13 Jul 2023 Our team receives more training in substance use prevention

As part of the training activities we attend periodically, in June our coordinator and psychiatric nurse, Ato Kwamena Sagoe, attended a 9-day workshop on substance use disorders.

The workshop is part of the Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC), and was organised by the Ministry of Health, with funding from the Drug Advisory Programme (DAP) of the Colombo Plan, an international organisation focused on the economic and social development of nations in Asia and the Pacific that has cooperative programmes with non-member countries in other parts of the world.

Last month, another of our professionals, Nursing Supervisor Terrica Moore, attended another such workshop.

These trainings are attended by professionals from the public and private sectors, psychiatric hospitals, universities and relevant ministries, and are aimed at training trainers for the treatment of people with substance use and addiction problems. In addition to the Sisters Hospitallers, participating organisations include the Ministry of Health itself, the JFK and E.S. Grant hospitals, and organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières and The Carter Center, among others.

The training was divided into three categories: prevention, treatment and recovery. Terrica Moore enrolled in Prevention and our coordinator, Ato Kwamena Sagoe, enrolled in Treatment and Recovery. The Prevention module consisted of two phases (eight days each), while the Treatment module consisted of four phases (eight days each). In view of this, the Prevention training has been concluded, but the last phase of Treatment is scheduled from 8 to 16 January 2024. Thereafter, our professionals will take the international tests to be accredited as an International Certified Addictions Professional (ICAP).

Thanks to this training, our professionals will be able to transfer their knowledge to the rest of the team to improve the services we provide at the Unit.

Attending organisations:

• Ministerio de Salud de Liberia
• Médicos Sin Fronteras
• Smythe University College
• New Life Recovery Center
• Ancher Of Hope
• Rescue Life
• Redemption Hospital
• Liberation Center Liberia
• AADA
• Duport Road Health Center
• E. S. Grant Hospital
• Soniiwein Health Center
• A.M Kyne Collegiate Resource Center
• S. Grimes Initiative For At-Risk Youth
• Monrovia Central Prison
• Center For Rehabilation & Reintegration
• St. Benedict Menni Health Centre (Hermanas Hospitalarias)
• OMEHPRO
• Hope for Women Hospital
• JFK Hospital
• Mother of Light/Oum el Nour
• Carter Center
• Phebe Hospital
• Partner In Health