Children in homes across Liberia are not safe enough, not least with newly minted 5 and 10-Liberian Dollar coins within their reach. This is because most kids take these coins as toys, place them in their mouths, and eventually swallow them with health implications.
Children are exposed to coins in homes, on school campuses, and outside, where the metals are given as change when they buy bread, juice, candy, biscuits, and other snacks during recess.
The situation is scary, leaving a health practitioner in Monrovia to alarm recently, alerting the public, especially parents. A concerned X-ray technician, Jackson Coleman, revealed that he had handled 28 cases, and 12 of them were children requiring surgery after swallowing coins.
The alarming discovery is sparking growing concern among medical professionals and parents alike, as the ingestion of coins might lead to serious health risks, including choking, internal injury, or damage to the digestive system and other organs of the body.
As a parent, imagine yourself one day returning home from work or business activity and being confronted with a situation involving your little kid swallowing pieces of coins that could lead to unforeseen consequences. Surely, this is not an experience you want to have.
The 5 and 10 Liberian dollar coins are part of a new currency family issued by the Central Bank of Liberia as part of a currency reform. The coins are made of nickel-plated steel and feature a latent image security feature.
Parents are being advised to be extra vigilant and ensure that these coins, which have become more common in daily transactions, are kept out of reach of children. This means they should not be kept or placed loosely in homes that children can easily access.
The Central Bank of Liberia has yet to comment on the situation, but we think public education on radio, in communities, and in schools about keeping coins out of the reach of children to minimize risks is necessary.
All hands should be brought on deck to avert a potential health problem for our children. Remember, ‘a stitch in time saves nine.’
The coins are necessary to make daily transactions easier, especially in markets and when riding taxis or commercial tricycles. But keeping them away from children, especially minors, is safer.
