The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Maryland County Health Team and partners conducts four days Infection Prevention and Control workshop for Health Care Supervisors at the J.J. Dossen Memorial and Referral Hospital in Harper City, Maryland County, southeast Liberia.
In an interview with the New Dawn in Harper, County Medical Director, Doctor Siana Jackson Mentoe, says the IPC’s guideline was developed by the Ministry of Health to be rolled out in all 15 political sub-divisions, but from all indications, Maryland County is the first to have taken the bold step in starting the implementation process.
Doctor Mentoe explains Health Care Supervisors, who participated in the exercise, are expected to train colleagues at other facilities across the county subsequently, as a means of passing on the guidelines for implementation to prevent and control infections in Maryland and parts adjacent. The hospital caters to patients from Grand Kru, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland and neighboring Ivory Cost.
She says the training will help health workers at various facilities to control and prevent infections, while naming typhoid, tuberculosis and others as infectious diseases that are normally reported at the hospital.
Participants were drilled on several topics, including risk of personal protective equipment, hands and respiratory hygiene, waste and management, and use of personal protective equipment, among others.
Beneficiaries of the four days IPC training laud the J.J. Dossen Infection Control and Prevention department for the exercise, promising to put in practice knowledge acquired.They however challenged authorities and partners to keep on with refresher to always sharpen their skills and knowledge in preventing the spread of infections across the county and areas adjacent.
Meanwhile, the Infection Prevention and Control supervisor of Maryland County Patience Membeah describes the training as a boost to her department and calls on the beneficiaries to fully implement knowledge acquired during the exercise. Madam Membeah calls on other IPC focal persons across Liberia to emulate Maryland County by implementing the guidelines to make Liberia free from infections.
She maintains that if the guidelines on infections control and prevention were properly highlighted by health workers, it would drive Liberia to be on par with other countries in the region.She lauds the administration of J.J. Dossen Memorial and referral hospital, health partners, and the World Health Organization for joining efforts with the Government of Liberia in ensuring the training was held in the county.
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According to her, IPC training is expected to be subsequently conducted across the county to ensure Liberia is covered interns of training and implementation of IPC guidelines crafted by the government.
By George Kimbah/ Maryland–Editing by Jonathan Browne
