The Daily IIJ

 The health situation in Liberia is precarious. That I know. But I was amazed that the Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) run hospital in Paynesville, about 25 miles away from central Monrovia, is offering tremendous humanitarian health services to our people. So I stop to ask myself what would have happened if MSF was not rendering free medical services at the Benson Hospital in Paynesville?  During my recent visit at the Benson Hospital I was amazed to see life-saving and humanitarian services being rendered to Liberians, especially women and their young ones. 
 
Many questions raced through my head; quite frankly, my answers were as good as yours. But whatever it was, I thought it worthy to piece this article together to highlight the contributions of MSF, a medical humanitarian organization – its contribution to the health delivery system our country and the quality of free humanitarian services to our people, who can barely afford to foot their own medical bills.
 
My resolved to pen this article grew out the of the opportunity afforded me to see inside the MSF run Benson Hospital in Paynesville when I provided media coverage for visiting European Commission (EC) Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou who visited the hospital recently. 
 
Sorry, I have just been reminded that I must abide by a confidential clause, which requires that I seek permission from patients at the hospital before writing about their conditions. This situation has defeated my vigor to pass over to you a vivid description of my experience at the hospital.
 
Notwithstanding, MSF-Spain provides a free hospitalization through the private 117 beds Benson Hospital. Four years ago in 2005, MSF- Spain took over the facility and restricted it to pediatric care, emergency obstetric care and gynecology surgery.
 
The hospital admits more that 300 children per month due to the lack of alternatives and access for free to all healthcares in Liberia. “During 2008, an average of 350 children per month were admitted, we admitted more than 150 obstetric and gynecological emergencies per month. Main reasons for pediatric admission are severe malaria and respiratory infection,” an expatriate who preferred not to be named told me during my visit.  
 
Apart from Benson Hospital, MSF also operates the Island Hospital near St Paul Bridge on Bushrod Island. Under the sponsorship of MSF-Belgium 1,000 children are hospitalized every month at the Island Hospital.
 
My understanding is that the two MSF sections in Monrovia are providing close to 80 percent of the pediatric bed capacity free of charge in the city meaning that our future leaders do not have any other place to seek free medication apart from the two health facilities.
 
If this is the situation in Monrovia, then what we can say about rural areas, one may ask. Liberia’s healthcare delivery is in tatters and in a precarious condition with the acute shortage of health workers and much needed drugs.
 
It might disappoint you to know that there are only 335 pediatric beds in both private and public health centers in Monrovia. This is an insufficient numbers. I think Government must set-up hospital exclusively for children if we must curtail the high rate of infant mortality in Liberia.
 
This is a privileged information accept it or leave it Island Hospital and Benson Hospital, which are operated by MSF will be closed this year and next year respectively. The government must do all to fill in the gaps that would be created in the health sector when these partners take their exit.
 
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will have to increase pediatric services and equip the staff and its facility for emergency and obstetric care in the country.