The Liberia Health CSOs Network (LiHCON) has joined the global community in combatting the spread of Covid-19. A statement by the Chairperson of the network, Joyce L. Killikpo, stated, ‘Covid-19 is spreading rapidly throughout the world. With a serious impact on the health and wellbeing of populations, the disruption of health, social, cultural, economic and political [systems, it] comes with various threats to the right to health of communities. This has necessitated state and non-state actors all over the world [acting] rapidly [to identify and execute] strategies to halt the spread of the virus, as well as equipping health systems to respond effectively to this global health emergency’.
Killikpo commended the efforts of the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Institute, the President of the Republic of Liberia, other stakeholders and the public in the fight against Covid-19. However, she called for improvements in the preventative measures being put in place by the government. She urged the government to ensure the focus on Covid-19 does not interrupt essential Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) services. She said that social distancing and self-isolation messaging should be combined with clear communication that ensures women, adolescent girls and vulnerable populations continue to access vital RMNCH services.
The LiHCON Chairperson also charged the government to ensure that infection prevention and control equipment and supplies are available, accessible and equitably distributed across Liberia. She said that such provision is necessary if health workers are to function effectively and safely within the public health system. She also tasked the government with ensuring that private health facilities provide adequately for their workforce. She highlighted the importance of adequate incentives and the right training for health workers in both private and public facilities. ‘Responses to this outbreak should be tailored to ensure that services are made equitable, available, accessible, acceptable and of quality (EAAAQ) for all so that no one is left behind’, Killikpo said.
Source: Front Page Africa
Photo source: Sergio Santos
