Mission Liberia

After a ferocious civil war that lasted 14 years and took the lives of 250,000 people, a cease-fire agreement ended the conflict. Today, Liberia is in a transitional phase. Despite the election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first woman democratically elected in an African country, reconstruction in Liberia is making slow progress. Although the peace process is ensured by a process of disarming former fighters, the economic situation remains fragile, with more than a third of the population living on less than a dollar a day.

Providing primary, community and mental healthcare - Gbarnga

Activities :

• Institutional support for existing health facilities, refurbishing 10 health centres, training medical staff and providing medicines.
• Community-based prevention activities.
• Psychological support for former child soldiers through individual and group therapy.
• Screening and allopathic treatment of psychiatric problems in the10 centres.
• Implementation of a programme preventing mother-to-child-transmission of HIV (PMTCT).
• Support to Phebe nursing school (the midwifery curriculum).
• Lobbying for the maintenance of free primary healthcare provision and other funding mechanisms as an alternative to user fees.

Outlook :

• Continuing primary healthcare activities.
• Extending the PMTCT programme to six clinics.
• Extending the geographical coverage of the community health programme.
• Continuing the mental health activities.

August 2008