A 29-year-old disadvantaged youth identified only as Joyce is considering giving up her newborn child after being denied access to maternity care at the Odell Clinic in Johnsonville due to her inability to pay a LD500 registration fee and lack of baby materials. According to Joyce, she arrived at the clinic while in labor but was turned away by nurses who informed her that without payment and basic items for the baby, she could not be admitted for delivery. “I begged them. I was in pain. But they said I didn’t come with money or baby things, so they told me to leave,” she recounted. Left with no options and in active labor, Joyce wandered the streets in search of help.
She eventually found a house near the clinic where she gave birth on the porch without medical assistance. Passersby later offered minimal help, but no formal support or healthcare workers intervened. Joyce, who claims she had been struggling with drug addiction and living in poverty for years. During the interview, she told the reporter that her current situation leaves her unable to care for the baby and is now considering selling the child to someone who can offer a better life. “I don’t want my child to suffer like me. If someone can help the baby live well, I will let them take the child,” she said tearfully. Joyce’s story is one of many in Liberia where access to healthcare particularly maternal care remains out of reach for the poor.
While public clinics are mandated to offer emergency maternity services, many operate under strained conditions and often charge informal fees to stay afloat. A 2023 report by the Liberia Health Equity Alliance noted that over 40% of women in low-income communities were denied facility based delivery due to financial constraints. Additionally, health facilities often require expectant mothers to bring their own medical supplies, including gloves, delivery kits, and baby clothing creating a major barrier for those living in poverty. As of now, Joyce and her newborn are without permanent shelter or official medical follow-up. No government or non-governmental intervention has been announced in relation to her case.
Author: Gesther Ghampson
