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Liberia

Liberia: UNMIL Humanitarian Situation Report No. 125

29 Oct - 4 November 2007

Highlights

- Government re-echoes shortage of medical personnel

- Communities in southeast Liberia see end of rainy season as opportunity for improved road conditions

Government resounds warning of doctor shortage

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has again warned of the acute shortage of trained doctors and other skilled medical personnel, and the danger this shortage poses for socioeconomic recovery in Liberia. The Ministry estimated that the country needs at least 1,200 doctors compared to its current strength of 120 doctors (of which 58% are foreign doctors working with medical NGOs, the UN or other institutions. Some estimates put the current doctor-patient ratio at 1:50,000. The need for other medical personnel (nurses, physician assistants, midwives, laboratory technicians and carers) is also great in many parts of the country.

Health authorities believe that poor incentives and low production of local doctors and other health personnel by the country's only medical school are key factors responsible for the shortage of health personnel. The medical school graduates a dozen doctors yearly, who are eager to emigrate to greener pastures in western countries. Added to this is the poor health infrastructure, which hampers (reduces) the productivity of the current health personnel. Medical personnel are paid very low incomes when compared to other countries in the region - some earning as low as US$ 30 per month. The poor incentives make it difficult for doctors and nurses to agree to take up assignment in rural areas, thereby creating a gap between the urban and rural areas. A slowly reviving health sector is still coping with trying to provide basic health facilities in many parts of the country, making it difficult for young urbanized health personnel to choose to be located in the rural areas.

In order to address some of these concerns in the short term, the Government is instituting several measures, among which is an increase in the salaries of doctors to make them comparable to those paid to doctors in the region, and improving conditions at the only medical school to increase the number of medical graduates. . It is expected that the share of budgetary allocation on health and education would increase to provide more resources for training and facilities improvement.

UN, Government to launch CHAP Mid-Year Review 2007

On 6 November, the Government of Liberia in collaboration with the UN and NGOs will launch the Mid-Year Review of the 2007 Common Humanitarian Action Plan for Liberia (CHAP). In July 2007, the Mid-Year Review revised the funding requirements for humanitarian assistance in the remainder of 2007 to US$ 110 from US$ 117 million, and retained the strategic priorities for addressing humanitarian needs.

At the launch, it is expected that several priority projects (estimated at US$ 12.7 million) would be highlighted in water and sanitation, health and food security sectors. The 2007 CHAP has so far raised US$ 46 million, leaving an unmet funding requirement of US$ 64 million.

Unique women project seeks to build capacity of vulnerable women in Bong County

UNHCR in partnership with the American Refugee Council (ARC) are running a unique project to empower vulnerable returnee women to contribute towards the setting up of structures for SGBV protection and psychosocial counseling. At one of the projects in Bong County, 85 vulnerable returnee women (under the banner of the Totota Women's Group) planted and tended a four-acre farm (from July to October) and during the week began harvesting the farm. The women will use the proceeds from the harvest to construct a women's centre to address issues related to psychosocial counseling for victims of rape and other gender-based violence.

UNHCR provided the seeds, tools, and cash; ARC provided training and other technical support to the women. The project is part of UNHCR support to the reintegration of returnees in their former communities, and is a good example of ensuring sustainability of community-based capacity building programmes.

Food security strategy workshop in Monrovia

Following the drafting and validation of the National Food Security and Nutrition Strategy for Liberia earlier in the year, the Ministry of Agriculture during the week concluded a one-day workshop to devise a multi-sectoral action plan for its implementation. The workshop, which was supported by WFP and which included representatives of the Government, UN NGOs and development partners, identified actions for ensuring adequate food security and nutrition levels for all Liberians. The Strategy is linked with the national priority of alleviating poverty over the next five years.

Road conditions in southeast Liberia still hampering access

Relief and development organizations are still experiencing difficulties in accessing communities in several parts of southeast Liberia. Poor road conditions in Maryland, River Gee, Grand Kru and Sinoe Counties prevent easy movement of UN agencies, NGOs and Government agencies and limit their activities in these areas. These agencies rely more on UNMIL air and sea transport to move personnel and cargo to these areas. As the rainy season nears its end, it is expected that several projects earmarked to improve the road conditions in the southeast and other parts of Liberia will help improve access and the pace of service delivery in inaccessible communities.