By Alfred Kollie
Liberia’s Health Minister has joined the public and patients who continue in criticizing a growing number of health workers for poor patien care in hospitals around the country.
Dr. Bernice Dahn says many health practitioners here lack the passion and enthusiasm for the job, something she says is undermining efforts to build a strong and resilient health sector.
“Most new born babies die because their mothers do not get proper care from health workers at various health facilities across Liberia,’’ Liberia Health Minister Dr. Dahn notes.
“The passion for the job is not seen by health practitioners as a results individuals come to the profession without passion which is affecting the system,’’.
The Liberian Health Minister was speaking at a ceremony marking the launch of Skills laboratory facilities at six Midwifery and medical laboratory pre-service Institutions on the grounds Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) on Monday, December 4, 2017. It is located at the main government referral hospital, John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia.
Many health practitioners or medical staffers are often seen in hospitals and at other health facilities on social media (FACEBOOK) and on cell phones during regular working hours, instead of catering for patients. Some claim that this sort of attitude is demonstrated by some of them even if patients are in desperate need of their help.
This situation has sparked serious public outcry, with some members of the public even venting their anger by speaking out against such practice on local radio stations to call the attention of Health authorities, who have acknowledge receipt of complaints.
“I challenge you, health workers to cultivate passion for the job to save lives as we strive to build a resilience and quality health sector in Liberia,” Health Minister Dahn told the gathering comprising many health workers.
According to her,’’the quest to reduce maternal and new born deaths requires the active role of all health workers across Liberia if the country should have better health care system in the country’’.
The Liberian Health Minister is however encouraging medical students to take advantage of learning opportunity that will make them fit for the job market.
The government is said to have invested huge amount of money in the health sector, and Dr. Dahn said now is the time for individuals to take the profession seriously by using wisely the opportunity.
Most maternal and new born deaths, she emphasized are due to lack of proper care by medical workers at various health facilities, something she noted is a factor to blame for more death in hospitals.
She called on health workers across Liberia to have passion for the job, noting that “the skills and teaching are not enough in dealing with individuals that are ill at various health centers across Liberia.”
Meanwhile, the Liberian Health Minister believes that the opening of illegal and sub-standard medical institutions is also a challenge being faced by the country’s health sector, which was exposed by the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease back in 2014.
She is cautioning citizens and health workers across the country to be mindful noting that they are putting in place measure to address the matter in the soonest possible time.
The Skills laboratory facilities at six Midwifery and medical laboratory pre-service Institutions, which were launched on Monday, is funded by the United States Aid for International Development (USAID) Maternal and Child Survival Program.
Dr. Anthony S. Chan, USAID Director said the project is intended to support government commitment to strengthen Liberia’s health workforce through the MCSP human resources for health project.
“The project is focused on strengthening pre-service education for registered midwives and medical laboratory technicians in targeted institutions throughout the country,” Dr. Chan explained.
“The aim of MCSP is to strengthen and expand a fit for purpose, productive and motivated health workforce to end preventable child and maternal death,’’ the USAID official said.
As part of its activities, the MCSP, HRH project has been distributing teaching equipment and supplies to set up skills laboratories in each of its six supported pre service institution.
The skills laboratories are where students can practice skills in supported experience environment to enable them develop their competencies and confidence in delivering quality health care to six midwifery and laboratory pre-service institutions.
The direct beneficiaries of the skill laboratories include the Registered Midwifery medical laboratory technicians programs based in Monrovia at the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts( TNIMA), the Winifred J. Harley College of Health sciences, United Methodist University and Mother Pattern College of health sciences.
Others are the Esther Bacon School of Nursing and Midwifery in Zorzor Lofa County; Phebe Paramedical Training Program of Phebe in Bong County; and the Deanna K. Isaacson School of Midwifery formally the midwifery training program for the southeastern Region located in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County who are all beneficiaries.