Around The Country: Updates From Five Counties – July 17, 2020

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Phebe Hospital has been closed since June 26 after Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Jefferson Sibley including several other nurses at the hospital tested positive for the virus

Phebe Referral Hospital in Suakoko District is set to resume normal activities after almost a month of closure, the hospital’s Communications Director, Samuel Kplaiwru has disclosed.

The hospital was on June 26, closed by the administration after advised by a team from the Liberia Incident Management System headed by Dr. Samson Arzoaquoio.

The facility was to be closed for about four days to allow it to be disinfected after several health workers at the hospital was tested positive, but the closure was extended.

Kplaiwru disclosed that the hospital has now been disinfected in order to reopen it to the public, adding that all of the COVID-19 patients at the hospital will soon be transferred to the treatment unit that is nearing completion.

Mr. Kplawiru assured that normal activities will soon resume at the only referral hospital in central Liberia. He said the hospital will resume normal activities between July 16 – 20.

The County Health Team headed by Dr. Adolphus Yeiah has been “instrumental and supportive” of the hospital’s plan to resume normal activities, Kplaiwru said.

Despite the misinterpretations of information relating to the reopening of the hospital, Mr. Kplawiru encouraged citizens of the county not to panic.

He furthered disclosed that through the County Health Team and the Hospital Administration, Phebe Hospital can now boast of having a modern treatment center for patients.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kplawiru also encouraged citizens of the county and patients making use of the health facility to follow all health protocols prescribed by the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia and the World Health organization to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Gbarpolu County: ‘No Mask, No Service’ Gaining Traction

Senator Armah Zulu Jallah also encourages people of the county to seek medical care at the hosiptal when they are sick | Photo By: Henry Gboluma, Jr.

A lawmaker of the county has emphasized the need for people to adhere to the ‘No Mask, No Service’ campaign launched by the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute as a means of curbing the spread of COVID-19.

Senator Armah Zulu Jallah told LocalVoicesLiberia on Thursday, July 16 that people “need to take the fight against coronavirus seriously by adhering to the health protocols that have been announced by health authorities.”

“Wearing a face mask, washing hands regularly, maintaining social distancing – these are serious, serious precautionary measures we need to take,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Senator Jallah wants people to always “make use of health facilities when they are sick” during the current health crisis.

“If someone is sick, you have to go to the nearest health facility, so they will be able to make an assessment. Not all the sicknesses will be COVID-19,” he said.

“But it is always good to seek the advice of medical practitioner when you are sick. So, we encourage our citizens to continue to do that.”

River Cess County: Malaria Training for Communities

The Ministry of Health’s Malaria Control Program has ended a week-long malaria control and prevention awareness for community dwellers in River Cess County. One-hundred-fifty persons – 25 from each of the six health districts benefited from the training.

Daniel Somah, the Social and Behavior Change and Communications Coordinator at the National Malaria Control Program, said COVID-19 is an outbreak but malaria has been around.

“So, there is a need for awareness to keep people reminded least they forget, and malaria kills more people,” he said.

Participants will serve as ambassadors in their respective communities to keep reminding people about the prevention of malaria which includes the proper way to use mosquito nets and cleaning of the surroundings.

 Sinoe County: Health Team, Partners Conduct Training

One-hundred-ninety-five community health assistants from 305 health communities have participated in a refresher training. The training was held in the nine health districts of the county.

The training, which was simultaneously conducted in various health districts of the county, was intended to reactivate the knowledge of community health assistants and community health service supervisors in their respective communities.

Participants were reminded about community entry, reporting templates and other COVID-19 response strategies, among others.

Johnathan Gbah, Community Health Team focal person, said the training, though overdue, came at an important time of the global pandemic, adding that it also focuses on creating awareness about COVID-19.

Lastine Seeboe Sackor, a community health assistant, appreciated the county health team for the new knowledge, saying, “It will make me more effective in engaging my community members.”

Since the departure of international NGO, Medical Team International in 2007 from the county, the county health team has been unable to train community health assistants and community health service supervisors.

Lofa County: Lawmaker Donates

Senator Tengbeh said the donation was part of his continued support towards healthcare delivery system in the county | Photo By: Arthur Kowah

Senator George Tengbeh has donated several medical and non-medical supplies to the Curran Lutheran Hospital in Zorzor Lofa County – a major referral hospital in the county.

Senator Tengbeh said the donation was part of his continued support towards healthcare delivery system in the county.

Receiving the donation, the administrator of Curran Lutheran Hospital, Bob Singbeh thanked the Senator for the gesture and pleaded with the lawmaker to work with others at the Llegislature to ensure that the hospital’s budgetary support is increased. Singbeh said that increasing the health facility’s budget will help save lives in the county.