The Daily IIJ » David Alloycious

Liberia Grapples With Health: Highlighting MSF’s Contributions

David Alloycious — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:02:53 +0000

The health situation in Liberia is precarious. That I know. But I was amazed that the Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) run hospital in Paynesville, about 25 miles away from central Monrovia, is offering tremendous humanitarian health services to our people. So I stop to ask myself what would have happened if MSF was not rendering free medical services at the Benson Hospital in Paynesville? During my recent visit at the Benson Hospital I was amazed to see life-saving and humanitarian services being rendered to Liberians, especially women and their young ones.

Many questions raced through my head; quite frankly, my answers were as good as yours. But whatever it was, I thought it worthy to piece this article together to highlight the contributions of MSF, a medical humanitarian organization – its contribution to the health delivery system our country and the quality of free humanitarian services to our people, who can barely afford to foot their own medical bills.

My resolved to pen this article grew out the of the opportunity afforded me to see inside the MSF run Benson Hospital in Paynesville when I provided media coverage for visiting European Commission (EC) Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou who visited the hospital recently.

Sorry, I have just been reminded that I must abide by a confidential clause, which requires that I seek permission from patients at the hospital before writing about their conditions. This situation has defeated my vigor to pass over to you a vivid description of my experience at the hospital.

Notwithstanding, MSF-Spain provides a free hospitalization through the private 117 beds Benson Hospital. Four years ago in 2005, MSF- Spain took over the facility and restricted it to pediatric care, emergency obstetric care and gynecology surgery.

The hospital admits more that 300 children per month due to the lack of alternatives and access for free to all healthcares in Liberia. “During 2008, an average of 350 children per month were admitted, we admitted more than 150 obstetric and gynecological emergencies per month. Main reasons for pediatric admission are severe malaria and respiratory infection,” an expatriate who preferred not to be named told me during my visit.

Apart from Benson Hospital, MSF also operates the Island Hospital near St Paul Bridge on Bushrod Island. Under the sponsorship of MSF-Belgium 1,000 children are hospitalized every month at the Island Hospital.

My understanding is that the two MSF sections in Monrovia are providing close to 80 percent of the pediatric bed capacity free of charge in the city meaning that our future leaders do not have any other place to seek free medication apart from the two health facilities.

If this is the situation in Monrovia, then what we can say about rural areas, one may ask. Liberia’s healthcare delivery is in tatters and in a precarious condition with the acute shortage of health workers and much needed drugs.

It might disappoint you to know that there are only 335 pediatric beds in both private and public health centers in Monrovia. This is an insufficient numbers. I think Government must set-up hospital exclusively for children if we must curtail the high rate of infant mortality in Liberia.

This is a privileged information accept it or leave it Island Hospital and Benson Hospital, which are operated by MSF will be closed this year and next year respectively. The government must do all to fill in the gaps that would be created in the health sector when these partners take their exit.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will have to increase pediatric services and equip the staff and its facility for emergency and obstetric care in the country.

Canadian Governor General:Ignoring Women’s Plight Is Crime Against Humanity

David Alloycious — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:44:32 +0000

A senior female official of the Canadian Government says the ignoring of women plight is a crime against humanity. Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean said to ignore women plight is not only an inexcusable lack of responsibility but also an unjustifiable crime against humanity. Speaking at the International Women Colloquium in Monrovia said she has learned that it is possible to break the circles of exclusion and oppression and to replace them with the circle of sharing and healing.

Madam Jean noted that she has also learned that the fight for freedom will never be over until freedom can be enjoyed by both men and women.

“From those women who resist the restraints of oppression and who in Afghanistan, removed the burka that left them in shadow and looked me straight in the eyes, I learned the power of indignation,” she said amidst applause.

The Canadian Governor General said that from daring women in Mali who declared that the practice of female genital mutilation is a violation of basic human rights, she has learned that traditions should not be exercised to the detriment of some and with the complicity of others.

Governor General Jean noted that respect for human dignity is the most powerful antidote to barbarism.

“From the increasing number of female leaders, who see every ordeal as an opportunity, as Michele Pierre-Louis, Prime Minister of Haiti, recently told me, I learned that defeatism runs counter to progress, even in the poorest country in the Americas,” she noted.

She said when women are given the chance to act they would reduce violence, hunger, illness, and illiteracy because women never forget that life is our most precious asset. The Canadian Governor:

“It is for the sake of life itself that women choose to mobilize and take action, to perpetuate in their every work and every deed, for their children and for humanity that irrepressible and irreplaceable force that is every being who may at times suffer but who remains even hopeful.”

She noted that it is also reason why I firmly believe that the example of African women, in the powerful words of Senegalese Siga Sow, “[Translation] is the surest guide fort younger generations on the luminous path of negritude in motion.”

“Yes the women of Africa are part of humanity in motion,” Governor General Jean concluded amidst applauses.

Monrovia: US Embassy Guards Protest Low Salary

David Alloycious — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:09:21 +0000

A group of at least 50 security guards of the American-run security service, Inter-con, on Wednesday abandoned their posts to protest ‘low salary and lack of benefits’.

