Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has dedicated the Ahmed Sekou Toure Health Center in Jorwah, Bong County, urging citizens and residents of the area to maintain, protect, and make use of the facility.
The 80-bedroom medical center was constructed by a Liberian firm, FAH Construction Incorporated, with funding from Vice President Taylor. It includes in and out-patient wards, delivery wards, a dispensary, and offices, among others.
Vice President Taylor praised Samaritan’s Purse for the provision of medical equipment, as well as furniture for the facility and the continuous support the faith-based humanitarian organization renders to the country’s healthcare delivery services and other critical help for the nation’s development.
She said the Government will continue to do everything to decentralize governance and services in the sector, bringing services closer to the people.
According to a release from the Office of the Vice President, the comments by Vice President Taylor were contained in a statement delivered on her behalf by the Executive Director of the Group of 77, Madam Wyfia Ciapha at the dedication ceremony at the weekend.
The renovation of the Ahmed Sekou Toure Jorwah Health Center in Panta District, Bong County, is an initiative of the Vice President Taylor who found it prudent to alleviate the health concerns of the locals, the release said.
It said the project is in response to pleas by the citizens to upgrade the facility which was left in ruins after several years of Liberia’s devastating civil crisis.
Madam Ciapha remarked: “VP Taylor’s efforts to reconstruct the health center started at the time she was Senator of Bong County during one of her many tours of the district at which time she was approached in a meeting by one of the eminent citizens in 2013.
They made a plea with Senator Taylor at the time to vouch for the people of Panta District, especially the residents of Jorwah, to have direct access to an equipped, functioning and viable health facility, drawing her attention to the lack of access to medical services.
Madam Ciapha, on behalf of the Vice President, expressed profound gratitude to the people of Jorwah and its surroundings for their courage to work together towards the betterment of the county.
She reminded them that VP Taylor is noted for her passion for development and assured that the Office of the VP remains open for assistance to implement further development initiatives.
She conveyed the VP’s call for unity amongst the people of Bong County in order to strengthen development activities.
The dedication program for the over US$80,000 facility was attended by several international partners and government officials, including the Minister of Health, Dr. Willimena Jallah, Deputy Health Minister Norwu Howard, Bong County District#4 Representative Robert Womba, Superintendent Esther Walker, Guinea Ambassador Elhady Abdoulaye Dore, Samaritan’s Purse and scores of residents from neighboring towns in both Guinea and Liberia.
In response on behalf of the people of Bong County, Superintendent Walker expressed thanks and appreciation to Vice President Taylor, Samaritan’s Purse, and to the Ambassador of Guinea Dore for the relationship and continuous collaboration over time.
She warned local county authorities against creating embarrassment for would-be health workers that will be assigned at the health center.
For her part, Health Minister Dr. Jallah lauded the communities and all collaborating partners for the gesture, encouraging them to remain steadfast in keeping with the promotion of a sound health delivery system.
She maintained that good nutrition was necessary for the growth of the human body and advised parents to pay more attention to seeking healthy diets for their children.
Guinean Ambassador Dore, who spoke through an interpreter, said the Government of Guinea was overwhelmed by the spirit of cooperation and oneness between the late Presidents William V.S. Tubman and William R. Tolbert of Liberia, on the one hand, and President Ahmed Sekou Toure of Guinea, on the other which, he noted, remains cordial between the two sisterly countries.
He observed that no one can distinguish between the citizens of the neighboring communities because of the common identities and traditional ties.
Ambassador Dore commended President George M. Weah and his Government for reconstructing a health facility that was named in honor of President Ahmed Sekou Toure.
