The Deputy Chief Administrator of the John F. Kennedy Hospital Dr.Dama Yekeson Koffa has issued an advisory on the need for Liberians to be aware of their Mental Status.
Speaking to scores of reporters, after her presentation on deliverables, achievements and progress made by the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital (JFK) on the final-day of the Special Cabinet Retreat in Ganta, Nimba County, Dr. Koffa highlights the need to address mental health in the country, something is said is mostly effecting the young people.
Dr. Koffa, frowned on the lack of attention being shown by the Healthcare System of Liberia toward Mental Health in the country as their is continuous increase in mental health of the nation.
She said why doctors and nurses are striving to improve the Liberian health System there’s urgent needs to focus on the rising increase of mental health and mental disorder.
The Deputy Chief Administrator of the JFK, also said there has been lot of trauma that passes through Liberia, including the 14 years of Civil War, Ebola Virus, Corona Pandemic and many others issues that has had an unprecedented impacts on the mental health of Liberia as well as the mental health challenges that existed long before, so there’s is need for strengthening response, effective and feasible strategies to tackling the issues of mental Health.
“You see people stiving people”, some of these rape issues in the country, and there are certain sickness people has mentally that they need to get attention to”, addressed the country’s mental health crisis. As the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital (JFK) remains the only tertiary referral hospital in Liberia admitting Mental health patients, Dr. Yekeson Koffa discloses.
In conclusion, Dr. Dama Yekeson Koffa, lauded the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance Development and Planning (MFDP) for there continuous support towards the JFK, and the Mental health division of the hospital.
Dr. Koffa said She has realize where Liberia had failed in finding answers to addressing the country’s mental health issue, but express excitement with the new direction taken through a support from the Ministry of Finance, towards mental health programs.
She calls for more support towards the issue of mental health as the E.S. Grant Mental Health Hospital in Monrovia is the only mental health hospital in the country, the Hospital founded in 1999, by Dr. Edward S. Grant, a Liberian psychiatrist, in July 2010, became a part of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital (JFKMC) serving as the only tertiary referral hospital in Liberia for mental health illness and treatment for people with Substance Abuse-related issues and co-occuring disorder.
Dr. Koffa, stressed the need for action on mental health is indisputable, because mental health has intrinsic and instrumental value and is integral to the well-being of human, Dr.Dama Yekeson Koffa, added.
In order words Dr. Koffa urged Liberians to erase the negative perception of the JFK, terming it as the worse state-run health facility in the country, something said wouldn’t support the health system of Liberia.
“People use negative statement against the JFK as Bad hospital, is wrong” we should be proud of the JFK as our only referal hospital and just to notes you the JFK has improved greatly, we’ve modern Medical Wall, a Dialysis Treatment Center, a Laboratory and an modern intensive Care Unit, with lot of equipment and we perform any surgery at JFK, that you can count, stop printing the bad image of your hospital, Dr. Koffa, averred.
About Mental Health
Mental health is determined by a complex interplay of individual, social and structural stresses and vulnerabilities. Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.
