In a remote corner of Liberia, a simple yet ingenious solution is making waves in healthcare access. Partners In Health (PIH) Liberia, in collaboration with local authorities, has introduced a modern canoe that’s bridging more than just the Hoffman River – it’s connecting an isolated community to vital services and opportunities.
The village of Puluken, home to over 1,000 residents, has long been cut off from the nearby city of Harper by the Hoffman River. This geographical barrier has created significant health disparities, particularly during the rainy season, when the swollen river becomes impassable. For years, villagers faced a stark choice during medical emergencies: risk a dangerous river crossing or hope to survive until morning.
“Whenever it’s getting dark, if someone gets sick, all we have to do is pray and wait for God,” Dweh Baker, chief of Puluken, explained in an interview with PIH Liberia. “You wait for God to take you, or you pray to make it until the morning.”
Recognizing this injustice, PIH Liberia took action. Working closely with the Maryland County Health Team and the Puluken community, they developed a plan for a modern, motorized canoe. The 15-seat “Puluken Town Canoe” now makes regular trips across the river, reducing the crossing time to just three minutes.
The impact of this simple innovation is profound.
The canoe project exemplifies PIH’s commitment to addressing the root causes of health disparities. By tackling the transportation barrier, they’ve opened up a world of possibilities for the Puluken community. As Baker gratefully noted in his statement to PIH Liberia, “This canoe means a lot to us. Our pregnant women and mothers will use it to go for their vaccines and other health services; farmers will use it to transport their produce to markets.”
This initiative is part of PIH’s broader efforts in Liberia, which include strengthening health systems, fighting infectious diseases, and training the next generation of healthcare professionals. Through such holistic approaches, PIH is working to transform rural healthcare delivery and achieve universal health coverage in Liberia.
The Puluken Town Canoe stands as a testament to the power of imagination and collaboration in overcoming seemingly insurmountable barriers to healthcare. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most effective solutions are also the simplest – a bridge of hope, powered by compassion and community spirit.
Read the full story from PIH: Modern Canoe Gives Remote Community Access to Health Care
and from PIH Liberia: The Power of Imagination in Healthcare Delivery: Partners in Health Hands Over Modern Canoe to Puluken Community in Maryland County, Breaking Barriers