Published: November 28, 2024
MONROVIA – The second batch of four healthcare workers training as Hearing Instrument Specialists in Lusaka, Zambia, is set to graduate on December 6, 2024. This milestone will bring the total number of Liberian specialists trained under this initiative to eight, at a cost of $160,000. The funding covers tuition, accommodation, travel, laptops, and monthly allowances.
The program is sponsored by Church Aid Incorporated, the relief arm of New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church, in collaboration with its international partners. Earlier this year, Church Aid facilitated the training of four additional nurses from government-run hospitals in four counties for specialized hearing healthcare in Zambia.
The newly trained nurses include Blessing Acquire from the Government Hospital in Grand Bassa County, Georgia A. Gray from Redemption Hospital in Montserrado County, Naomi Smith from C.B. Dunbar Hospital in Bong County, and Vanja Mama Kowula from C.H. Rennie Hospital in Margibi County.
Church Aid previously trained the first four Hearing Instrument Specialists, including P. Magdalene Konneh from the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Montserrado County, Hannah H. Newah from Tubmanburg Government Hospital in Bomi County, and D. Iben Porkpah and Moses Biman Jr. from Curran Lutheran Hospital. This brings the total number of hearing healthcare specialists in Liberia to eight.
In an interview with The Liberian Investigator on Tuesday, Bishop Kortu K. Brown, head of Church Aid Incorporated, announced that the 2024 graduates will be assigned to four major hospitals in Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, and Grand Bassa counties.
“Thanks to our dedicated partners from Africa and North America for their strong support and collaboration in promoting ear and hearing care in Liberia and beyond,” said Bishop Brown, who also serves as the General Overseer of New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church.
Bishop Brown revealed that the application review for the third batch of candidates for training in Zambia is ongoing. The organization is working with additional hospitals in Nimba, Maryland, Grand Cape Mount, and Montserrado counties to select candidates for the 2025 training cycle.
Looking ahead, Church Aid and its international partners plan to train about 20 nurses to be assigned to government hospitals across Liberia, aiming to address the challenges faced by individuals with hearing complications.
Currently, Liberia has only one Hearing Healthcare Specialist Doctor, who is based at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor. This shortage of professionals prompted Church Aid Incorporated, in collaboration with its international partners, to initiate the training program as part of efforts to support the government in improving hearing healthcare nationwide.
Church Aid continues to play a vital role in providing relief and specialized training to address critical healthcare needs in Liberia.
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