By Paynesville, Montserrado —Women’s Well-Being Initiative Liberia, a nongovernmental organization, has launched a national women’s health symposium aimed at providing massive awareness in schools, health care facilities, and radio engagements regarding antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria change to resist antibiotics that were used to effectively treat them. This makes certain bacterial infections difficult to treat. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics cause antibiotic resistance.
The occasion under the theme “Grow Your Awareness Knowledge,” brought together scores of young people and stakeholders across different sectors, including NPHIL and the Ministry of Health Students group, among others, with a comprehensive presentation covering antibacterials, gender equality, personal hygiene, etc.
Giving an overview of the one-day event held in Paynesville, the founder and chief executive officer of the Women’s Well-Being Initiative Mrs. Adama S. Pahuja noted that the objective of the conference is to generate US$1,700 in order to smoothly facilitate a planned awareness exercises within a three-month period in Paynesville. While describing “antibiotic resistance” as a global concern and a public health threat, Adama emphasized the need for collective effort in the fundraising process.
For his part, Paul K. Kennedy, the keynote speaker for the program and advisor on health systems strengthening and policy at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), urged women’s organizations in the area to collaborate in order to realize their full abilities. He also exhorted the Women’s Well-Being Initiative Liberia to collaborate with relevant parties in order to promote health and wellness in all of the nation’s neighborhoods.
Mr. Kennedy asserted that while efforts are being made to address the country’s public health concerns, the Legislature should at the same time be proactive in changing some of the public health policies that are no longer relevant to the state. He referenced the 1972 public health policy as an example, which is presently being reviewed and changed by the national assembly.
Meanwhile, Advisor for the Women’s Well-Being Initiative Wilfred Tiakerweyah admonished the group to keep up their crucial projects and the significant job they are undertaking. He declared the conference a success and urged participants to use the knowledge imparted by the different speakers for their own and their communities’ good.
By: Alphanso G. Kalama
