DESIGN BY LINDSAY BETZENDAHL FOR #PROJECTHEALTHVIZ
SEARCHING FOR
HOSPITAL
A
LIBERIA IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S POOREST COUNTRIES
One of Africa’s oldest republics, Liberia, is made up of approximately 43,000
square miles in the upper Subsaharan portio of Africa. With over 98,500 miles of
shoreline along the Atlantic, 4.94 million people make their home in this coastal
country (2019 figures).
While the country has been at peace for over 15 years, Liberia suffered a series of
civil wars between 1989 and 2003. Such long involvement in conflict can have
significant impact on healthcare and access to services as the government
focuses on managing war.
Liberia also has had its share of epidemics which often require large number of
people to access care. During 2014-2016, a large Ebola epidemic swept through
the nation and infected approximately 10,675 people and killed 4,809.
When the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is less than $700. More than
50% of Liberians live below the poverty line. Add to that statistic, that almost
43% of people do not have access to protected wells and clean drinking water and
nutritional programs offset the 36% of children who are malnourished.
Montserrado, located on the coast, is the most populated county in Liberia
accounting for 33% of the population. Seven of the country’s 38 hospitals are in
this 1,909 sq. km (737 sq. mile) metro area. This means that while there are more
people per health facility, including the hospitals, most are quite close to a
LIBERIA
HOSPITALS
38
CLINICS
661
HOSPITALS DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES
HEALTH CENTERS
41