MONROVIA — In an effort to boost maternal health in the country, a non-for-profit charity organization, Life for African Mothers (LFAM) has boosted the country’s maternal health by distributing over US$250,000 worth of assorted medication free-of-charge around Monrovia and its environs.
Addressing the media over the weekend in Monrovia, the Country Representative of LFAM, Dr. Abdul-rahim Fayiah Bah noted that LFAM is a non-for-profit established since 2012.
According to him, LFAM is also has been working in eight of the 15 counties of Liberia training midwives and also providing needed maternal medication for less fortunate mothers and their babies.
LFAM has also been engaged in the distribution of babies clothing for less fortunate mothers. Dr. Bah said LFAM has also disclosed that his organization has also trained about 500 midwives and there are plans to conduct more training for additional midwives around the country.
The LFAM Country Rep. further disclosed that health centers benefitting from the medication include: Redemption Hospital, James David Memorial Hospital, Duport Road Health Center and other surrounding health centers around the country.
Also addressing the media via Whatsapp from the United Kingdom, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LFAM, retired Nurse, Angel Gorman, noted that her organization seeks to ensure that maternal mortality is reduced around country.
According to her, 15 years ago, while on a tour of duty in Africa, she saw a BBC program highlighting maternal mortality in Africa while meeting with representatives of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
According to her, it was due to the BBC program that motivated her passion to establish LFAM; after which other doctors asked her how they could all be of help to reducing maternal mortality.
Gorman indicated that since 2008, she been ensuring that mothers and babies in Cameroon, received affordable maternal healthcare.
According to her, the donated medications are being donated by pharmaceutical companies in the United Kingdom; with a precondition that these medications should be provided free-of-charge.
So, over the last years, LFAM has been partnering and working with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to train over 500 midwives and also provided COVID-19 materials during the pandemic.
Also, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her organization has been fully engaged with providing COVID-19 health messages, education and materials for Liberian mothers.
She continued: “Our objective is to make sure women around the globe feel care-for and empower and also ensure maternal medication is available and affordable free of charge.”
Gorman noted that she was glad that women are accessing these medications free of charge, thereby leading to the reduction of maternal mortality.
Meanwhile, the LFAM Country Representative noted that these recent medication brought in country are essential for maternal health.
Some of the drugs brought in country include: Amoxicillin, contraceptives for both male and female, antibiotics for pregnant women, condoms and blood supplements for babies.
However, Dr. Bah decried that despite these medications are acquired free of charge, there is a need for
more collaboration from the Government of Liberia in shipping these pharmaceuticals in the country.
“Even though we have had a very cordial relationship with the Minister of Health over the years, we look forward to more cooperation and collaboration with the Executive aim at ensuring that most of these medications are ship in the country for the benefit of our people,” Dr. Bah asserted.