Access to facilities, Liberia’s health system plight

And walking is the principal means of travel in much of rural Liberia, notes Merchant, a consultant who advises the charity on how to strengthen health systems.In rural areas in Liberia, many pregnant women deliver through the help of midwives who most likely did not attend school but learn from their predecessors. Cecelia Constance, a […]

And walking is the principal means of travel in much of rural Liberia, notes Merchant, a consultant who advises the charity on how to strengthen health systems.
In rural areas in Liberia, many pregnant women deliver through the help of midwives who most likely did not attend school but learn from their predecessors. Cecelia Constance, a mother of three, said before she could give birth, her family had to pay over 3,000 LD before she was attended to.
“In Gand Ku, we really don’t have time for clinic because if you go there the doctors will tell you that they are out of drugs so we prefer going to our old midwives who our parents give birth to us through,” she said.
The research Director at Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC), Dr. Moses Pewu, on corruption said most medical errors occur because people in health facilities are not qualified,  attributing it low funds allocated for the facility to train its staff.  He also revealed that most patients or Liberians call every one working in a health facility, a doctor.
“It happens because people are not qualified, they impersonate and Liberians encourage that because any health worker they see is a doctor. We have several categories of health practitioners but when they call these set of people doctor, they grow wings,” Pewu said.
He continued: “I must tell you that one of my duties is to investigate malpractices and there are cases where people are not MDs but they go on and do the work of an MD and the result is terrible. There are cases of people who are real health professional and they have committed crimes that led to death of patients.”
The LMDC research boss stated that Liberia’s health practice is numerous and could not give account of all of the cases on ground, since some of these cases do not come to the office.
“The malpractice in the health sector is plenty and it needs to be combated not only by LMDC but the entire country needs. The LMDC has the power to investigate malpractice provided it is reported,” he stated.
Commenting on the importance of health facilities, Dr Pewu said he commends government’s efforts in providing basic health necessities for its citizens.
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