GBARNGA, BONG COUNTY – Several medical doctors from five of Liberia’s 15 counties, including Bong, Nimba, Bomi, Lofa, and Maryland, have benefited from a four-day training of trainers workshop as part of a free surgical campaign launched by the Ministry of Health (MoH).
The Ministry with support from Sight Saver Liberia launched the free surgical campaign in Gbarnga on Monday with the aim of providing services to people with hydrocele, which is a condition when fluid fills a male’s scrotum, causing it to swell.
It is not a major health issue but it can be uncomfortable.
Services will be provided to people with other conditions in the country.
Speaking in Gbarnga following the training, the Coordinator for the Neglected Tropical Diseases Department at the Ministry of Health. Mr. Emmettson Royal said his department has been diagnosing hydroseed cases for the past four years but hasn’t been able to provide services.
According to Mr. Royal, with support from Sight Saver Liberia, his department has launched a free surgical campaign that will be rolled out in the five counties, something for which the four-day training-of-trainers workshop was held in Gbarnga.
Medical doctors who benefited from the training, including Doctor John Yarkpawolo of Lofa County, Mr. Royal further explained are expected to further train other medical practitioners in their respective counties to jointly carry out the campaign in those areas.
Meanwhile, Mr. Royal encouraged the public in the counties who are faced with the condition to take advantage of the campaign and get the services that will be provided by MoH.
“We have been providing liquidity patients knowledge but haven’t been able to provide services for patients with hydrocele, so we’ve been seeking partners’ support to help address such conditions affecting the people, he said.
For their part, some of the beneficiaries of the 12 surgeries carried out in Gbarnga during the campaign launch, including Junior Bobla from Yargia Town, lauded the government through the Ministry of Health for the gesture and termed it as timely.
The beneficiaries further encouraged others in towns and villages to take advantage of the free surgical campaign launched by the Ministry of Health and partners. LINA