Bong County Process

Facilitators, representing each of the participating communities, have been trained in health principles. They interact with participants, answering health questions, guiding discussions and identifying pertinent developments and findings.

Participants share their knowledge with their families and with other members of their communities. Facilitators bring their findings to UNICEF and this information has informed several publications to be shared with other communities, organisations and with the public. The intent is for others to benefit from the model of participatory research.

The process draws together representatives of all facets of society: young, old, men, women, healthy and ill. Together they consider challenges in child health, particular to their community as well as their own ability to prevent them. Through group discussion, they determine plans of action in which all can participate, in order to help themselves, to help others and - most importantly - to help their children. Demanding commitment, continued participation and co-operation, the Community Capacity Assessment process reveals that much of any development solution lies already within the power of the community.

Health, rights.

The process - which does not discriminate but requires action of all has gained favour among the community so that it has drawn interest from all facets. Even the church Minister has suggested a more participatory approach to services, noting that participation evokes a sense of ownership and draws an authentic commitment.

The majority does not read in Salala, a small village in Bong County, Liberia. They speak and they listen but they never read and write. Documents survive only as long as the one who recalls the information and even then, it is shared discriminately.

Bong County faces several challenges. Primarily, it faces issues of malnutrition and malaria and other perpetual illnesses that threaten the lives of its children. But these are exacerbated by a critical lack of curative resources and the inaccessibility of health information. It would take more than even several tons of medication to solve the problems that exist in Bong County; no doctor or donor has the resources to cure the sickness and ensure against its return. Instead, this will require the dedication of the entire community and a life-long commitment.