Equip Liberia - Sarah Carlson

Sarah Carlson‘s heart was connected to Liberia before she set foot in Liberia, She heard about the challenges Liberians face from a friend who had visited Liberia two years ago and has prayed for Liberia ever since. Sarah, 25, is an emergency room nurse from Alaska. Deciding to delay the pursuit of a dual master’s in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University, she chose to spend a year meeting critical health needs in Africa. Settled into the northern city of Ganta, Sarah took on the challenge of raising the standard of 9 EQUIP supported MOH clinics throughout Nimba County, to raise the level of service to meet the Ministry of Health’s Basic Package of Healthcare standard.

Building the capacity of Physician Assistants, Nurses, Lab technicians and Nurse’s Aids in rural clinics involves technical expertise. Sarah has taken the challenge to ensure the rational use and management of drugs, medical supplies and equipment and adherence to MOH treatment protocols and efficient management of the Expanded Program on Immunization.

She identifies training needs and conductsand supervises training activities with clinical staff including clinic management, emergency triage, Universal Precautions, assessment skills, and Patient Management as well as networking with Community Health Committees (CHCs) members, Trained Traditional Midwives and Community Health Ambassadors.

Sarah not only seeks to address the physical needs of the people she serves but also their emotional and spiritual needs. Sarah has enjoyed her work with EQUIP and loves to see God’s healing touch on many lives.

In November, EQUIP Liberia’s Director’s and Sarah’s timely visit to one of EQUIP’s supported MOH clinic saved the life of baby Seywon. They had been on their way to Ganta from Tappita and were road weary. David found himself impulsively taking a sharp, unexpected turn to the right, onto the rugged dirt track towards EQUIP’s clinic in a small town called Flumpa. They were surprised to see light streaming out through the clinic windows from newly installed solar lights by Equip through funds from USAID from the American People.

23 year old Musu Seywon’s (not her real name) had been in labor all day. Within 15 minutes of the Equip team’s arrival, Musu’s 4th child, a boy was born. The baby was lifeless, and remained blue for what seemed a dangerously long time. Persistent emergency suction and artificial respiration finally brought him around. Had Musu’s baby been born in the dark traditional midwife hut at her village of Wheinitin, like her other 3 children, he never would have survived.

It was the professional, warm care she received at Flumpa clinic (which was evidenced by 6 prenatal clinic visits before delivery) that prompted Musu to deliver at the clinic. OIC Patience Julu and Nurse Aid Saye Klesa have been supported and trained through EQUIP’s “Rehabilitation of Health Care for War Affected People in Nimba County” program funded through OFDA USAID from the American People. The family and community members who were waiting outside burst into the clinic with song, dance, and shouting, and filled the clinic with infectious joy on the presentation of this new life