Amalgamation: Exploring the Context of Health and Nature of Liberia

Abstract

As a developing country, Liberia still faces significant gaps in essential services. About a year and a half ago, my mother explained, a loved one of hers passed due to health complications and couldn't receive help because there wasn't a clinic nearby. This revelation stirred a mix of emotions within me. It ultimately led me to formulate my thesis, which revolves around establishing a regional clinic or hospital. This study focuses on how to better engage with the health, nature, and stories of Liberia people within the context of clinics. The design process incorporates the history of vegetation (particularly trees), representing the intersection of traditional medicine and Western medicine and the perspectives of the Americo-Liberian and Indigenous Liberian communities. The study additionally aims to showcase the connections between the two groups and demonstrate how they are interconnected while simultaneously discussing the factors that have contributed to their current lack of medical facilities.