6 July 2009
The patients from Maryland County and Grand Kru in Liberia who have received treatment and surgical attention in the ongoing medical intervention have commended Isis-Women International Cross Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE), an international non governmental organization based in Uganda for providing free treatment and surgeries for the war affected population in the two counties.
The commendations were made recently by patients who have benefited from free medical services they have received at the J.J. Dossen hospital in Harper and the Cavalla Rubber Corporation (CRC) health centre in Maryland County where surgical operations on different women's reproductive health ailments are being carried out in a short-term medical intervention effort that the organization launched in May 2009.
Isis-WICCE which is sponsoring this short term medical intervention is an international women's organization that was founded in 1974 in Geneva, Switzerland but later relocated to Africa in 1993. The overall objective of the organization is to tap the voices of women in conflict and post conflict situations so as to draw the attention of governments and development partners to their concerns for intervention.
The short term medical intervention in the two counties is the organization's humanitarian gesture that is aimed at responding to the health needs of people affected by the armed conflict in Liberia who are currently still suffering from sexual and psychological consequences including trauma.
The surgeries are being performed by a team of surgeons from Uganda and Liberia. The Ugandan team of surgeons that is headed by Dr. Otim Tom includes Dr. Christine Biryabarema and Dr Cephas Mijumbi. The Liberian team that is coordinated by Dr. Wihemina Jallah a senior gynecologist at JF Kennedy hospital in Monrovia includes Dr. Anthony Quaye of ELWA hospital, Dr. Eric Nyanzeh, Maryland County Health officer, Dr Jean Karly of J J Dossen hospital and Dr Ian Wachekwa, a Zimbabwean assigned at J J Dossen hospital in Harper.
The medical intervention that is being funded under the MDG3 fund, which is in response to the United Nations approach of promoting gender equality and empowering women, was prompted by facts gathered from a research that was conducted by Isis-WICCE in April 2008 in collaboration with the ministry of Gender and development and Women in Peace Building Network (WIPNET).
The study entitled "A Situation Analysis of the Women Survivors of the 1989-2003 Armed Conflict in Liberia" was carried out in the Liberian counties of Bong, Lofa, Maryland and Grand Kru. It was primarily to document the experiences of women war survivors of the armed conflict and attempt to address their immediate concerns.
Statistical data from the research indicated that women in Maryland and Grand Kru counties suffered the highest spate of physical and sexual torture, with grave psychological effects to date that affected the population's ability to work where Maryland exhibited 53.3% and Grand Kru 47.3%. The majority of the population especially women were also found with serious gynecological problems and surgical related complaints that needed immediate attention.
The first phase of the medical intervention began in May 2009 with a one week intensive capacity building workshop in Harper for community based health workers from the targeted counties to upgrade their skills in the management of physical and reproductive and psychological health problems of women and girls' war survivors who were victims of sexual violence and torture during the war.
The second phase of the intervention involved the distribution of assorted drugs and surgical equipment to various clinics, hospitals and health centres in Maryland and Grand Kru counties. This was carried out hand in hand with the screening of patients for a one month period. During the screening, 130 patients comprising of women, men and children were short listed to undergo surgical operations on diagnosed health complications that included hernia, fibroids, genital prolapse, cervical cancer, hydrocele, lipoma and vesicle vaginal fistulae (VVF).
Nimba Land Commission Formd Local Committees
The Presidential Commission on Nimba Land Dispute has set up a local Peace-building and Mediation Committee in each of the seven electoral districts of Nimba County to not only document claims of cases of land disputes but to also most interestingly and importantly make any and all mediation interventions to ensure that their various locals are resolved harmoniously.
The Commission, at a meeting, resolved that such committee be set up to serve as the first line of mediation approach after which the Commission itself shall become the last. The Commission also resolved that it will not hear any case that is no registered with the Local Peace Building and Mediation Committees and looked into by any of those committees.
The commission headed by businessman Musa Bility, a son of Nimba, has made it clear that all persons that have claims of land occupancy by another party that they must see and interact with the local committees as the only agent, primary line of contact and conduit of mediation as anything short of this will unfortunately militate against the good-natured resolution of said dispute.
Accordingly, the Commission is calling on all NImbaians in Liberia and abroad to make maximum use of this opportunity as a way of eternally evolving a peaceful resolution to such claims.
The Commission which has been set up has got the fundamental responsibility to amongst other mandate areas, make Nimba County form the ashes of war created problems to the redemptive era peace, reconciliation, stability and economic self-sufficiency.
Finally, the Commission is urging every party to a land conflict to kindly cooperate with these local Peace Building Committees as their recommendations will be considered very seriously by the commission.
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