PHOTO: Maryland health workers undergoing training
By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- As Substance use is said to be on a high increase across the southeastern Maryland County, health authorities have been training health workers and other stakeholders in the practice.
In the wake of the situation and in an effort to enhance smooth healthcare delivery system in Liberia, Partner In Health (PIH) along with the Maryland County Health Team has held a day-long training workshop in the port city of Harper.
The training workshop, which took place this week, brought together over forty participants who included stakeholders, Health workers, local government officials, County Education Officer (CEO), District Education Officers (DEO), Religious leaders, Traditional leaders, Women groups, Youth groups, National Security apparatus, Community Chairpersons, the Media, among others.
Speaking at the training, PIH Mental Health Coordinator, Willie Archie Yansine said that it was aimed at educating participants on “SUBSTANCE USE” in the County.
“We have organized this training workshop because we have observed that Substance Use is on a high increase across the County,” the PIH Mental Health Coordinator said, emphasizing the need for community awareness.
With this, he said the use of Substance will be reduced.
Mr Yansine outlined some major Health effects of “SUBSTANCE USE” and cautioned the participants to be cognizant of the threats it poses to their wellbeing.
” The continuous uses of substances endanger your health and could cause lower immunity, cancers, liver disease, risky behavior that might lead you to contracting HIV/Hepatitis, Hypertension/Stroke, and effects your on unborn children and many others,” PIH Mental Health Coordinator emphasized.
For his part, Maryland County Education Officer,Rev. Prof Tehneseo P. Brohdonyen Sr. lauded the effort of Partners in Health and the County Health Team for enlightening the minds of the participants against the use of harmful Substances.
“We are grateful to PIH for organizing this workshop because, drugs consumption in this country is a serious problem and it is destroying our youthful population. I’m also recommending to the National government that the crime of drugs sellers be the same as a Rape crime in Liberia.” Rev. Brohdonyen recommended.
Miss Philomena Arkue, Counseling Aid at Tubman University said that Substance abuse could be minimized through the intervention of community dwellers, government, Health workers by providing awareness.
She used the occasion to call on the National government to build rehabilitation centers and rehabilitate those that are involved.
Partners In Health (PIH) is a Non-Governmental Organization which operates in this region for the smooth enhancement of health delivery services.
The NGO, which is currently partnering with the Ministry of Health, in 2014 signed a twenty five year Partnership agreement with the Liberian government to aid in the provision of quality healthcare and other infrastructural developments.
PIH says that it has in recent times revamped the Pleebo Health Center with the erection of maternity Care Center and other annexes at the health facility. And it usually distributes potent drugs and work in line with the County Health Team to assign qualified health practitioners to both health facilities across the county.