Volunteer experience of an American dietitian in Liberia, West Africa.

An American volunteer dietitian can make significant contributions in a developing country with the support of local personnel. Three objectives were achieved during a recent experience. The first objective was to become familiar with local foods and food customs and to revise the hospital diet manual to reflect Liberian food habits. Clinical observation of malnourished pediatric patients was the second objective, and this led to evaluation of the ELWA Hospital's kwashiorkor formula. The third objective was to provide in-service education to nurses and physicians at the ELWA and JFK Memorial Hospitals in Monrovia. Presentations were made on basic nutrition, diet manual revisions, and a kwashiorkor literature review. These objectives were set at the request of the ELWA Hospital administrator and accomplished with the support of the medical staff.