By Tokpa Tarnue, Contributing Writer tarnue82@gmail.com
Some public hospitals and health centers in rural Liberia have in recent months been low on drugs and other medical supplies, in the wake of the high maternal mortality rate in the country.
But help has now come for two of the local health facilities—the Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital in Voinjama and the Esther Bacon School of Nursing and Midwifery in Zorzor, Lofa County situated in northwestern Liberia.
In continuation of its efforts aimed at strengthening the health sector of Liberia, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Friday February 9 donated a consignment of essential drugs and medical supplies to the two institutions.
The medical supplies donated to the Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital include; one oxygen concentrator, one ultra sound scanner, five fetal scope, one advanced female contraceptive mode and 15 bedside tables.
Others are, one hundred buckets, 15 post-partum beds, 15 supreme mattresses and four boxes of surgical gowns among others while those donated to the Esther Bacon School of Nursing and Midwifery in Zorzor include; one Child birth simulator, one lab dummy, one advanced female contraceptive mode and one mama Natalie.
Speaking during the presentation of the supplies at the Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital in Voinjama, UNFPA focal person in Lofa Clemet Conneh said the materials are intended to equip the maternal waiting homes at the two health facilities in the county.
“UNFPA has ZERO tolerance for Maternal death, therefore the agency attaches importance to pregnant women and girls having access to health facilities; we continue to seek assistance from donors and development partners to buttress the Liberian Government’s efforts in this direction,” Conneh said.
The UNFPA local official said when women and girls have access to equip maternal waiting homes; it helps to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality and newborn death.
According to him, UNFPA wants to ensure that women and girls have access to quality health services, thereby helping to reduce maternal and newborn deaths in the post-conflict country.”
He said that UNFPA support to Liberia’s health system is driven by the country’s high maternal mortality rate.
Dr. James Kovea, the Medical Director at the Tellewoyan Hospital thanked UNFPA on behalf the Ministry of Health and the hospital, praising the UN agency for its continuous support to the county’s health sector.
He said over the years, UNFPA has provided substantial support to theLofa County health sector in every area, thereby strengthening government’s effort to provide quality and affordable health services to the people of Lofa.
Kovea also praised the Japanese Government for supporting Liberia in its recovery drive.
He said the donation of the medical supplies for the maternity waiting home would greatly help to reduce maternal mortality, which the government considers as an emergency.
He urged health officers of the facilities benefiting from the donations to ensure that the supplies are used for the intended purpose.