©InfoYounger Kollie leans on her balcony as children play on the steps. Despite the heat she looks chic in an orange beret. She’s appropriately named as she doesn’t look her 42 years and it’s hard to believe she has seven children.
“The Liberia Red Cross started working with us last year and has given us a lot of help, such as how we should keep our environment clean to stop the spread of disease,” Younger says. “We learned to prevent things like lassa fever, by making sure that dishes and cups are properly washed and food isn’t left uncovered so that rats can't urinate in it. Now we understand the importance of washing our hands and make sure the children do too. Also, now we know about drinking safe water to prevent cholera.”
©InfoAs most people in Liberia live in basic accommodation, and don’t have kitchens with running water and cupboards, it’s common practice to do the washing up in a bowl, outside the house.
Plates and pots and pans are left on the ground to dry, exposing them to germs. Chickens and dogs roam freely around the dusty villages and rats also spread disease, such as lassa fever.
The Red Cross community-based health programme educates communities about the importance of building drying racks to get pots and pans off the floor. Younger says: “I’ve seen a lot of changes in the community since we’ve taken on board these messages.”
HIV education
©Info“I’ve also learned about HIV and AIDS and the importance of keeping to one partner and using condoms,” Younger explains. “The Red Cross visits regularly and gives out condoms. It’s stopped a lot of teenage pregnancies and now teenagers are able to carry on going to school more easily. As soon as the boxes of condoms arrive they are quickly emptied.”
The Red Cross recruits community members to become volunteer educators in their community. After training, they deliver health messages through house visits, workshops and community meetings. The Red Cross programme officer will visit to check on progress and provide support as needed.
Rolland Enders, Liberia Red Cross programme officer, says: “For me, being involved in this work is particularly important because I am from the Kpelle tribe, which is the same tribe as the vast majority of people here in Bong county. It motivates me to see my people working together again, leaving the conflict behind.
“I‘m able to relate better to my own people, particularly when it comes to providing training and discussions around HIV and AIDS, which is one of the deadliest diseases in our country, especially because people lack knowledge. To see the Red Cross relieving people from their distress and suffering is very moving.”
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