Speaking at the 2015 CCIH Annual Conference, Zuorkuan Patience Flomo, MSW of the Afro-Medical Community Health and Welfare Services addressed the impact of the Ebola outbreak in 2014 on women's health.

1. Afro-medical Community Health and
Welfare Services (ACHWS)

2. Afro-medical Community Health and
Welfare Services (ACHWS)
Mission: To promote quality health care and fight for a world where there is equal
opportunity for all
Vision: All Liberian women and children enjoy quality health care, welfare, growth
and development
Values: Accountability, Collaboration, Creativity, Piety
Afro-Med works to reduce maternal and infant mortality, promote early
childhood development, and provide social protection services.
“We Showing God’s Love Through Service”

3. Afro-medical Community Health and
Welfare Services (ACHWS)
The Ebola outbreak in Liberia was unprecedented and contributed to the breakdown of
an already weak health care infrastructure. Many hospitals and clinics were closed. Those
hospitals and clinic that were functional turned away feverish or vomiting patients for
fear of Ebola.
Anti-Natal Care was inaccessible. Pregnant women could not access Anti-Natal Care;
health care centers that were opened refused admission of pregnant women. As the
result, many pregnant women give birth at hospital compounds, in taxis cab, in homes, on
the road to health facilities or with an unskilled birth attendant.

4. Afro-medical Community Health and
Welfare Services (ACHWS)
ACHWS recorded 2 deaths of Tradition Mid-wives who give birth to affected pregnant
women and the death of 4 pregnant women who died during child birth. A woman
suffered fistula after being delivered by theTraditional Mid-Wife.
Pregnant women were abandoned by their husbands and were constrained to do
intensive manual labor to earn small cash to buy food. One pregnant girl age 17 said
“because of the Ebola crisis, most of us are denied and abandoned by our man. We are
not getting the required food to eat, we are suffering and the cost of food is very high”.

5. Afro-medical Community Health and
Welfare Services (ACHWS)
With a small grant of 77K from USAID/Mercy Corps and a grant of 8K from
AID(Africans in the Diaspora)13,814 people including 264 pregnant women in 32
communities in 2 counties in Liberia, are benefiting from Ebola prevention
sensitization to sustain behavior change. Traditional Mid-wives have learned
about Infection Prevention Control measures to prevent Ebola.
ACHWS clinics were opened to the public during the Ebola crisis. Because the
clinics remained opened, the MOH and partners provided 32K from its Primary
Revitalization fund to 1 of the clinics to support operations and discount on
treatment.

6. Afro-medical Community Health and
Welfare Services (ACHWS)
In post Ebola era Afro-Medical seeks funding to expand maternal and
new born health programs in hard to reach rural communities by
educating pregnant women about safe motherhood and safe
delivery, continue free Anti-Natal Care services for pregnant women;
upgrade existing 2 primary health facilities/clinics and staff capacity;
equip 2 MCH (Maternal Child Health) clinics, provide a stimulating
learning and play environment for young children ages 2-3 years in
remote communities hardest hit by Ebola; provide psychosocial
support to Ebola Orphans, support foster parents, improve
adolescent sexual reproductive health & family planning programs.

7. Afro-medical Community Health and
Welfare Services (ACHWS)
Needs /Gaps
•Ambulance for referral of pregnant women
•Provide phones to pregnant groups to call during
emergency
Basic medical equipment and supplies
•Laboratory (blood chemistry, microscope)
•OB/GYN (Ultrasound, delivery set, autoclave)
•Training and capacity building of staff

8. Mothers in the Big Belly clubs in Popo Beach received baby
kits
Ambulance for referral
Basic medical equipment and supplies
•Laboratory (blood chemistry, microscope)
•OB/GYN (Ultrasound, delivery set, autoclave)
•Training and capacity building of stafff

9. Adolescent pregnant women and girls members of Big Belly clubs – Popo
Beach New Kru Town slum community

10. Adolescent pregnant women and girls members of Big Belly clubs learn
about safe motherhood and safe delivery –Whein Town Rural Montserrado

11. Adolescent pregnant women and girls members of Big Belly clubs learning
to appreciate their pregnancy

12. ACHWS Supervisor teaching Satta Massalay the stage- to- stage development of her pregnancy during a monthly Mom’s club meeting
at Blackgenna community- unfortunately 2 weeks later she was in labor went to a nearby clinic and was referred 3 hours later to a
hospital that turned her away – she died in the vehicle in route to anther hospital. On the right is 2 of her 6 children made orphans.
Kids live with their grandmother

13. THANK YOU!!