By Nancy Warren, Impact Global Health Alliance Global Intern to Liberia
My first “re-impression” of Liberia has been a positive one. Riding into Monrovia from the airport I saw a lot of literal and figurative rebuilding. Lots of buildings are under construction, and there are many roadside business centers selling one thing or another. The capital city even put in its first stoplights—an advancement I’m not sure the city was actually ready for, as it seems to confuse people more than anything. Regardless, I was really happy to see that Liberia is getting back on its feet.
I’ve spent a lot of time talking with the security guards at my housing compound. They were very quick to correct my optimism and assure me that there are still many barriers that Liberia presents herself to limit progress. Whatever the political environment, I will say that the Ministry of Health is doing a lot for its people. I met with an Associate Minister when I first arrived and he had wonderful things to say about the country’s health, including a recent success in preventing cholera from entering the country, despite outbreaks in neighboring Sierra Leone and Guinea. It’s stories like these that give me hope for this nation, and for development in general.
Speaking of health, I can attest that there is no better way to understand the public’s health situation than to experience it firsthand. I had been here just over two weeks when I woke up with nausea, vomiting, and a headache, and dreaded the truth that those symptoms were those of malaria.
Despite sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net, wearing (too much) bug spray, AND taking preventive medication (as recommended), I still managed to come down with malaria. Because of the pills, my symptoms were not as strong as they could have been, but it was enough to keep me in bed all day Sunday. I was fortunate to know a surgeon at the local hospital, who quickly set me up with a dose of ACT, which is the best choice for malaria.
I’m getting settled into daily life in Liberia and am making friends to keep me entertained. I can’t believe I’ve only been here three weeks, it definitely feels much longer, but as I get busy with work in the office, I am excited for all that will come this time around!
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Nancy is earning her Master’s in Public Health at Boston University School of Public Health and completing her practicum abroad with the Impact Global Health Alliance Liberia office in Monrovia. She also wrote our very first blog entry in 2011!
