Imagine: a deadly illness strikes the country. For years it ravages on and on, taking an increasing number of lives as time passes. Finally given a name, cancer becomes a name that many fear during a diagnosis. Eventually, the top medical researchers in the United States develop a treatment plan that yields a 90% success rate for certain forms. Not perfect, but it is a large step in the right direction. In the battle against cancer, medical advances are winning. This is the situation that is the reality for the country with one of the most advanced medical practices in the world. For countries who are less fortunate, less advanced, and less knowledgeable, this reality is nothing but a pipedream. Liberia is an example of one such country. Located in West Africa, the country is among the world’s poorest, unsuccessfully recovering from a civil war that happened nearly three decades ago that destroyed their economy and infrastructure. These conditions, paired with something costly like a chronic disease, yield disastrous results. In the article “Low odds of surviving cancer in Liberia”, it details the struggle a family goes through when one of their children, Peter, is diagnosed with cancer. The impact of the news was dramatic, with Peter’s father stating, “That was my first time even hearing of cancer," says Peterson Yarkpawolo, Peter's father. "It was scary. For someone to tell you, 'Your only child has cancer,' it's like, wow.” This statement exemplifies the state of the country’s healthcare level. Anothering staggering figure is the fact that there are only nine Liberian pediatricians in the country of 4.8 million people. None have specialized training in hematology, so any and all treatment is dependent on international specialists. In the article, it elaborates on Peter’s family’s struggles to afford his treatment. His cancer is in a stage that is treatable, but the family cannot afford the $1500 treatment, or even the $3 a night it costs to stay at the hospital. To put this in perspective, the average household income in liberia is around $600. All hope is not lost. A dentist in the state of Kentucky, Winnie High, caught wind of the situation in Liberia and decided that she had heard enough. High and Ne-Suah Livingstone, a U.N. Staff worker, formed the Community Partnerships International. This foundation has raised over $40,000 so far, and this number continues. Finding the money for treatment is an enormous first step. Locating the medication needed is another major step, with patients needing to go to specialized pharmacies that import it internationally. The struggles with cancer treatment and other major illnesses in Liberia are a prime example of the type of international crisis that UNICEF strives to combat. In Liberia specifically, UNICEF works at all levels to lend a hand; they develop policies that focuses on reducing child deaths, improve service deliveries in all parts of the country (including difficult to reach regions), assist in procuring and distributing medication, and strengthen immunization services countrywide, among a myriad of other improvements. The struggle continues, and will continue for a long time. Being aware is the first major step. For more information on UNICEF’s efforts in Liberia, click on the following link: https://www.unicef.org/liberia/child-maternal-and-newborn-health For more information on the Community Partnerships International Foundation, check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CommunityPartnershipsInternational Resources Used: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2019-09-05/liberia-struggles-to-treat-children-with-cancer
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