to make sure that this project become a success”.

She praised the Almighty God for sparing lives of Liberians during these trier times of the Coronavirus pandemic: “we want to also thanks the Almighty God for seeing this day; He is able to make us seeing this day despite the spread of the virus.

Acknowledging series of projects, which are expected to be dedicated by the Ministry in many parts of the Country, Dr. Jallah  said collaboration and corporation from citizens is the bedrock to achieving any development goal.

She urged resident of Sinje to serve as ambassadors of the facility for its safety and maintenance and work with assigned health workers at the Health Center for its smooth functioning “We put our people in your hands for you to take care of them”.

She also hailed the people of Sinje and Liberians at large for the resilience demonstrated in the fight against the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Jallah, however, reminded them to bear in mind that Covid-19 is not yet eradicated and urged all citizens to keep heeding health protocols instituted by the Ministry to the pandemic.

The Health Minister said she was exceedingly happy to visit that part of Country to dedicate such a huge project that will provide quality health service delivery in Grand Cape Mount and its environs.

In separate remarks, the people of Sinje Lauded the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health for constructing such office in the County

Signed:_______________________________________

          Felecia Gbesioh

         Director of Communication

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has, once again, received another donation of fifteen (15) new hard top Land Cruisers ambulances from the World Bank to ensure the safe transfer of patients to health facilities across the Country. 

The donation was made on Friday, October 23, 2020, at the Ministry’s office in Congo Town. The 15 ambulances are great milestones for the ministry and government. 

In a brief statement, the energetic Health Minister, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, lavished praises on the World Bank for continuously contributing to the Country’s health sector: “On behalf of my Boss, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, MOH, IMS and all those who have been participating in the COIVD-19 response, I want to say thank for this donation. These ambulances were purchased under the COVID-19 response to be used by MOH, not only to transport COVID-19 patients but, to enable us strengthen routine care for our people. We want to thank the world Bank and our local team for all the work that they did collaboratively to have made these ambulances reached. I want to thank UNOPS for the delivery and even taking on the responsibility to procure these ambulances under the World Bank project. I want to turn these keys over to the administration, which will later be turned over to the Transport Department We are going to monitor all of these ambulances and make sure they are all use for the intended. Your contribution to this Government is something that cannot be overemphasized. We are proud of this donation, and we will ensure that these items reach their intended beneficiaries.   

Dr. Jallah said the distribution of the donation made is expected to commence within the soonest possible time. “We will soon start the distribution of these ambulances to our needed counties once all modalities are worked out,” she informed.

The Minister used the occasion to call on Liberians to continuously follow all health protocols prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and health authorities in the country for their safety, saying “We should not forget that the virus in the Country. Please let’s continuously follow all of the health measures prescribed by WHO and health authorities in the country to avoid further spread of the virus. Thanks for all the work that you do for us intense of keeping us strict as we all embark on keeping Liberia save.”.

Meanwhile, the Project Manager of World Bank to Liberia, Mr. Mathew Flomo, disclosed that the donation is in fulfillment of a promise made to the Ministry in early August this year to procure 15 additional vehicles (ambulances) to heighten the Country’s fight against the pandemic, which according to him is World Bank’s goal to curtail further spread of the deadly pandemic. 

“Madam Minister, this donation is in fulfillment of a promise made by the World Bank to beef up the Ministry’s fight against the virus. Therefore, I am pleased to turn over these vehicles to the government through your Ministry to enhance the fight against the virus. We hope that together we can end this global health crisis,” 

However, after the novel coronavirus pandemic first case in Liberia was reported on March 16, 2020, the Ministry of Health and the Government of Liberia obtained funds from the World Bank to support Liberia’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Project. 

The project intends to support the MOH with essential equipment including vehicles (ambulances) that are required for use by the Ministry and other frontline agencies involved in the response. 

The 15 ambulances were strategically and durably procured by UNOPS through the World Bank. 

This donation is aimed at equipping the Ministry with the needed logistics to effectively follow the outbreak of COVID-19 promptly.

Since the outbreak of the virus in the country, this is the third time the World Bank has made such a huge donation to the Country through the Ministry. In July and August this year, the Financial body donated 20 ventilators (in addition to the 4 ventilators government had in Country) and 10 hardtop ambulances to boost Liberia’s preparedness in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. As it stands, the World Bank has donated 25 ambulances donated in total.

Signed: ____________________________

      Felecia Gbesioh

      Director of Communication, MOH 

Pharmacists across the country converged at the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday, September 25, 2020, to Joined ranks with millions of pharmacists globally to celebrate World Pharmacists Day, this year themed “Transforming Global.”

