Former Liberian Health Minister, Dr. Bernice Dahn is calling on government in collaboration with the Health Ministry to work more along with county superintendents, County Health Officers, community leaders, churches and other stakeholders, in curtailing the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.
Dr. Dahn wants this done as a matter of urgency.
She said all citizens must believe and uphold government regulations, with Liberia having already recorded three confirmed cases of the pandemic.
She noted the various preventive measures government has instituted including its collaboration with stakeholders, but said more needs to be done.
Dr. Dahn was Chief Medical Officer at the time of the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
Her administration also a further decentralization of health services across the country, as manifested by the coordination between County Health Officers (CHOs) and central health authorities.
She also spoke of the importance of CHOs in health care delivery saying it is at their level that implementation really takes place.
Superintendents need to begin working along with CHO in order to know the state of health issues in the county, Dahn said.
Dr. Dahn has recommend that all health workers need to be trained immediately ; doctors, nurses, cleaners, security, all of those on the frontline, since the Corona virus is new, supporting them with the necessary logistics.
Logistical supplies is key , adding that it ensures for emergencies , making communication key, giving room to communities services, listening to them validate for implementation, if these are lacking than rumors will increase, its helps to spread the decease, practices will be ignored and go underground.
On the issues of quarantine regulations, giving my own experience during the Ebola outbreak, Dr Dahn pointed out the need for space, in order to treat high & low rate case separately must not be overlooked, recommending government buildings like schools.
‘Don’t wait, begin to plan now, if there is any escalation, government will be prepared, Dr. Dahn stressed.