The Acting Program Manager of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Monrovia, Tolbert G. Nyenswah, has revealed that about 65, 000 children under five die from the killer disease malaria each year in Liberia.

Mr. Nyenswah spoke yesterday at a five-day in-service training in case management, rational use of malaria treatments and dugs, as well as record keeping and reporting procedures currently taking place in Bensonville, Montserrado County.

He indicated that National Malaria Control Program in collaboration with the County Health Teams (CHTs) under the sponsorship of the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), is conducting the training for over 500 health workers across the country. 

The training is aimed at helping to combat spread of the ailment, particularly among children.

According to the NMCP Executive, malaria is one of the killer diseases that pose serious threat to the survival of children under five across the country. He called on the government and its partners to tackle the sickness holistically to save the children from dying, whom he referred to as future leaders of Liberia.

He disclosed that in every thirty seconds in Liberia, a child dies from malaria which constitutes about 38% of patients of children under five-years while death rate among pregnant women in hospitals and clinics has recorded 18%.

He maintained that the in-service technical training are intended to build the capacity of county health officers, dispensers and county registrars in malaria case management,  rational use of drugs, record keeping and effective reporting system.

“The training is also in line with Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and the basic package for health services for Liberia consists of materials, new born and child health, reproduction and adolescent health and as well as communicable diseases control”, he added.

The official launching of the program was performed by Assistant Health and Social Welfare Minister, Dr. Moses Pewu in Bensonville city, but is simultaneously taking place throughout the country.

Dr. Pewu admonished participants at the training not to take the initiative lightly as it would help the Government and international partners to jointly fight malaria, which is cause for many deaths in the country.

Meanwhile, a consignment of (UNITAID) French government donated anti-malaria drugs through UNICEF is being distributed to private and public health facilities that are implementing the new malaria treatment protocol throughout the country.

Part of the project is a 200-day information, education, communication and behavioral change campaign which got underway yesterday through several urban and rural community radio stations.

According to organizers of the workshop, the anti-malaria messages are being aired in local languages on community radio stations both in Monrovia and rural in the counties to increase knowledge of parents and guidance on control and prevention of the killer disease as well as rational use of the new malaria drugs.

Mr. Nyenswah later presented 200 mosquito nets to the Bensonville Hospital stressing that if knowledge acquired from the training is implemented effectively by 2010, the spread of malaria will be reduced by half.

FIND Holds Interactive Forum In New Kru Town
By Jacqueline E. Dennis

The Foundation for International Dignity (FIND), has launched the Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis Conscious of the Society Interactive Forum in the Borough of New Kru Town in honor of ailing Archbishop of the Diocese of Monrovia.

The Interactive Forum was launched yesterday at the town hall in New Kru Town following street parade in the Borough.

The Director of the Regional Human Right and Peace Building Resource Center at the Foundation for International Dignity, Roosevelt Woods, disclosed that the Forum is intended to provide Liberians an opportunity to express their concerns on issues affecting their lives.

“The Interactive Forum gives the opportunity to the voiceless to speak”. Mr. Woods noted that recommendations advanced by participants will be forwarded to national government for prompt action.

Participants from Caldwell Township, Logan Town and the Borough, among others concerns, called on Government to provide roads, bridges, hospitals and schools in their communities.

They also underscored the need for improved security and job opportunities to help curtail crimes among the local population. A resident of Caldwell, William Dickson said due to the bad roads, commercial drivers were refusing to take passengers into the township.