The annual day is used to highlight the value of the pharmacy profession to stakeholders and to celebrate pharmacy globally. It was originally adopted in 2009 at the World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Every year on September 25th, pharmacists around the globe celebrate World Pharmacists Day. This day focuses on the role pharmacists play in improving health on a global scale.

Speaking during the celebration, Liberian Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah narrated that immediately when she ascended at the helm of the Ministry, the Pharmaceutical Department was firstly engaged by her team in order to improve the sector, something she had envisaged in the private sector.

“We firstly invited the Department’s heads to a meeting to keep the system workable, because providing accessible and quality health delivery is something we had envisioned while in the private sector. Thereafter, we also engaged all of our pharmacists across the Country. This strategy was intended to bring all of our professional pharmacists together, so we can collectively work in unison, resulting to this mammoth gathering of pharmacists who travelled from all works of live to congregate here today.

“I believe they are very importance in our society: pharmacists use their broad knowledge and unique expertise to ensure that people get the best from their medicines. We ensure access to medicines and their appropriate use, improve adherence, coordinate care transitions and so much more,” she told the gathering

Meanwhile, Dr. Jallah believes pharmacists working and holding together is the best solution to eradicating the selling of drugs in street corners in the country, emphasizing “We can do a lot of things if we can work and hold together as a team. People go to a pharmacy and get anything they want of their choice which is bad for our society. All of these things are causing problems for us. However, drugs that are sole in buckets have gone partially, but yet some are still around.”

Lamenting on the ongoing saga with health workers’ refusal to return to work due to salary increment and ambiguous demands, the energetic Minister said the Ministry is still concerned but negotiation and dialogue are the best solutions to addressing their plights.

“People just think we are not concerned about the health care workers’ demands; we are concerned. what I think happening here is we cannot just address all of the issues as once. They (health Workers) are important to us because when you are sick it is their responsibility to take care of you.

“Remember, sickness has no border. Therefore, dialoguing and negotiating with them will give us all a long way. We are here to take care of the people.  This is a responsibility that has been given to us,” she noted

Meanwhile, on behalf of the Government of H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah and the great people of Liberia she extended unflinching thanks and appreciation to the Pharmaceutical Association of Liberia (PAL) as well as partners for always working with the Ministry. Minister Jallah at the same time encouraged the Association to continue on its good footing for the betterment of the Country’s health Sector.

Earlier was the Keynote Speaker of the day Dr. Clement Lugala, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Liberia, who believes the role of Pharmacists in the health sector is beyond the product-oriented fashion of medicines and distribution. According to the WHO’s Representative, Pharmacists should seek the interest of their patients and at the same time, build a workable relationship with them in order to meet their professional goals.

“The role of Pharmacists is transforming beyond the product-oriented fashion of medicine and distributing drugs. We must build a relationship with patients; we must listen to them; it is the services we provide to the patients. However, when it comes to pharmacists, you probably think of the person behind the counter that fills your prescription. These pharmacists work long hours, usually standing the entire time. Along with dispensing pills and providing advice on medications, pharmacists also administer immunizations. Pharmacists who conduct research discover and test new medications.

“No matter what capacity pharmacists work in; they are considered medicine experts. These experts have considerable responsibility in health care. It’s up to them to ensure that medicine is effective and safe. Besides knowing about each type of medication, they must know about the different forms it comes in. There are liquids, tablets, capsules, topical medicines, drops, inhalers, and injections. They must also know how different medications react with one another. No wonder it takes eight years of college to become a pharmacist!” he indicated.

However, he used the occasion to call on health practitioners and scientists to embark on manufacturing medication so as to curtail the imputation of drugs on the African continent: “Africa is spending a lot on drugs imputation instead of manufacturing. We have the capacity here. The opportunity of the African Medicine Agency can be a game-changer if we stand up.”

Notwithstanding, Dr. Lugala said transforming the global health agenda will not be achieved fully “if we cannot define the role of the pharmacists, so pharmacists can contribute to key global health areas across different levels; and they must be enabled to serve in these capacities. They need to be facilitated if our pharmacists are to play a role in ECOWAS”.

According to him, Pharmacists can help to reduce the health disparity and achieve health for all if the needed opportunity is given: “if the need opportunity is given to our pharmacists, they will help to reduce the health disparity and achieve health for all…because they are there wherever we talk about access to drugs—even in our own planning and development agenda.”

He proposed for the Pharmaceutical workforce to be “fundamental in our Country, including Liberia can achieve universal health coverage, health security, and the sustainable development goal by 2030.”

