The NEWS (Monrovia)
C. Emmanuel Johnson
4 July 2008
Monrovia — Outgoing World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative Dr. Eugene Nyarko has called on the Liberian government to place more emphasis on maternal health.
He said the mortality rate for birth-giving mothers in Liberia was alarming, and as such, there was a need for government to give attention to that segment of the health sector.
Although Dr. Nyarko did not give any statistics on the mortality rate, but maintained that reports gathered show a high rate of maternal mortality.
Speaking Thursday at an honoring program held by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Nyrako said besides maternal health, HIV/AIDS is one of the challenges facing the Liberian Government.
"Let the government carry out more awareness on HIV/AIDS to combat this disease that is gradually eating up the population, "he added.
He said his tenure in Liberia was fruitful because as country representative, he was able to work along with the Ministry of Health to implement some of its policies.
Dr. Nyarko said while serving as County Representative to Liberia, WHO assisted government in the establishment of the National AIDS Commission headed by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, adding "we also helped to formulate the National Health Plan."
Health and Social Welfare Minister Dr. Walter Gwenigale thanked Dr. Nyarko for the good working relationship which exhibited between them since he took up assignment in Liberia.
Dr. Nyarko served as country representative to Liberia for five years.
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