It is estimated that 10 per cent of people in Liberia suffer from a mild to moderate mental health disorder, and 3 per cent suffer from a severe disorder. Epilepsy is also widespread, as past studies have shown a prevalence between 2.8 and 4.9 per cent. People with these conditions often lack access to treatment and face social stigma that can lead to exclusion from schools or jobs.
We support five health facilities in Montserrado County with diagnosis, treatment and essential medicines for people with mental health conditions and epilepsy. Our teams also supervise health workers in outpatient departments and make hospital referrals when necessary. In addition, we collaborate with psychosocial workers and volunteers to identify patients and work with families and communities to reduce social stigma.
We are supporting Liberia's Ministry of Health in upgrading a nearby primary health care centre to provide in-patient paediatric care.
Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023.
In the capital, Monrovia, we run a 25-bed paediatric unit in Barnesville general healthcare centre, a Ministry of Health facility that we began supporting in 2022. As well as managing an intensive care unit, a children’s ward and an inpatient therapeutic feeding centre, we provided staff supervision and training in 2023.
Elsewhere in Montserrado county, we continued to run a programme we set up in 2017 to respond to a nationwide lack of specialist staff, consultations, diagnosis, treatment and medication for people with mental health and neurological disorders, such as epilepsy. We have a team of neurologists, psychiatrists and psychologists to help ensure we can provide the best possible care to patients.
In 2023, we expanded our support for epilepsy and mental health patients through five health facilities and through community-based care. We treated all patients on an outpatient basis, referring them to hospital when necessary. Our psychosocial workers and health volunteers also worked with patients’ families and communities to address the social stigma faced by people with neurological and mental health conditions, which can often lead to exclusion from schools or jobs.
IN 2023
