Liberia has one of the sickest health systems on earth.
While Corona keeps the world in suspense, the West African country threatens to be forgotten.
The association “Help Liberia - Kpon Ma” led by Grafrath nurse Thomas Böhner is fighting against it - most recently during a project trip in March.
Grafrath
- "Kpon Ma" means in the language of the Kpelle, a large tribe in the heart of Liberia, not much less than "help".
And Help Liberia came to the country precisely for this reason.
The association based in Oberschweinbach around its chairman Thomas Böhner has been providing development aid since 2009.
The Grafrather has been active in Liberia since 2005, back then with Cap Anamur.
Since the withdrawal of the aid organization, also on my own.
At the end of 2008, Böhner found enough interested parties to found the Help Liberia association.
Liberia: helping the weak
Böhner's commitment goes back to an accident as an 18-year-old, which made it clear to him that he wanted to help all those people who could least help themselves: "The old, poor and weak." On the annual trips - now 13 - Teams of several people led by Böhner implemented hospitals, training for specialist staff and access to medical care in rural Liberia.
Because the country is dependent on foreign support: From 2014 to 2016 the Ebola fever raged in the West African country.
The wounds of the civil war that ended in 2003 are also deep.
Liberia: a project close to my heart
The club was recently on site in February and March.
This time Böhner flew alone due to illness and time problems with helpers.
But he did not let himself be dissuaded by his heart project and in a hurry he built a 4-room midwifery house with locals at the Yarbayah Hospital, one of the two bush clinics that are looked after.
The help was immense: “Anyone who worked with us received five sacks of rice,” says Böhner, explaining the commitment.
One sack is enough for a week and shows its value.
Fortunately, Liberia remains unaffected by the ongoing pandemic: The West African country is almost "corona-free", the association can continue its projects without any major problems.
A negative PCR test by Böhner before the last trip was the only hurdle.
The Grafrather cares much more about something else: While the world is wrestling over the corona vaccine, the people in Liberia have been waiting for the vaccine against Ebola for years.
Vaccinations exist but are not made available.
This is one of the reasons why Böhner, who works as a nurse in the Bruck hospital, never wants to give up his beloved project in Liberia: "The world will totally forget this area," complains the 60-year-old: "We cannot let the people down here."
Liberia: tireless efforts
Countless lives have been saved to this day.
Help Liberia is the longest-running local aid organization and has even outlasted Doctors Without Borders.
The association enjoys the trust of the government, which is grateful for the tireless efforts.
Because reliable employees are difficult to find in Liberia, the previous trip is also a success: Two trained specialists were won for the Yarbayah Clinic there.
The queues in front of the port of call are getting longer every day.
"That is comparable to a well-attended doctor's practice in Bruck," says Böhner.
“Almost every patient can be helped.
Even if only with painkillers. ”Initially, they spent $ 300 a month on medication, but now $ 1,000 has been made available for this.
The association also oversees other projects: The fourth optician in Liberia - after all a country with five million inhabitants - was set up.
The material for the glasses comes from Germany and is screwed on on site by a trained specialist.
This keeps the costs low: “Glasses against myopia can be bought in Liberia for one dollar.” In addition, nine laptops were handed over and digital training is continuing.
Due to the pandemic, the public stage is no longer available for the club, and advertising stands are particularly popular.
"Many people still want to give something," says Böhner happily.
The association has therefore put together a list of how best to support the project on its own website.
Further information can be found at www.help-liberia.com.
(Matthias Kast)