By: Laymah Kollie
Bong County Senator Prince Kermue Moye has urged the Liberian Nurses to diligently serve their communities with passion and care.
Senator Moye serving as Guest Speaker for the induction ceremony of a new Leadership of the Liberian Nurses Association in Kakata City, Margibi narrated scenarios of how patients in the past have feared seeking treatments at medical facilities on grounds of allegedly been abandoned by nurses, A situation, he thinks needs to improved.
According to Moye, while there could be a decline in horrible cases, Nurses need to embrace their job with love and responsibilities.
Referring to the body as front liners, the Bong County Lawmaker admonished Nurses to create a safe space between them and their patients.
“As nurses, you are the lifeline of the health system, you are the primary caregivers in our hospitals and clinics, breathing life into our healthcare system.
In the past, we have heard stories of people being afraid to go to hospital because they do not believe they will receive care and attention.
These stories are changing gradually, and we are happy to hear of more positive patients experiences at public health facilities” Senator Moye said.
” I urge you all, be the reason why ordinary people will be happy to visit the health facility when they need medical attention. With your attitude and love, you can breathe life into your patients, and ensure they receive quality health healthcare services”, he re-emphasized.
Healthcare in Liberia has and continues to face enormous challenges marked by shortage of healthcare workers, high maternal and neonatal mortality rates and widespread communicable diseases.
To put this into context, Liberia continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world with approximately 628 out of 100,000 women dying from pregnancy and labor-related causes, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Diseases such as malaria, typhoid, tuberculosis, Hepatitis, HIV, and many others are still widespread, putting immense strain on the healthcare system.
Recounting Nurses sacrifices, Senator Moye traced their effort as far back at 2014, when Nurses stood their ground to battle the deadly Ebola virus disease; as well as the period of corona virus. According to him, their action was a demonstration of love.
“You have shown times and again that you love your profession and your country, he added.
Explaining further he stated that when Ebola was raging havoc on Liberia, health care workers were the front-line soldiers defying the odds, and breaking all barriers.
” You compromised your own safety, fought, and won the battle against the deadly Ebola various disease. During Covid, you again risked your lives, stood up for our country, fought, and won the battle. Your commitment and dedication are fresh on our minds. We are forever grateful to you for your dedicated and sacrificial services”, he acknowledged their hard work and dedication to professional duty.
Furthermore, the Senator then encouraged the association to advocate for its members through collaboration and dialogue rather than engaging in acts that had the propensity to undermine the integrity of the association, and risk the lives of your patients.
Stressing, the association’s core mission must remain to ensure its members deliver quality healthcare services to all those in need, regardless of their political or religious affiliations, economic or social status, and cultural or gender orientation.
“By fostering high standards of nursing practices at your various facilities, your profession will gain a reputation embodied in trust, ethics, and nobility”, he noted
Meanwhile, Senator Moye reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting the health sector in Liberia. Noting, that government is keen on addressing some of the critical gaps in the health sector.
Mentioning some efforts applied, the Lawmaker said most recently, the government through the Ministry of Health enrolled hundreds of volunteer health worker to the payroll, drugs and medical supplies are being delivered to health facilities, and primary healthcare services are being expanded.
“As we retrospect on our past, and access our current situation, let us look to the future with positivity, knowing that we can collectively harness the opportunities available to us for the development of our country.
The government will continue to give attention to establishing specialized centers at referral health facilities to deal with specific cases faced by various segments of the population. Even amid scarce resources, the government remains committed to meeting the health needs of the Liberian people”.
Adding, “be assured, we will continue to support the efforts of the Liberian Nurses Association in its quest to improve citizens’ access to quality healthcare services, ensuring that we get the best out of our healthcare system for the benefit of our citizens”.
