Health authorities in Liberia continue to step up efforts to improve the national Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) through improving the human resource capacities of personnel, professional consultations and increasing surveillance.
One of such meeting has ended in northwestern Liberia, with over 66 IPC Health workers meeting in in Voinjama, Lofa County.
The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), there has been a mark improvement in the rate of surveillance on Infection Prevent and Control in Liberia, since the end of the devastating Ebola disease in Liberia in 2015.
Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital in Voinjama
According to the Annual Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Bullin, January-December 2017:
“Completeness and timeliness of weekly IDSR reports remained well above the 80% national target at all levels of the health system • Immediate notification of suspected cases (within 24 hours) increased from 20% in week 40, 2016 to 100% as of week 52, 2017 • We recorded an increase in reporting of IDSR diseases and events with a total of 4,729 suspected cases reported for 10 immediately reportable diseases and events in 2017 compared to 3,812 in 2016 • Reporting of suspected cases with case-based forms or line list increased from 30% in week 40, 2016 to 90% as of week 52, 2017 • Over 80% of the suspected cases recorded (those requiring laboratory confirmation) were investigated by Laboratory • Joint national supportive supervision/mentorship conducted in 15 (100%) counties showed appreciable level of compliance in the implementation of IDSR core functions,”
Participants at the just-ended national Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) meeting were drawn from the 15 Counties of Liberia included hospital Administrators County and IPC focal persons.
According to the National Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Coordinator at the Quality Management Unit (QMU) at the Ministry of Health, the forum was geared at sharing experiences on issues relating to the Infection Prevention and Control in the Country.
Mr. Garrison Kerwillain said the National IPC stakeholders meeting was a follow-up of a training conducted in March of this year on the IPC.
According to Mr. Kerwillain as a result of the training, Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital in Voinjama city has proven itself to be the best IPC hospital presently in the Country.
As a result o the quality IPC service rendered at the Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital, participants were brought to Lofa to see what the hospital has done so that they can also praticialize TMH’s good example.
Mr. Kerwillain urged the participants to create at their various hospitals massive awareness on hand-washing as well as the importance of the IPC.
The National IPC Coordinator is also cautioning all Liberians and other residents in the Country to constantly wash their hands and utensils in order to prevent what he called, “Lassa Fever.”
On their parts, the participants pledged their commitment in ensuring that their patients are involved in good hygiene practices.
The meeting was held over the weekend in the conference room of the Headquarters’ of the Lofa County Health Team (LCHT) in Voinjama city. Report by Tokpa Tarnue