Gbarpolu County – It was a moment of joy and relief for residents of Bomboma Clan in Gbarpolu County on August 4, when the National Oil Company (NOCAL) and Community Healthcare Initiatives (CHI) officially turned over a modern healthcare facility to the community.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
According to the Executive Director of CHI, Naomi Tulay Solanke, the Bomboma Maternal and Child Health PAC Level-1 construction project, funded by NOCAL and implemented by her organization, will serve three counties including Bomi, Bong and Gbarpolu Counties.
Speaking at the turn over ceremony in Bomboma Town, Madam Solanke thanked NOCAL for funding the project and stressed that the facility would be a great relief to the residents, especially women and children who usually walk seven to eight hours to get to get the nearby health center.
She also thanked the County authorities and the community for their cooperation in ensuring that the project is successfully implemented.
“Our thanks and appreciation goes to NOCAL for providing the funding for the construction of this facility. Your local authorities were very supportive; especially in the selection and donation of the five acres of land,” she said.
“We know that when this clinic is functional and with the help of our strong and dynamic health officer, and with his passion he has for health, we know that a lot of lives will be saved,” she intoned.
Also speaking, NOCAL’s Public Education Officer, Ambulah Mamey, called on the community to take ownership of the facility and manage it with unity and understanding.
Mamey explained that it was through understanding and unity that led to the selection of the project and the venue.
“When everyone leaves from here and go home, the message about Bomboma Clinic is understanding and unity.”
“Through the County Health Officer and the local authorities, Camp Alpha was chosen, but because of the distance and the expenses it might cause, Bomboma was selected. It is now left with the authority to make ensure that the clinic becomes functional,” he urged.
He disclosed that the initiative was part of NOCAL’s corporate social responsibility and it was also part of several projects the company has completed including 51 latrines construction in Grand Cape Mount County implemented by the North West Development Association and the training of addiction specialists and construction of wellness unit in Margibi for people with mental illness among others.
The ceremony was graced by several stakeholders of Gbarpolu County, including Senate Pro tempore Armah Jallah who thanked NOCAL and partners for the clinic construction project and announced that the clinic has been captured in the budget for the purchase of basic furniture and equipment.
“The citizens got to be strong. Nothing comes free; and the real trouble we got in this country is the free thing concept. “
“Nothing is free. If we are waiting for free thing, the community will not develop and we will continue to suffer.”
“People who come to help us, we must be willing to join them and work with them so development will be realized for all of us,” the Gbarpolu County Senator averred.
Dr. Musa S. Dwana, the newly appointed County Health Officer on behalf the Ministry of Health lauded NOCAL and partners promised that the clinic will be functional and well taken care of.
He noted that despite the enormous challenges facing the MOH, the ministry is doing everything possible to provide healthcare to ever Liberian.
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