Monrovia – As part of efforts in supporting the Government of Liberia’s post Ebola virus disease (EVD) recovery process, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), during the week handed over three (3) brand new generators to the Ministry of Health.
The generators, two seventy-five (75 KVA) and one twenty-five (25 KVA) are for two hospitals…the C. H. Rennie Hospital in Kakata, Margibi County and the Tellewoyan Hospital in Voinjama, Lofa County.
The third generator is to be used at the Ministry of Health Central Office in Congo Town, Montserrado County.
The three generators are part of a package of twelve (12) autoclaves, previously donated and installed at various medical centers around the Country.
The autoclaves are environmentally-friendly sterilizing equipment used to help in the disposal of vast amounts of contaminated and infectious medical and non-medical wastes generated in hospitals.
UNDP Country Director Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai made the presentation to Liberia’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Francis Kateh at the Ministry of Health on Monday.
Dr. Beyai said even though Ebola is gone, UNDP remains committed to ensuring that the Government of Liberia builds a resilient health sector to robustly deal with any future outbreaks.
“I am encouraged with what happened in Sinoe. I think the issue was contained, although there are few gaps that we still need to fill…. but Ebola lessons have been learned…” Dr. Beyai said.
He said power generation at these health centers and ensuring proper disposal of vast amounts of medical wastes through an environmentally-friendly and sterilized manner was very important in building a vibrant health sector.
As part of a pilot project initiated in 2015, UNDP installed autoclaves at five government-run medical facilities – John F. Kennedy and the Redemption Hospitals in Monrovia; the Jackson F. Doe Regional Referral Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County, the C. H. Rennie Hospital and the Tellewoyan Hospital in Margibi and Lofa Counties respectively.
Receiving the generators, Liberia’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Francis Kateh thanked the UNDP and promised that the generators will help improve service delivery.
“Though it was intended for Ebola, but one of the things Ebola has shown us is that there are loopholes still lingering that need to be addressed, one of which is the provision of power to facilitate other services that are IPC compliant.”
“You are only turning this over symbolicly, but we know that there have been distributed to other hospitals and so forth…” Dr. Kateh said.
Even though the Government had requested over 100 autoclaves, the UNDP was able to procure 12 autoclaves along with five generators as a pilot project.