28 October 2008
The impact of malaria, the deadly disease is being felt to the extent that it is taking away lives of children under five almost within a twinkling of an eye, but the National Malaria Control Program (MNCP) is not leaving any stone unturned in providing needed antidote and security methods.
As part of the security provision mechanism against malaria, a nationwide training program for 500 personnel from various clinics and hospitals is being held to sharpen the skills of medical practitioners to help disseminate the danger of the killer and also educate Liberians on preventive measures.
At the opening and official launch of the training network at the Ebenezer Christ Pentecostal Don Stewart Church in Point Four recently, authority of the NMCP gave a clear-cut picture relative to the danger posed by the disease to mankind and what they intend to do to bring the disease under minimal control.
In attendance were the Technical Director of NMCP, the Acting Program Manager, Montserrado County Health Officer, Miss Malaka and a host of other highly positioned personalities, with almost each of them highlighting the danger the killer poses.
In his statement, Acting Program Manager, Tolbert Nyeswah disclosed the significance of the training, as it was intended to reaffirm the NMCP and the Ministry of Health's commitment to fighting malaria in Liberia because "malaria is of serious problem in Liberia."
Based on the trend of the impact, he said they at the NMCP were putting all the mechanisms in place to fight this disease "by using several approaches such as disease case management and others."
According to him, case management entails training people, ensuring that the supply chain systems don't have breaks, clinics are not stocked out, ensuring that people go to health facilities and take their treatment, especially children under five.
Nyenswah told unsuspecting participants, most of whom women that their being trained means that at the helm of eradicating malaria were fulfilling their promise to managing malaria properly.
He told them that the techniques they were learning were intended to go back to hospitals, to the clinics to give the proper dose to the people and ensure that you do not overdose them.
More besides, Nyeswah warned the participants to take serious the training so as to avoid treating people outside of prescribed methods, noting that "treating with double or combined therapy is a crime against humanity."
The launch was in continuation of series of workshops taking place across the country wherein they have succeeded in 13 of the 15 sub-divisions of the country. The training of the 500 nurses, midwives and other health practitioners was being supported by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
The Acting NMCP Program manager recognized the work of the UNICEF in the fight against malaria, saying "UNICEF is building our capacities with technical and financial support to get people trained across the country in the proper management of malaria."
Added to the training, he said was the distribution of over 10,000 mosquito nets to antenatal care services (ACS) across the country, indicating that mosquito nets are intended to prevent the people from getting malaria, and that the vector parasite that transmits malaria can only be acquired by way of mosquito.
Also making remarks at the occasion, Miss Malaika, also underscored the importance of coming together as civilized people to fight malaria. She said she would do all she can to go from place to place informing Liberians of the danger of the disease.
She declared herself as 'rebel' against malaria and would every tool to fight the disease.
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