Monrovia – The John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center, in an attempt to project a clear image, has given over forty journalists a tour of the medical facility.
“I think by and large, we have done a lot of things. Now, we are in the stage of redefining, We we want to ensure that we have cadre of workers to carry on.” – Dr. Wannie Scott-McDonald
Though the management says the visit by journalists doesn’t qualify as a response to the bad press that is being given the hospital, but the flooding of journalists coupled with the long hours of press briefing seems to suggest just that—the hospital is cleaning it blurred image which has been made blurry by Daylue Goah, former head of Public Relations for the hospital, who has gone on a binge, releasing sensitive but inflammatory information against the hospital.
But the head of JFK, Dr. Wannie Scott-McDonald has outlined her achievements since taking over the helm of the medical center, ranging from training of staffers, renovation of the hospital, increment in salary, regular drug supplies etc.
Presenting these achievements to journalists give the impression that JFK is on course as opposed to the damning allegation of bad services and corruption at the center.
Dr. McDonald furthered that the JFK Medical Center occupies a very special place in Liberia, adding that patients’ doctors’ ratio is favorable. “JFK is not just for treatment alone, we are training doctors and nurses.”
“JFK is the last hope of the poor man. If you take JFK out of the system, the system will collapse; this hospital does not refuse you because you do not have money.”
Dr. McDonald said that the medical center deals with the minimum of 500 patients a day.
The Head of JFK added that her goal is to bring the JFK hospital to a modern status. “The idea is to take it to the next level.”
Dr. McDonald recalled that in 2006, the hospital was virtually empty and lacked staffers to run the facility.
“In 2006 we barely had healthcare workers in this country, the challenges were how many do we train in the next five years to begin to mend our clinics—that was the challenge,” Dr. McDonald added.
She said that upon taking over, top on her priority was to put system in place and training more healthcare workers. “We were concerned about putting system in place, we did not have to train faculty (staffers).”
She said the hospital function goes beyond treating patients, adding it is a teaching hospital. “We are not just treating people.”
“I think by and large, we have done a lot of the things, now we are in the stage of redefining, we want to ensure—that we have cadre of workers to carry on”, she continued.
“There are lots of challenges before we came here, there were other who were struggling and they did their best. I have seen a lot but there is still a lot that needs to be done.”
Dr. McDonald added that the lives her staffers are able to save give them joy to continue.
“When we have massive accident in the night and we can call our doctors and they come and perform surgery—and the next day you see these patients up—that is what give us the joy to continue”, said Dr. McDonald.
Dr. McDonald urged the media to tell the positive stories about the medical center.
“My dear brother, friends and sons behind this table tell the story. There’s a lot that can be done here, we want to tell our people to please come, there’s a lot that can be done,” a pleading Dr. McDonald said.
The hospital said that for the past three years its budget ceiling has been US$6.5 million.
“In 2013, we got about US$6 million from government, our expenditure are medication, fuel oil to run the generators so we can have 24-hour electricity, medical supplies and feeding the patients. In 2013-2014, we spent US$8.3 million. Note what I said we got only US$6 million from the government, so where the difference did come from? It came from the fees we collect.”
“I hear people say a lot that JFK—they making money from the patients. What we do is cost recovery. Cost recovery is what helps us to breach that gap.”