-NPHIL boss Dr. Mosoka Fallah addresses the press
By Alfred Kolie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
The acting Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia Dr. Mosoka P. Fallah says Liberia needs about three Million United States dollars to fully prepare against the Coronavirus that is greatly affecting the People Republic of China.
The latest deadly new virus outbreak in China has also surfaced in Africa and other countries. It has captured the world’s horrified attention, caused a lockdown of 56 million people in China, disrupted travel plans around the globe and sparked a run on medical masks from Wuhan, Hubei Province, to Bryan, Texas, is known provisionally as “nCoV-2019.
According to Dr. Fallah, the country greatest risk is with the neighboring Country Ivory Coast where one person were reported confirmed with the virus thus putting Liberia at most risk as a result of its cross border activities.
Dr. Fallah explained that the money will be used to fully prepare the thirty four Hospitals and eight hundred forty four health facilities across Liberia to be in active operation including coordination and communications to be in full readiness.
He want the surveillance system be put in place or reactivated by government to address any case of the coronavirus and increase publication awareness, updates and radio messages through jingles in the sixteen tribes in Liberia.
According to him, this institution has already set up a command center in collaboration with partners and other institutions responsible that will enable them inform the Liberian people on a daily basics as relates to the virus.
He noted that the isolation center has been identify at the Redemption Hospital which is available in case of any suspected case or cases from those entering the country through the air and sea ports intended to safe guard the nation.
The acting Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia maintain that the institution is currently working with the Liberia Immigration Service to follow up on all individuals who have enter the country since December up to present to know their health status, contact numbers, and place of resident to avoid future problems in the country.
‘’one hundred and twelve surveillance officials we sent to health centers and hospitals across Liberia but we currently doing screening at the airport’’ he noted.
We will win this my command, coordination and logistical system in the country’’
Dr. Fallah called on government and international partners to support the institution by providing the necessary resources in the preparedness stage noting that the institution needs PPEs, screening tools, and other protective equipment.
‘’ hot line communication will be created with countries in Africa especially the ECOWAS region to start the surveillance of individuals entering the region’’ Dr. Fallah.
Speaking at a high level of technical meeting with government and partners in Liberia, Dr. Fallah told officials that 309 Canines have enter the country 90% of male 10% female and that they are currently making follow up on them at various areas.
In remarks, Liberia Finance Minister Samuel Tweah called on government to change the traditional way of dealing with outbreak, but said now is the time to prepare for outbreak.
Minister Tweah said the government is committed and will remain supportive to the preparedness process in the country.
Currently there are four hundred seven six Liberian students in China confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 77 of them in hot zone.