By Austin J. Wisseh, jaustinwisseh100@gmail.com
0777891148/0886532058
MARGIBI, Liberia- At least a hundred people have benefitted from free health screening in Cotton Tree, Lower Margibi County, a help to many in the Liberian society in which citizens do not do routine preventive health checks at hospitals or clinics.
The health screening is a project of the Diaspora Health Care Initiate (DHI) in collaboration with Snohtee Helping Hand Ministry Inc.
People of all ages, on Saturday morning, August 13, trooped at the residence of Mr. Molley Cooper in Cotton Tree, Lower Margibi County to do medical screening for Blood Pressure and sugar diabetes.
Pastor Molley Cooper gave basic tips before beginning the screening that lasted till the afternoon hours.
“I’m happen because I see us do a lot of sweeping in Liberia everywhere I pass but the used waters are not disposed properly. We need to find ways to dispose properly. It prevents malaria and other illnesses. This project is the networking of different talents. Mrs. Momo [Irene S. Momo, Head of Snohtee Helping Hand Ministry Inc.] and I met in Georgia-USA and found out we share a similar vision of caring for the needed. We’re networking to make this happen. Mrs. Momo is a nurse and her husband; Dr. Momo are good friends of ours. I was here in 1991 and I saw that my mother and her brother-in-law died of curable diseases and it’s because the health care system is challenged here. We’re here to screen and if your blood pressure or blood sugar requires treatment, we’ll give you some medication and advice you on what to do next. We are happy serving you all.”
Screening began, with residents from various parts of the Cotton Tree area eagerly pouring into the center awaiting their respective turns.
Health care staff found high blood pressure prevalent in people of different ages among those who sought the medical screening. At least two persons showed extreme high blood pressure. With some more tests showing high blood sugar. A few were advised to keep their current life style or health habits because their tests showed normal results.
Madam Irene S. Momo is the founder, Snohtee Helping Hand Ministry Inc. She spoke after the screening exercises.
“I am a registered nurse. We started this screening back in March 2008 when I came to Liberia from the US, with my blood pressure machine and my community people asked me to check their blood pressure. Majority of the blood pressure I checked was high but they did not know. Hence, I made it my duty to come back that same year to screen and educate the people. I did these while in nursing school in the United States and later the school was bringing in new books so I took the other books to ship them to Liberia. An instructor at the school helped me find funding to ship those books to Liberia. Several schools benefited; University of Liberia, TNIMA, other medical schools and even individuals. Through her advice, I started the Non-for-profit organization Snohtee Helping Hand Ministry Inc. We have been getting help to ship books and medical utensils to Redemption Hospital on the Bushrod Island in Montserrado County amongst others. We need to help our people. We’re focusing on continuity of health care. So we’re working together for the people of Liberia and not only my community [New Kru Town]. We will go out and lobby for equipment and the Diaspora Health Care Initiate will be an umbrella organization to cover other hospitals that will spread across Liberia and continuity health care will be assured.”
Dr. James Momo also spoke to www.newspublictrust.com after a somewhat long morning stretching to midafternoon.
“I have always supported my wife and her vision. Many communities we’ve visited, we see a lot of people who have very high blood pressure and high blood sugar who don’t know it, and don’t even go to hospital. It’s good to work together and help out a lot of people that are in distress due to different situations. Besides genetic issues, social problems have led many people to having other illnesses. Some of our people are facing nerve issues. We need help for them. Now, to have someone’s blood pressure at 227/137 and pulse at 116, it’s concerning. That person is walking and don’t know what’s happening. Any crisis could create a crisis for that person and family. If someone’s blood sugar is more than 200 and that person has not eaten since morning, there’s a problem. People need to go to hospital. A lot of them will tell you they don’t go to hospital. We encourage them to go to hospital too.”
A young lady, Alberta Yarvogar, had come for screening too but decided to volunteer before she’s screened. She wore some smiles while talking to us shortly.
“I registered 60 persons before I went for screening. Madam Momo here gave me pieces of advice as well as the others who are here for testing. She told us what to do to keep our blood pressure normal. The food we consume, medications and regular checks at the hospital or health care providers are important. I say thank you to Pastor Cooper and his partners for the services today. Hope they will always come back.”
As these screenings and basic medications are done, what remains a concern in the densely populated Cotton Tree and other adjacent communities is need for a public referral hospital amid the growing health needs.