2023-10-06 22:25:00
After the shock caused by the Ebola virus epidemic in 2014 which revealed the inadequacies of hospital structures, Liberia was confronted with the Covid-19 pandemic. Have we learned lessons from these crises? Report at the health center in Benson town, regarding twenty kilometers east of Monrovia.
From our correspondent in Monrovia,
Guided tour of the Bensonville health center. Tenneh Brochius, the head of this structure, first takes us to the midwife: here, consultations take place three times a week. We then enter the internal medicine section. And like all the services of this structure, the staff faces a blockage: the lack of equipment. “ Working conditions here are difficult, testifies a doctor who wanted to remain anonymous. First there is the distance. Then, we don’t have all the working tools. When we lack medicines, we have to buy them. If medicines are not available, we give patients a prescription so that they can buy them themselves. »
« We are in the vaccination room. Here are two freezers. These are donations from Unicef. » These two freezers are the only gains from the Ebola crisis. Because since then, this health center has lacked everything, despite the support of the government, which occasionally comes to list the needs. “ Regarding malaria, it is a disease covered by the government, et we are 80-90% sure that we will be provided with treatment. On the other hand, essential medicines are not always available », Regrets Tenneh Brochius, head of the structure.
Tenneh Brochius, the manager of the Bensonville health center. © Bineta Diagne/RFI
A lack of qualified personnel
This situation concerns professionals in this field. “ Since the Ebola virus crisis, only 17% of health workers have been trained, is sorryDeemit Dearzrua, general secretary of health workers. We want to follow continuing education. Because all diseases have their own properties. »
Since the Ebola epidemic, the authorities say they are focusing on prevention, but they are encountering difficulties. “ We are unable to impose fees: consultations are free. Furthermore, the state of the roads is a blocking factor. Sometimes we have supplies of medicines in central Monrovia, but distribution is sometimes a problem », Reports Varfee Tulay, Deputy Minister of Health in charge of Planning at the Ministry of Health.
The Liberian Ministry of Health has tabled a bill to improve medical coverage in the country.
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