Liberia - Day Three

We left the hotel in Buchanan this morning - thank goodness the water had come on and there was a trickle to have a shower! The breakfast menu was the same as last night's dinner menu but ....no problems. We were picked up by the Merlin car. They have to report back to base everytime they stop or leave so that the centre knows where the car is in case of emergencies.

We visited the Merlin clinic, but there were no patients as it was a Sunday. They had a wonderful dedicated staff there. We interviewed the Merlin Country Director about malnutrition in children as they are all very small. I was surprised as the country is very fertile and and lush and there is enough rain (it's the rainy season from April to October). Apparently it is a lot about local superstitions and culture, for example: eggs are not given to children as they might become thieves; children are not allowed to eat chicken but are given the legs to chew on and adults eat the nutritious parts. Eggs and milk are imported from Lebanon and rice from China! No animals have been kept since the war when they all were confiscated. Little to no agricultural cultivation.

On way back in our 4 wheel-drive jeep we passed :

* palm trees (nuts for oil), pineapple plants, casava (main staple diet), sugar beet...being sold by families living in the mud thatched huts.

* Street lights outside Monrovia were lit by solar energy
* Firestone -whole area for rubber plantation - good housing, supermarket, well looked after and even have their own hospital.

We went to see administer of the JFKennedy training centre and hospital. Impressive - starting courses for radiography this time, others - nursing , midwifery, physicians assistants - all 3 years. Wanted to see inside wards but it was rest time! At the moment I am sitting in hot airport lounge waiting to board flight to London via Brussels.

It was an excellent, fascinating, packed 3 days - we managed to do a lot - thanks to Merlin, who are regarded as saviours as they were here during the war. A very interesting insight into how a country is trying to get back on its feet after a really devasting, bloody civil war.

I was accompanied by the CEO of Merlin - Carolyn Miller and a new MP Esther McVey. As you can imagine the conversation from three different perspectives was very thought provoking. Paul Summerfield from the RSM organised this trip with Merlin and I would like to thank him and Merlin for making this so possible and educating me.

For more information about Merlin's work in Liberia and elsewhere, please visit www.merlin.org.uk

Best Wishes,
Parveen