Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – The Management of ArcelorMittal Liberia on Wednesday, April 1, presented a cash amount of US$5,000.00 to the “Help Save Liberian Government Hospital” Committee. The cash was presented to the county administration.
The Committee to save the major public health facility in the county was established to solicit funding to keep the hospital open in order to provide health services for people in the county.
Earlier this year, the committee wrote several communications to institutions including ArcelorMittal Liberia seeking support for the hospital in the absence of Government’s allotments.
In response to the communication, the company informed the county administration that there were lots of unwanted scraps in their concession area that they could sell to help the hospital.
Gus Knowlden, Government Relations Superintendent of AML, said 60 tons of scrap metals were lifted initially and then the company thought it wise to quickly turn over the cash to the committee.
He said that ArcelorMittal remains committed to helping the county and Liberia at large whenever the need arises.
Mr. Knowlden said the cash presented was an initial contribution to the committee, adding that when the remaining scraps are sold they will again present the money to the county for the operation of the Hospital.
“I have come to present to you Superintendent Janjay Baikpeh the amount of US$5000.00 as money generated from the cleanup ArcelorMittal promised to have done to help the hospital committee,” he said.
“There are little scraps left in the fence that will be lifted, when it is done, we will again present whatever that we will generate to the County for the smooth operation of the Hospital”
The County Superintendent expressed gratitude to the steel company for “willingly contributing” to the county’s hospital.
“ArcelorMittal has continuously proven that safety is part of their functions and so they have come again and this time they’ve brought cash to help our hospital. I want to say thanks to the management for thinking about the people of this County,” he said.
Baikpeh mentioned that his office will work along with the committee to ensure that the money is used for the intended purpose.
“I want to make it clear here, this money is meant for the hospital and nothing else but the hospital. Our office will supervise the process as we have been doing to ensure that the hospital gets the needed support through the committee,” he stressed.
Jerry Garyeazohn, Acting Chairman of the committee to save the hospital, also praised the company for its “timely gesture” to the people of Grand Bassa.
“This money came the right time because our doctors complained that the hospital lacks gloves, fuel oil, medications and other needed items for the hospital and we have been worried,” Garyeazohn said.
“I want to assure you that this committee will ensure that the hospital gets some medications, and other needed things in the soonest possible time to keep them up and running.”