Around The Country: Updates From Five Counties – September 15, 2021

Latest Updates From Across the Country: People in Gbarpolu County are upbeat about the launch of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine; In Sinoe County, COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Gains Momentum; Grand Gedeh County’s Major Hospital Constitutes its First Board of Directors to Enhance Lobby for support, and Over 25 nurse aids graduate in Margibi County

Gbarpolu County: Residents Upbeat about Vaccine Intake

A man receives his J&J jab at the launch of the vaccine rollout in Bopolu City | Photo By: Henry Gboluma, Jr.

Bopolu – Dozens of residents of Bopolu City have considered the J &J vaccines as one of the best ways to get protected against coronavirus disease.

Currently, the County Health Team is rolling out 7,485 doses of the J & J vaccines it received, according to the case management team lead, Dr. Peter George, who is also the Director of the Jallah Lone Hospital.

As a result, some residents have begun taking advantage and at the same time calling on others to get vaccinated, he said.

Bopolu District Commissioner Emmanuel Tokapa said after taking his shot: “The vaccine’s pain is not too much; so, let the people forget about the pain and come and protect themselves from this virus.”

James Flomo, a Resident of Bopolu City, added: “People have been saying all kinds of things about this vaccine this is why I decided to come and take it. So, I want to call on them to stop telling lies about this vaccine. the vaccine is good for us, let them come and take it.”

Solomon Tayblah, a local journalist who also got his jab, said: “I’m always encouraging people to get vaccinated. So, taking this vaccine today is just another way of increasing the good news about this J &J vaccine in Gbarpolu County.”

Since the rollout began, over 1,000 people have been vaccinated, according to Dr. George, Medical Director at the Jallah Lone Hospital.

Sinoe County: Health Team Officially Launch Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine

Mr. Wilson, Sinoe County Superintendent’s Chief of office staff, receives his single shot of the J&J vaccine | Photo By: Sarah Ellis

Greenville — The county health team through its community services department has officially launched the Johnson and Johnson vaccine in the county.

Speaking during the launching ceremony, Mr. Darius Geeplah, the county health services administrator, said the vaccine rollout is gear toward ending the spread of COVID-19.

According to Geeplah, the vaccines are safe and are given free of charge. He then dispelled misinformation that the vaccine is “dangerous and could result to death”, adding that speculations surrounding the vaccines are all “myth and far from the truth”.

He encouraged people to make use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, so as to prevent them from getting the virus.

Mr. Patrick Wilson, the County Superintendent Chief of office staff who spoke on behalf of the Superintendent during the launch of the vaccine rollout, commanded the county health team for their level of job done in fighting the Coronavirus pandemic in the county.

Wilson stressed that the county administration is committed to supporting the work of the health team. He was also the first person to get immunized with the vaccine and then encouraged residents to “make use of the opportunity” and get vaccinated.

Bong County: Preparing To Stop TB, Leprosy

Health workers from Bong, Nimba and Grand Bassa Counties converged in Gbarnga on Monday for the workshop | Photo By: Emmanuel Mafelah

Gbarnga — The Bong County Health Team under the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Program (NLTCP) is currently conducting a five-day case management scale-up training for health workers in Gbarnga.

The training, which started on Monday September 13 at the Bong County’s YMCA conference Hall, brought together health workers from 15 health facilities in Nimba, Bong and Grand Bassa Counties

Giving the overview of the training, Benjamin K. Quenneh, Case Management Coordinator of NLTCP, said Tuberculosis is a serious health issue that needs the collective efforts of all Liberians.

Mr. Quenneh urged participants to pay keen attention and learn about TB to help fight the illness.

He said, “Please take this training very important because to curtail TB in Liberia it depends on us all, irrespective of your position.”

Also speaking, Bong County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan Flomo, said the provision of quality healthcare service delivery remains a paramount concern of the Ministry of Health (MOH), despite the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The issue of TB in Liberia is a priority of the Ministry of Health and partners, he said. “We have had so many engagements with other partners that are working with the county health team in order to end TB in Liberia,” Dr. Flomo said.

“We want you to pay attention so that after this training you can be able to provide full service; you will be able to provide the right data and most importantly catering to patients of TB,” he added.

Grand Gedeh County: Major Hospital Constitutes Board

A partial view of the Martha Tubman Hospital in Zwedru | Photo By: Ben T.C. Brooks

Zwedru — For the first time, the Martha Tubman Memorial – the major referral hospital in Zwedru — has constituted its board of Directors.

The hospital board election was held over the weekend, bringing into position Grand Gedeh County Development Superintendent Madam Betty Breeze Doh as Chairperson and Civil Society Activist Madam Chuma Krayee as Co-Chair respectively.

Speaking to reporters, board Chairperson-elect Madam Doh said the body was constituted to help the hospital administrative staff lobby for support.

She added that with “passion and experience”, the board members will work with partners and individuals in and out of the county to improve the county’s major referral hospital and health system of the county.

For his part Martha Tubman Memorial hospital administrator, Mr. Emmanuel Gobah, lauded the move to form the board and promised to work with the members to seek for more support including medical supplies and logistics.

Margibi County: 25 Persons Graduated Receiving a Nurse Aid Diploma in Margibi county

The new graduates in nursing aid have been urged to serve with commitment | Photo By: Kosian Bolo

Cotton Tree — The Rural Liberia Christian School of Health Assistance in Dolo Town has conducted its 22^nd graduation ceremony, graduating 24 persons in nurse aid diploma.

Addressing the students during the program on September 12, Mr. Christopher S. Orebel, a senior staff of Firestone Liberia, asked the graduates to serve with distinction.

“A health care professional is anyone best suited by education, training, and necessary messages to perform, examine, diagnosed, treat and prevent injury, illness and other health impediment,” he said.

“As a graduate of a nursing institution, be professional, as you are taking an oath to save lives, and serve humanity, be patience, focused and avoid the usage of cellphone or Internet while you are required to cater to a patient”.

Cyrus Yormie, Director of the Rural Liberia Christian School of Health Assistance, said students usually go through an intensive first aid training for four months and thereafter enter the next quarter of a two-year basic nurse aid education and they are then sent out for three months of affiliation before graduation.

For her part, Roseline Mamie, one of the graduates, thanked the administration for the support and cautioned her colleagues to know their limit as nurse aid practitioners.

“I have learned a little about first aid treatment for the past two-to- six years, but I will be very careful and to work in the confines of my level and will transfer cases above me,” she said.