Monrovia – Liberia is soon to have a charity hospital, full and equip with some of the latest, modern medical technology. This good news was disclosed to Liberians and Indians on India’s 71st Republic Day by the Honorary Consul General of India to Liberia, Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva, commonly known in Liberia as Mr. Jeety.
This news couldn’t have come at any better time other than now when the nation’s healthcare delivery is seriously struggling at the moment. There are constant reports of hospitals not having adequate or no essential drugs at all. Some health facilities don’t have trained practitioners and some have just closed their doors.
Speaking to journalists after the formal ceremony of his country’s 71st Republic Day celebration in Liberia by the Indian Community, Mr. Jeety, who is a one of Liberia’s biggest foreign businessmen, told the Liberian media that the hospital, which is going to be located in Garnesville, Monrovia, will be a charitable medical facility, which will cater for many medical conditions. He disclosed that it will be staffed by Indian medical practitioners, who will come to provide this free medical services for Liberians and Indians alike.
According to the Honorary Indian Consul General to Liberia, the hospital is going to be in furtherance of the Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s 550th birth anniversary.
“In further commemoration of Guru Nanak Ji’s 550 Birthday Celebration, the Indian Community is opening in a few weeks a charity hospital in Garnesville, Monrovia,” he stated.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the 1st Guru (Teacher) was born on November 12, 550 years ago, in a small village now in Pakistan called Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi.
Mr. Jeety, a devotee of Sikhism himself, said one of the three principles of the Sikh religion’s founder is sharing with other, and helping those with less who are in need.
This is not the Indian Community’s first contribution that will be made to the nation’s health sector. Last August 2019, the Government of India, through its Ambassador accredited to Liberia, HE Mr. Y.K. Saillas Thangal, on August 13, 2019 presented a US$2 million grant to the Government of Liberia (GoL). The money was intended to help the Liberian Government completes the ongoing construction of the 14 Military Hospital, which is expected to be a 200-bedroom military hospital. The hospital is currently being constructed by the engineering battalion of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
“We are very happy that we are working to enhance in other areas of the Pro-Poor Agenda. Today, the Government of India is pleased to present a US$2 million grant to help complete the 14 Military Hospital so that the hospital can be operational for the use of citizens to have access to medication and treatment,” stated Ambassador Thangal.
Again in August 2014, when the deadly Ebola virus disease ravished Liberia, the Indian Community under the able leadership of the Honorary Consul General galvanized efforts and made a significant contributions to the government in fighting the virus.
Making the presentation of Ebola gears and ambulances, at the General Service Agency (GSA) where the National Ebola Task Force was being hosted, Honorary Counsel General Sachdeva said the Indian Community was in solidarity with the government and sees it as a binding duty and responsibility to contribute to the effort against the virus.
“We are very happy that we are working to enhance in other areas of the Pro-Poor Agenda. Today, the Government of India is pleased to present a US$2 million grant to help complete the 14 Military Hospital so that the hospital can be operational for the use of citizens to have access to medication and treatment.”
– India Ambassador accredited to Liberia, HE Mr. Y.K. Saillas Thangal
71st India’s Republic Day
Reading the Honorable President of India, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind’s Republic Day Message, Consul General Sachdeva among other things said, access to health and education are often considered the foundation of good governance.
“In both these sectors, we have come a long way in the seven decades. The Government has rightly focused its attention on the health sector, with its ambitious initiatives. Starting with the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, and expanding to the Ayushman Bharat, which is the world’s largest publicly funded universal healthcare programme, the Government has shown its care and concern for the well-being of the poor. Quality of healthcare has improved, so has its reach. The Jan Aushadhi Yojana has brought down the healthcare budget of common people in the country by providing quality generic medicines at affordable prices.”
Touching on the prides of his great country, President Kovind told his Republic Day Message, “Another source of pride for our country has been our diaspora. During my visits abroad, I have observed that Indians have not only brought prosperity to their adopted lands, they have also enhanced India’s image before the world community. Many of them have made great contributions in a wide variety of endeavors.”
The India Community in Liberia began their 71st Republic Day celebration with the hoisting of their country’s flag.