Liberia

Liberia’s post-conflict society faces one of the world’s highest maternal mortality ratios and presents VSI with a unique opportunity to make a significant contribution to saving women’s lives in childbirth. At the invitation of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, VSI began its program in the last quarter of 2011.

Working in collaboration with local partners and the Liberian government, VSI is committed to introducing life-saving misoprostol tablets to support Liberia’s safe motherhood strategy of reducing maternal deaths due to excessive bleeding after childbirth. Released in 2012, a significant first step is the inclusion of misoprostol for use in management of postpartum hemorrhage as well as treatment of incomplete abortion in the National Therapeutic Guidelines and Essential Medicines LIst for Liberia (2011). 

By the Numbers

Estimated Total Population

4.1 M

Lifetime Risk of Maternal Death

1 woman in 20

Maternal Mortality Ratio

990 per 100,000 live births

Total Fertility Rate

5.8

Births Attended by Skilled Health Provider

46%

Rural Unmet Need for Family Planning

36%

Source: PRB, 2011