As the Covid 19 pandemic accelerates, how equipped is Liberia’s healthcare system.
The coronavirus pandemic is still accelerating all over the world. 3.1 million cases of infection have been reported globally. About 19% of all the infected persons have died worldwide. However, 3% of all the infected persons globally are still in serious or critical condition. The USA is the most hit with over 1 million infections and about 5.7% deaths resulting from coronavirus disease. This is according to worldmoeter statistics.
In European countries, the highest number of coronavirus cases has been reported in Spain. However, it has less percentage of mortality, which stands at 10.2% compared to death in Italy, which is about 13.6%. The statistics are from john Hopkins University and worldmoeter. The statistics are changing every day, with an increasing number of new infections and deaths globally. In China, out of all those infected, 5.5% of them have died. About 8% are in serious or critical conditions, and approximately 92% are in mild condition. This is according to John Hopkins University statistics.
As of 28 April 2020, the number of coronavirus cases reported in Africa is 33,627, with a percentage of about 4.4% deaths around the continent. The most hit country by coronavirus pandemic in Africa is South Africa, with about 4,996 cases and with approximately 1.9% percent mortality of all the infected persons. In Liberia, there are about 141 reported coronavirus infections about 16 deaths, which account for about 11.3% mortality of all the infected persons. This is according to the ministry of health of Liberia.
Global Overview of Healthcare System and Covid 19 Pandemic
IBISWorld, through its global research team, has tried to survey how healthcare systems around the globe are faring amid coronavirus pandemic. Also, it has decided to look at governments are responding to the Covid 19 epidemic through healthcare support. Based on their survey, healthcare systems globally are undergoing different levels of strain with the increasing infection rates around the world. However, the governments around the globe have put robust responses with expectations of bolstering their healthcare systems to manage the pandemic. In Australia, for example, the epidemic has postured significant challenges to the healthcare system. Integrated Business Information System (IBISWorld) report Q8511indicates that the public hospitals in Australia with specialized ICU, which is a requirement for taking care of the Covid 19 patients who are in critical condition, are less than 20.0%. According to a survey by the Chinese center for disease control and prevention, the people who are aged 60 years and above are a more significant risk. Therefore, with 21.4% of the population in Australia aged above 60-year-old, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016), this poses a significant challenge to their health care system concerning coronavirus pandemic.
The Business Information System (IBISWorld) estimates show that those aged 60 years and above accounts for 17.0% of the population in the USA. With the prevalence of the pandemic being high in the USA, the healthcare system has been highly strained. According to the American hospital association survey data of 2018 published in 2020, there are about 924,107 hospital beds capacity in the USA. The number of coronaviruses confirmed cases are above 1 million today. This is according to John Hopkins University statistics. This indicates the Covid 19 pressure on the healthcare system.
State of Healthcare System in Liberia and Covid 19 Pandemic
According to the International peace institute report published in 2016, the healthcare system in Liberia was profoundly affected by the civil war. The medical equipment was looted, and many clinics were burnt down. Based on the world health organization data from Liberia, the country healthcare system was not adequate to handle Ebola in 2014 and 2015. They estimated that one doctor, as well as 27 nurses, were treating 100,000 persons.
The Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) survey 2018 on the healthcare system in Liberia found out that only 56% of health facilities were prepared to offer medical services based on the general guideline index by the ministry of health. This was despite the outline of the Essential Package of Health Services in the country (EPHS). The Liberian national development plan for the year 2018 to 2023 noted that only 19% of health facilities in Liberia had essential health equipment. Also, the report based on the National Development Plan (NDP), revealed that the laboratory diagnostic capacity by the health facilities only performed 1test out of 12. In the National Development Plan (NDP) report, also, the core health workers to 10 thousand people are 11.8, while the standard according to world health organization is 23. The National Development Plan (NDP) report also reveals that the health infrastructure per 10,000 people, is only one while the globally recommended standard is 2. The world health organization 2015 report on the Ebola situation shows that Liberia lost about 8% of doctors in the country, midwives, and nurses. Based on Liberia medical and dental council, by 2016, Liberia had only 298 medical doctors. This translates into 1:15,000 doctor per patient ratio for the 4.5 million population in the country. This is a low number of doctors compared to world health organization recommendation of 1:1000 doctors per patient’s ratio.
With the collaboration of African centers for disease control and world health organization, the Liberian government has mobilized precautionary measures. There are isolation centers and training for healthcare personnel to hand the pandemic. Also, facilities for screening and diagnosis have been erected. Liberian has restricted flights and movements. People have been encouraged to wash their hands regularly with running water and soap as well as sanitizers. Programs are also being run to educate the masses through mass media, one coronavirus, how it is spread, and protective ways to use to avoid being infected. However, despite all the efforts, the number of infections and deaths resulting from coronavirus pandemic is rising. The IBISWorld survey on the impact of coronavirus pandemic on the healthcare systems indicates that there is inadequate medical equipment like ventilators to help critically ill Covid 19 patients. Therefore Liberia is not an exception with the rising number of critically ill patients.
Conclusion
While the healthcare system in Liberia has been improving, the Covid 19 spread in the country has added more challenges to the healthcare system. There is a robust response by the ministry of health and all stakeholders. However, the increasing number of new infections and deaths from the Covid 19 pandemic is an indicator that measures put in place, and the healthcare system is not enough to handle the epidemic.