To faculty and students interested in Global Health and Healthy Development
I would suggest that the potential for developing a project in Liberia be explored.
Background
These ideas stem from observations made in Monrovia (the capital) and refugee camps within a two-hour drive of the city where I worked for three weeks in December 2003 as a general medical officer with Northwest Medical Teams.
The potential for what might be accomplished in Liberia is to some degree a reflection of the impact that Dartmouth has made in Kosovo, an initiative that began under somewhat similar circumstances.
I will list some of the pros and cons of a project in Liberia and suggest a strategy, which might help us to decide whether a program in that country would be feasible, and might achieve the goals of Dartmouth’s Initiative in Global Health

Background in brief.
Liberia is just beginning to recover from a complex civil war which has devastated the country over the past fourteen years. In August of 2003 the President, Charles Taylor was forced into exile. Since that time security in Monrovia and the environs has improved markedly with the arrival of U.N. military forces and a host of humanitarian organizations.
The Government, including the Health Ministry, the educational institutions including the University of Liberia, the Medical School of Liberia and The John F. Kennedy Hospital (their principal teaching facility) are all in a phase of recovery and reorganization.

Is this the right place and the right time to develop a connection?
Arguments for.
1. Their need in general terms is quite obvious.
2. Those who help early and sustain a commitment are likely to contribute the most to their recovery and to their future
3. The U.S. and Liberia have an historical relationship that reaches back to 1822.
4. English is the official language.
5. The ethnicity and culture of Liberians is very different from that of the majority of Dartmouth students. A plus for our education programs.
6. The Bush Administration has made a very substantial financial commitment to Liberia which will very likely be sustained by future administrations. Liberia is our linch-pin in West Africa.
7. Travel to West Africa, while substantially more costly than Central America is substantially less than Asia

Arguments against:
1. While security may not be a great issue in Monrovia and it’s immediate environs it may be a long time before the hinterlands of the country will be considered safe.
2. It can be anticipated that both the structure and personnel of governmental and educational organizations will be in a state of flux during the next few years as they seek to reestablish themselves.
3. Personal health in Liberia, requires due diligence
4. . To my knowledge Dartmouth has no close connections with Liberians or with their Institutions so these bridges would have to be built from scratch

Strategy for proceeding if the idea is felt to have merit:
1. Identify a Dartmouth faculty member who has the interest and energy to carry the ball as a coordinator.
2. Establish a working committee with the following charge
A. Develop an understanding of the history and current status of Liberia.
B. Make connections with the faculty of other Colleges and Universities in the U.S. or elsewhere who might help to guide us.
C. Connect with Americo-Liberians who could provide useful insights and explore any connections between Dartmouth faculty and Liberian faculty or Government officials that may already exist..
D. Explore funding sources including AID
E. Develop a planning grant
F. Support a Dartmouth team to go to Liberia for the purpose of identifying partners.
G. Develop financial support for a program.
H. Implement a program

Submitted by Dean Seibert, M.D.

I came across a wonderful website that has stories on Dartmouth's impact on Africa.

BuzzFlood

http://www.buzzflood.org/index.php?query=africa&amount=0&blogid=1