Finally, Dr. Lugala, “in addition to safe handling and administration of medications, providing personalized and individualized care for patients is important to ensuring that they’re on the correct medication, at the correct dose, and taking it when appropriate”.

In an effort to effectuate and increase access to communication in the Health Sector as well as sustainable access to information dissemination, the Ministry of Health has received huge donation of 391 pieces of two-way radios from Last Miles Health.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the items were donated over the weekend at the Ministry in Congo Town. The pieces of radios are expected to be distributed in order to better improve access to stable and sustainable communication and respond to situation at various levels of the health sector. It will, besides, enhance and influence the Ministry’s decision making at certain strategic levels, especially when it comes to drugs distribution and supervision.

The two-way secured digital radios have the capacity to make available long-distance communication with GPS tracking capabilities and video analytics for on and off-premise security. The value is put at approximately US$155,000.00

However, making a statement during the donation, Ministry of Health Deputy Minister for Administration (DMA) Norwu Howard asserted that communication has the power to either make or break an organization. “In my career, one of the most important tools is the tool of communication—it has the power to make or break an organization.

“And, I think in these times as we should adjust to the new manner—because if it is not COVID today, it’s going be to another infection, or it going to be another disaster. I think the tools of communication that we have now will help a long way in making sure that we as a ministry know what is going on; we as a ministry can communicate to people who need information; We as a health sector and a country can use the tools of communication to not only talk about the good things that are happening in the Ministry but also things that are happening in the public which are health related,” she noted.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Health boss has praised the Communication Department of the Ministry for consistently and rapidly uploading news contents on the Ministry’s website, which has promoted the Ministry’s activities both locally and internationally.

“The Department of Communication has done a great job in uploading news contents to various platforms of the Ministry, especially the website,” she praised.

In a special statement, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah narrated that the donation came following a request to Last Miles Health to purchase some sets of radios that would be used to enhance effective communication at various levels.

“Whenever things happen in other parts of the country and it communicated to us, with this donation being made to us, we can move in to intervene immediately. However, one of our biggest networks that will use this donation is the supply chain.”

According to her, the radios will enhance routine services: “When we start distribution of the drugs to various counties across the country, these radios will monitor most of the activities. If anything happens on the way, somebody with the radio will immediately communicate it to us and we will move in. Even at the facility levels, our people will not struggle to communicate information to us. So, I think this is a very big milestone for us as a Ministry and people of this great republic.  Disseminating proper information to our people in the various facilities, I think it is very important.”

Dr. Jallah lauded Last Mile Health for the collaboration and at the same time cautioned beneficiaries of the supply to immediately communicate every necessary information to the Ministry for tracking, vowing to use the donation for the intended purpose.

The Provision of quality healthcare delivery for all is something Liberian Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah has over the past years ensured its realization. The Minister who hits the ground running has instituted visitation to health facilities as a key strategy to ensuring that the best quality of healthcare is provided to patients amid the sporadic Coronavirus pandemic.

To see this vision realize, Dr. Jallah on Thursday 13, 2020 embarked on inspection of health facilities in Margibi and Bong Counties respectively. The Minister’s surprised visit to both C.H. Rennie and Bong Mines Hospitals was intended to access the quality of service provided to patients, materials and drugs supplied given to health facilities are received and in stock. It was also meant to ensure necessary protection and safety for all healthcare workers.

Demystifying rumors of drugs shortage at various health facilities in the Country, the energetic Health Minister said the Ministry has always ensured drugs coupled with assorted medical supplies are available to government facilities for delivering of quality health services to the Liberian populace.

During the Minister’s stay at the C.H. Rennie hospital, she toured the facility ranging from ware house to pharmaceutical center to inspect the availability of drugs.

“Thanks honorable Minister for taking the bold step thus far. We have all the supplies stable and in stock for now. Every supplies sent to us are managed properly. Secondly, we have enough drugs here,” Dr.  Myer Chea Pajibo, County Health Officer (CHO) of the C.H. Rennie Hospital, told Dr. Jallah during the inspection.

He assured the Minister and team of proper monitoring of consignments stored at the facility for its intended purposes.

He indicated that they have been given an active focal person both for the county and the hospital, who is responsible to address challenges face by health facilities to be speedily mitigated.

In response, Dr. Jallah urged the CHO and Medical Director in the Counties to properly disseminate information continuously to health workers across the county, warning that people should be held responsible and accountable for whatever assignment or job given them. 

Courtesy of MOH Communication Unit