Ben TC Brooks
River Gee County – In River Gee County, the Ministry of Health has commenced a National Health Census, which aims to conduct a thorough evaluation of healthcare workers including employees, volunteers, and staff from both public and private health sectors in that part of the country.
The exercise got underway on 19 June and is expected to be climaxed on 29 July, according to Team Leader Wilmont B. Beyam, who is accompanied in River Gee by three team members.
said the census will take place for ten days, started June 19 and wrapping up on June 29.
Beyam told our correspondent in the area that the exercise is a 10-day event, indicating that it’s dedicated to meticulously documenting all healthcare workers operating within River Gee, whether of not being affiliated with public or private institutions.
He highlighted that the census will cover a diverse group of healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory technicians, support staff, and volunteers.
He stressed the importance of obtaining information from everyone involved in delivering essential healthcare services in that part of Liberia.
To ensure the reliability of the data collected, participants will be subjected to in-person interviews and a photo verification process, according to Beyam, who disclosed that it is required of all personnel taking part in the census to provide valid identification or professional licenses.
“Health workers currently living outside the county should return to participate in the census; the only exceptions will be made for those on study leave with a valid Memorandum of Understanding,” Beyam emphasized.
The National Health Census currently ongoing in River Gee is part of a larger national initiative aimed at improving accountability and enhancing workforce planning within the country’s health system.
Through documenting the health workforce, the Ministry of Health intends to boost service delivery and optimize resource distribution throughout the nation.
The successful implementation of the census is vital for fortifying Liberia’s healthcare framework and making sure that the population’s needs are adequately met by an organized health workforce.
However, several healthcare volunteers in River Gee have described the process as ineffective, expressing concerns that it may not lead to the inclusion of many health volunteers on government’s payroll.
A Community Health Service Supervisor (CHSS) in River Gee, who asked to remain anonymous, divulged that health practitioners in the county have been providing services for about six months without receiving payment as agreed upon in their contracts.