The aggrieved security guards involved in the protest action are assigned at the premises of United Nations Mission in Liberia UNMIL).

The placards carrying security guards staged the protest in front of UN Mission’s Headquarters in Sinkor.

In a position statement, the aggrieved securitymen resolved to stay away from work until management provides transportation, medical benefit and an increment in their salaries.

The spokesperson for the aggrieved securitymenThomas Koko said a monthly wage of US$115 was inadequate for the services they were rendering.
Koko said they are required to work eight hours daily without medical and other benefits, and noted that Inter-con management has refused to provide transportation to convey them to and from work.

Inter-con Security is divided into three groups namely: Non-state, States and UNMIL. Non-states guards are those hired to provide security protection for private security.
Meanwhile a spokesperson at UNMIL said it was the corporate rights of the security guards to peacefully demonstrate. The spokesperson added that the protest did not affect UNMIL’s operations. But up to press time the spokesperson could not say whether or not the aggrieved security guards had resumed their post.

A staff at the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy indicated that Inter-con was independent of the Embassy and therefore could not speak for the security firm.

According to the staff, the Embassy, like any other institution or entity, also contracts the services of inter-con to provide security protection for the embassy’s properties.

The NEWS was therefore referred to the management of Inter-con.

But up to press time, Inter-con Management could not be reached.

Generating Revenue From artifacts

David Alloycious — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:58:28 +0000

It was difficult for me to accept that the light bulbs at the Museum situated at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park near Accra , Ghana were used forty years ago by former Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah.

I couldn’t also believe my eyes when a tour guard showed me ink pens and other household items including beds and desks that former President Nkrumah used prior to and during his administration.

Like me, my readers might have difficulty accepting that some personal properties and photos of the late Ghanaian President are preserved at the museum. But it is a fact that Nkrumah’s properties and even the casket he was first buried in are intact at the National Museum named in his honor.

During a recent visit at the Park, I also observed that Nkrumah’s “walking sticks” and collection of his works are being kept for the unborn generation to view.

Sponsored by the International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of Inwent, the visit was part of a two weeks training for West African journalists representing Ghana , Sierra Leone , Togo , Nigeria , Benin , Gambia and Liberia.

The recursion to the Park, which afforded I and my professional colleagues the opportunity to have an insight of the role Nkrumah played in redeeming Ghana from its colonial masters, also took us to the historic Elimina Castle and the Kakum National Park in Cape Coast, Ghana Central Region. Historic because the infamous slave trade started in 1485 at the Elimina Castle situated at Edina , a fishing community in the Central Region of Ghana.

The ocean view Elimina Castle is more about the history of Africa especially Sierra Leone and mama Liberia because almost all the slaves captured from Africa were exited through the castle to the United States of America where they worked on plantations.

It is no secret that our forefathers, the so-called settlers, I mean the freed slaves from America who founded Liberia in 1822 passed through the Elimina Castle . Hundreds of slaves were reportedly killed at the castle from torture, malnutrition and diseases, while scores died on their way to America. Africans who were sold into slavery were maltreated, humiliated and the women sexually abused and/or assaulted by their European captors who ran the castle.

During the visits to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the Kakum National Park and the Elimina Castle, I was attracted by the presence of foreign students, tourists from Euro, America, and Asia.

You need not ask. Oh yes, visitors including Ghanaian citizens visiting these facilities paid before entering. That is a dime drop in the bucket from the tourism industry. Foreign nationals including ECOWAS citizens are taxed more than 6,000 Ghana Cedi or US$6.

These intakes are going into government revenue, a tour guard told me. He said the money is contributing to the country’s revenue.

His comment reminds me of Liberia. Like Ghana, Liberia could generate resources from the preservation of artifacts. Liberia has a great history. I need not tell you that Liberia’s history alone would attract tourists and students and others who need to see historical sites like the Providence Island believed to be where the freed slaved from American first settled.

The country would also generate money from natural and beautiful features like Lake Piso, the landscape in Grandcess, Grand Kru County. Liberia seashores especially the one in the provincial capital pf Robertsports in Grand Cape Mount County would also attract tourists.

My spirit is troubled and my blood boils in me when I reflex on the status of the Sapo National Park in Sinoe County that nothing tangible is being done to make the park attractive to tourists. Recently, the Managing Director of Liberia Forestry Development Authority (FDA) John Woods told me that Liberia is losing millions of dollars as the result of illegal occupants at the park.

The illegal occupants are mining diamonds, and gold and as well carrying out illegal hunting, killing even endangered animal species.

The limited number of park rangers to expel illegal occupants from the park is a problem that must be immediately tackled by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led government if the park must contribute to the economy of the country.

I find it difficult to comprehend why the government with the backing of the United Nations Mission in Liberia has failed to get rid the park of individuals, especially citizens of other countries who carry out illicit mining. The Legislative Caucus of the Sinoe also needs to assist government by initiating education campaign in the area. They can better be listened to because they are the direct representatives of the people.