Spread of Ebola in Liberia Project
Spread of Ebola in Liberia Project
Spread of Ebola in Liberia Project
IHP 501 Module One Project Preparation Worksheet-Liberia
Precious Teasley
Southern New Hampshire University
IHP-501-Q2461 Global Health and Diversity
22TW3
Professor Carolina Baldwin
February 2, 2023
“IHP 501 Module One Project Preparation Worksheet; Liberia”
1. Scenario:
According to the World Health Organization’s assessment of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014, Liberia was one of the nations most affected by the EVD outbreak that started in 2013. The first instances were recorded in March 2014, and the pandemic quickly expanded nationwide, resulting in widespread transmission and several fatalities. While the country was officially proclaimed Ebola-free on May 9, 2015, it saw two further minor outbreaks in 2015 and 2016 (WHO, 2014).
2. Population The whole population in Liberia is at risk for Ebola. However, the high-risk groups include healthcare professionals. Those individuals who often contact infected people, and weaker demographics like children and women, are more susceptible (WHO, 2014).
A. Geographic Region:
i. Size: [There are 111,369 square kilometers of land in Liberia (Sommer et al.,2017)
ii. Location: [Liberia is situated on West Africa’s coast. The Atlantic Ocean, Cote d’IvoireGuinea, and Sierra Leone are its neighbors to the west, north, southwest, and east. Liberia is divided into fifteen counties, which are political subdivisions (Sommer et al.,2017).
iii. Climate: Southern Liberia has an equatorial climate with consistent precipitation throughout the year, whereas northern Liberia is tropical and heavily impacted by the West African Monsoon (Preethi et al.,2015).
B. Socioeconomic Profile:
i). Capital City: Liberia’s capital is Monrovia
ii). Major Districts or Territories: Liberia is divided into 15 first-level administrative divisions. These include Bomi, Lofa, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Gbarpolu, Grand Kru, Margibi, Maryland, Sinoe Montserrado, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, and River Gee.]
iii. Income Standard: Liberia, with a population of 5.2 million, is a fragile, low-income nation. In 2021, annual per capita income was at $680 U.S, or roughly a third of what it had been during the civil conflicts in 1989-2003. According to the UNDP’s Human Development Index for 2022, Liberia is ranked 175th out of 189 nations. (Arthur et al.,2022).
iv. Common Occupations: Climate-wise, Liberia is ideal for farming, which is essential since the bulk of the population relies on subsistence farming. The majority of Liberia’s exports are primary materials like rubber and iron ore. Multinational conglomerates hold almost all domestic manufacturing. (Arthur et al.,2022).
v. GDP Estimate: Liberia’s GDP in 2021 was projected by the World Bank to be $3.3 billion, up 4.9 percent from 2020 estimates. (World Bank,2021).
vi. Source of Funding for the Education System: Liberia’s government provides most of the funding for the country’s public school system; however, other foreign and non-profit groups also contribute significantly (NGOs).
To ensure that all students in Liberia have access to a high-quality education, the government has pledged to increase school financing. The government has expanded its spending on schools in recent years, putting more money into teacher salaries and classroom supplies (Vandzura, 2021)]
vii. Source of Funding for the Healthcare System: Government, foreign organizations, and private sector entities are the primary funders of the Liberian healthcare system. (Richards-George, 2021).
C. Demographic Profile:
i. Birth Rate: The birth rate in Liberia was predicted to reach 36.8 per 1,000 in 2021. (Richards-George, 2021).
ii. Aging Trends: The number of senior citizens in Liberia is rapidly growing, a problem that the country must now address. To protect the health and safety of the nation’s aging population, policymakers and other interested parties must adopt appropriate measures (Richards-George, 2021).
iii. Death Rates: According to the World Bank 2020 report, the mortality rate in Liberia is projected to be 7.1 per 1,000 people. (World Bank,2021).
3. Prevalent Health Concerns: Malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, Lassa fever, Ebola, and HIV/AIDS are just a few of the health issues Liberia is facing. High death rates and severe threats to public health are direct outcomes of these conditions. Since the healthcare system was already fragile, the 2014 Ebola epidemic was devastating. The health issues are made worse by malnutrition, particularly in youngsters. Lack of qualified medical experts, insufficient medical facilities, and restricted access to healthcare are all contributing factors. There has to be rapid focus and investment in the healthcare system to address these issues (Richards-George, 2021).
4. Social Determinants: In Liberia, the socioeconomic determinants of health comprise poverty, poor living circumstances, lack of education, restricted access to healthcare, and financial disparity. The country’s history of civil conflict has also had a lasting effect on its social and economic structure, leading to many Liberians’ poor health results.
i. Education: Low literacy rates and restricted access to education are major problems in Liberia. Due to a lack of funding and materials, education in the country is of poor standard. The situation is especially dire in rural regions (Richards-George, 2021).
ii. Healthcare: Liberia struggles with a lack of qualified medical experts, poor medical facilities, and limited access to high-quality healthcare. There are many cases of Malaria, Ebola, Cholera, Tuberculosis, Lassa fever, and HIV/AIDS. Health issues are exacerbated by malnutrition. Investment in healthcare is urgently required (WHO, 2014).
iii. Economic Stability: The Liberian economy is unstable due to high unemployment, high poverty levels, and reliance on exports. Efforts are being made to raise investment, diversify the economy, and enhance the nation’s infrastructure so that economic growth may be maintained (World Bank,2021).
iv. Inequity: Inequality is prevalent in Liberia, where unequal access to education, economic opportunities, and healthcare adversely impacts marginalized groups and women. There is widespread poverty, and the wealth disparity worsens (World Bank,2021).
