Restoring Healthcare to Women and Girls in Liberia

At our Board meeting Saturday Dr. Chris provided an update on the worsening situation in Liberia.  She spoke of her challenge in continuing to serve the 34 communities in and around Kakata throughout this unprecedented Ebola outbreak.  We’ve all heard on the news how the country's health care system is collapsing with hospitals closing, medical workers fleeing and people dying of common diseases because they are afraid to seek treatment

Addressing the nation on July 30, 2014, the President of Liberia, Ellen Sirleaf, laid out the government’s plan to manage the crisis -  “Operation White Shield”.  She said all schools, which were closed last week, will remain closed until further notice.   Non-essential staff at all government ministries and agencies will observe a compulsory leave for the next 30 days. Afflicted communities are to remain quarantined with enforcement by the military and police.  

Liberia is considered the least-equipped of all of the countries affected by the Ebola outbreak, which now also includes Nigeria as well as Guinea and Sierra Leone.Security forces have been ordered to ensure that these measures are observed with new military checkpoints blocking movement from quarantined areas.  Unfortunately, Dr. Chris reports that much of the food is grown in the quarantined areas and food shortages are expected soon.   In addition the local water system was recently compromised and water supply has been shut down for several days. 

In response to government orders, limiting travel and people gathering, and in consideration of the safety of our HWHL staff, Dr. Chris has halted operations involving direct patient contact at the clinic.  CH Rennie Hospital, the local Regional Referral Hospital, remains closed, so the closest location open for isolation of Ebola patients is the private employee clinic at the Firestone Rubber Plantation over 10 miles away.  Since so many hospitals in Liberia have simply closed their doors because they don’t have adequate supplies to protect their staff, nobody is getting medical care, whether they’re pregnant, sick with malaria or having a heart attack.

Dr. Chris has shifted focus of the staff to prevention and public education with a renewed emphasis on sanitation by setting up as many community sanitation stations as possible.   Buckets, which sold for a dollar a week ago, are now being sold for $35 dollars apiece and are in short supply, as is clean water.  Since Liberian Customs has virtually stopped incoming goods and supplies, we are asking for immediate financial assistance to help Dr. Chris provide buckets, soap, safe water, and bleach to assist the local population.   All materials must be purchased locally.   

The public health situation in Liberia is grave.  

100% of financial assistance we receive for this effort will be used in direct support of the Kakata community.

Please consider a donation for this effort.

Thank you and God bless,