Liberia

Bernd Göken reports on his visit to the psychiatric clinic in Liberia

After years of civil war, hope has returned to Liberia and with it a new beginning. The country is slowly under reconstruction. Things are moving slowly, because people need time to come to terms with their terrible experiences and war traumas. There is little help for the psychological consequences.

Cap Anamur has been in charge of the first and for a long time only psychiatric clinic in Liberia since 2003.

Mentally ill people are marginalized in many parts of the world or housed in inhumane conditions by self-appointed healers. Like Elisabeth: The only 14-year-old was found chained and emaciated to the bone in one of these facilities. She had become conspicuous and was deported to this home. Our nurses and caregivers lovingly cared for her and slowly nursed her back to health. She does not speak yet, but she has regained some weight and is just starting to walk again.

In this so-called home, Elisabeth was kept like an animal alongside about twenty other people. There were no beds, the sick had to sit and sleep chained on the completely filthy floor for 24 hours. There was little to eat, medical care or medication none, praying was the only therapy.

In Liberia, healing people with mental illness is still a major challenge today.

James from Nigeria was chosen by his family to go to Europe. He was supposed to earn money there to support the destitute family. Many fail on their long journey and do not make it to the Mediterranean. James only got as far as Liberia. In all countries along the route to Europe you can find these stranded people who have lost all confidence. James tried to earn money in Monrovia for the onward journey. He did not make it, hopelessly he came into contact with the drug scene. Due to excessive consumption, he developed psychosis.
About a year ago, he was admitted to the psychiatric ward by the police. He is doing well again and is actually considered cured. He could go back to Nigeria, but James cannot go home, he is ashamed to face his family, he has failed in his opinion. In Liberia, he is and remains a stranger. A fate shared by many young men on the continent. The hospital has become a home for him.

Many people could be helped quickly in the clinic through our work

Robert ist ein fahrender Händler in der Hauptstadt, viele kennen ihn und seinen Karren. He also often resorts to drugs. His parents reported that he was getting increasingly strange. Then one day when he threw all his clothes off and ran through the streets, she took him to the Mental Health Hospital. His mother had heard about our clinic only a short time before. Lucky for Robert, because often the sick are dragged to churches or institutions, as described above. There the devil is to be cast out, in chains and dark rooms. Robert came to us, here he was quickly helped and after a few weeks he could rejoin his family. When our employee Rüdiger Asmus brought Robert home, everyone was overjoyed. Neighbors and friends rush over, Robert is hugged and embraced, a beautiful picture. Rüdiger Asmus says, visibly moved, that these are the moments that make him forget all the imponderables and hardships of his work here in Liberia.