Buchanan – The Committee set up to help save the Liberian Government Hospital in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on Wednesday, October 16, announced that it has raised over L$2.6 million and US$4,872 for the upkeep of the major public health center in the county.
The Committee, Help Save the Liberian Government Hospital, was established on September 16 this year after the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr. Abraham Jawara revealed on a local radio station in the county that the government-run health facility was finding it “very difficult to access funding from the national government”.
Dr. Jawara then called on people of the county to “help support their own hospital” by contributing to the reopening of the hospital.
Due to the call from the Medical Director, the radio station – Magic FM which is based in the port city – nominated stakeholders to form a committee to engage residents and other influential people to support the reopening of the hospital.
Christopher T. Yarwoe, Secretary General of the Committee, told reporters on Wednesday that the amount generated has been deposited at the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) to be used based on request from the hospital.
“The administrator of the hospital on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 presented a one week budget to the committee in the amount of $ 2,455USD to help cover some operational cost. It includes: fuel for generator and ambulance, feeding of patients among others,” said Yarwoe, who is also the manager of Magic FM.
“Based on the pressing need of the hospital since it got reopened on Saturday, October 5, 2019, the Committee to Help Save the Liberia Government Hospital decided to give two weeks support to the hospital in an initial amount of US$3,880.00.
“The presentation of the money to the Liberia Government Hospital was fully supported by the citizens and residents including communities, towns, motorcyclists, religious communities, schools and many others”.
Madam Martha F. Kangar, Chairperson of the committee, said Liberians have been very cooperative due to the importance of the hospital, which is the only government referral hospital in the county.
“We want to thank all those who contributed to this citizens’ initiative to support the hospital .We want to encourage all of you to continue your support,” Kangar said.
“We are also appealing to those who made pledges to support the Liberian Government Hospital in Buchanan by kindly fulfill their promises “.
Dr. Jawara said the action taken by the citizens to raise funds on their own to help the hospital shows that “they are really in need of the hospital”.
“What you have demonstrated as citizens of this county has motivated me to do more work for the people of Grand Bassa County. I was worried as to how we could manage to run the hospital in the absence of fuel and other medical needs but the love for health care by the citizens has kind us down,” he said.
“We are going to use the money given to us properly and in the interest of the citizens. I want to say thank you to all members of the committee and those that made their contributed to this hospital. I’m encouraging you all to continue helping this hospital”.
He also called on the government to release funds intended for the operation of the hospital “because the little that the citizens are contributing cannot keep this hospital up for a long period of time “.
On September 17, 2019, Grand Bassa County Superintendent Janjay Baikpeh endorsed the “Help Save the Liberian Government Hospital Committee” which has promised to continue helping to raise funds for the hospital.