Liberia: Senator Kpehe Dedicates State-of-the-Art Clinic in Yila, Kpaai District

KPAAI DISTRICT– The people of Yila Town in Kpaai District, Bong County, on Saturday, September 13, 2025, celebrated the dedication of a state-of-the-art primary healthcare center that replaces a termite-damaged and dilapidated government-run clinic.

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By: Kongoi Gborkorquellie, Contributing Writer 

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The new Yila Clinic, officially opened by Senator Johnny Kpehe, comes with medical supplies, a promised ambulance, and national commitments for future budgetary support.

For years, Yila relied on a clinic that was unsafe and not up to standard. The old building was small, with ceilings and doors eaten by termites, making it uncomfortable for patients.

In 2017, citizens of Yila and their children in the United States began constructing a new clinic, but after roofing the structure, the project stalled due to lack of support.

Senator Kpehe’s intervention brought the project back to life. He mobilized resources to complete the building, furnish it with all necessary rooms, and provide drugs and medical materials to ensure it opens for immediate use. 

At the ceremony, Kpehe told citizens, “This clinic is a fulfillment of my promise to bring quality healthcare closer to the people of Kpaai District. I am pleased to also announce that an ambulance will be donated to support the work of our health workers here.”

The dedication program drew scores of government officials and citizens from Bong and Nimba counties.

Among those in attendance were Senator Prince Moye of Bong, who chairs the Senate Committee on Ways, Means and Finance; Senator Dabah Varpilah of Grand Cape Mount and  Chair on Health Committee at the Liberian Senate; Internal Affairs Minister Francis Nyumalin; and the District’s Lawmaker Prince K. Koinah. Also present were Bong County Superintendent Hawa Loleyah Norris and other local officials.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bong County Caucus Chair Senator Prince Moye commended Senator Kpehe for what he described as a “timely intervention” and pledged lawmakers’ support. “In consultation with my colleagues, we will ensure seventy-five thousand United States dollars is captured in the 2026 National Budget to fence this facility and provide additional support for its completion,” Moye assured.

The new Yila Clinic, located in Wolo-ta Clan, contains consultation rooms, a labor ward, screening room, pharmacy, modern latrine, and other essential units for quality care. With the modern facility now operational, the old government clinic will no longer be used.

For his part, Bong County Health Officer, Dr. Daanue Paye Zwuogbae, described the clinic as strategically important because of its location on the border between Bong and Nimba Counties. 

He noted, “This clinic will serve more than six towns in Nimba and at least five in Bong. The previous structure was a complete death trap, but today, what we see here represents the standard the Ministry of Health wants in rural areas.”

Some of the nurses assigned to the facility expressed gratitude for the intervention. One nurse remarked, “Working in the old building was a daily risk, but this new clinic gives us the space and tools to serve our people better.”

Citizens could not hide their joy. Madam Esther Kollie, a mother of four, said, “We used to suffer in the old clinic. At times we sat outside waiting for hours because the rooms were too small. Today, I am proud we finally have a modern health center.”

Another resident, Samuel Flomo, added, “This is a blessing for Yila and surrounding towns. Our children, mothers, and elderly will no longer have to travel far for basic healthcare. We thank Senator Kpehe and our brothers and sisters abroad who started this dream.”

The dedication of the Yila Clinic is estimated to have cost more than one hundred thousand United States dollars. 

With Senator Kpehe’s support, government’s budgetary commitment, and the enthusiasm of local citizens, the facility is expected to transform healthcare delivery in Kpaai District and beyond.