04/04/2025
Reflection on Healthcare Access in Rural Liberia
With nearly four years of experience (July 2021 to present) in healthcare management with the River Gee County Health Team under the Ministry of Health, I've observed significant barriers that rural communities face in accessing essential healthcare services. These challenges include poor road infrastructure leading to long distances to health facilities, a shortage of trained health professionals such as Registered Nurses, Midwives, and Physician Assistants, reliance on volunteer and unpaid healthcare workers, and a lack of communication infrastructure, notably the absence of mobile network coverage for providers like Lonestar and Orange.
A particularly concerning consequence of these systemic issues is the high rate of home deliveries without skilled birth attendants. A study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth reported that in Margibi County, the prevalence of home deliveries was 90.6% among women of reproductive age, highlighting how infrastructural and staffing limitations contribute to unsafe childbirth practices. (bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com)
Despite these challenges, progress is being made. Initiatives supported by organizations like BRAC Liberia and UNFPA have led to the establishment of maternity waiting homes, providing pregnant women from remote areas with accommodation near health facilities to ensure skilled attendance during delivery. For instance, a 24-bed maternity waiting home was established at the Bahn Health Center in Nimba County, resulting in an increase in monthly deliveries from 60 to between 80 and 90. (liberia.unfpa.org)
To further improve healthcare access in these communities, the Sustainable Initiative Agency recommends integrating technology into healthcare delivery through telemedicine. This approach can connect patients with the limited trained healthcare providers available. However, given the lack of GSM coverage in many rural areas, it's crucial to explore non-GSM-based technological solutions. Collaborating with technology experts to develop systems that operate independently of traditional mobile networks could enable healthcare providers to offer remote consultations, educate patients on preventive health measures, and promote healthier lifestyles.
Incorporating technology into the healthcare system, particularly for rural communities, is essential to address these challenges and reduce preventable health issues. By leveraging innovative solutions, we can work towards equitable healthcare access for all Liberians, regardless of their location.
Courtesy: Orisa M. Tweh’s LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orisa-m-tweh-b757511a2?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
In UNFPA Liberia and around the world, UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, works to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled
