By Edmund C. Gbarwee
Contributing writer
As the economic situation of Liberia deepens, ordinary citizens across the country are now feeling the weight as government failure to provide some basic necessities including healthcare and electricity as well as lack of better road to market is visible everywhere.
Worst of all is that pregnant women in parts of rural Liberia are being transported in humor to health centers and some of them at time die on their way to clinics to seek medication.
Last week a teenage pregnant woman, resident of Dumpa town in lower Nimba County was reportedly transported in humor while in labor pain more than two hours walking distance to a health center in the nearby city of Saclepea.
The 15 year-old Serena Paye according to the report which was highlighted by an online television station Nimba D-9TV suffered from hypotension (pressure) and other complications and residents of the town decided to take her to the clinic using the traditional humor because there was no vehicle.
Christopher Fahn, a local journalist in the area told Nimba D-9TV that the girl finally landed at the Saclepea Comprehensive health center where she underwent a Cesarean (C-section) operation but could not afford the bill.
Nimba D-9TV after hearing this made an SOS call in order for citizens hailing from Nimba County to help underwrite the girls’s medical bills. During the online TV station broadcast on Wednesday last week, several viewers expressed their empathy and at least three persons donated made cash donations through the station to help take care of their fellow-woman’s bills.
Paul Gilah, a Nimbaian residing in Massachusetts the USA first presented $70.00 (LRD$14,700) while another Nimba citizen, Dorris Sergrain also of the USA donated $20.00(LRD$4,200). After hearing the plight of the girl another citizen who hailed from the county, Powell Milton Gontorwon also made available $50.00 (LRD$10,500). The Nimba citizens had earlier promised Nimba D-9TV to help restore the girl’s health and later fulfill their promises in few days.
At the same time family members of the Serena Paye have expressed gratitude to Nimba D-9TV for its effort in ensuring that their fellow citizen life is saved.
Many towns in rural Liberia have limited access to basic healthcare facility due to distance and they sometimes walk several miles to seek medication.
