Liberia Day 4

I didn't have internet access the last part of the trip so I'll post the last two days today and tomorrow.


We started the day learning about an organization providing basic health care in the hardest to reach places.  Currently there is 1 doctor for every 100,000 people.  They are using a model from other countries where you train local community members in basic health care.  We were moved by the stories of two AIDS patients who were untreated and emaciated.  Today they are treated, thriving, and proud to be community health care workers helping others in their villages.  This program is scalable and is also supported by the government in a private/public partnership.

We went to the largest medical facility in Monrovia (also a DRI partner) and here I learned something that challenged my current understanding of needs.   I've written about the importance of maternal child health (MCH) in prior posts and I am even helping with a DRI fundraiser supporting MCH.  However, when asked about the top three medical needs MCH isn't on the list.  The top three medical priorities are malaria, HIV, and malnutrition.  Why? Because if you solve these three issues you solve the top causes of MCH problems. 

We then visited a mining village.  Of course my first thought was mining is bad as in "blood diamonds" and environment issues.  This organization educates the miners on identification and valuation of the diamonds so they don't get exploited, seeks to provide sanctions for ethical standards, and teaches them how to care for the land where they mine.   When we arrived in the village the villagers welcomed us with a gift of a live chicken and a village dance complete with a dance by the devil.  Andy, the Eleos ED had to hold the chicken the whole visit and it had to come back with us.

Once again, I was struck by the sense of pride and community these villages have.  Their needs are so basic and so little is needed to raise them out of extreme poverty.