Children’s Surgery International Brings Smiles to Liberia

An American medical team, Children’s Surgery International (CSI) has completed another working visit to the Firestone Medical Center in Duside outside Harbel. The CSI team which was on similar mission early this year arrived in Liberia on the evening of Friday, November 9, 2012, at the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County.

This was the medical team’s fourth mission at the Firestone Medical Center where in close collaboration with their Firestone counterparts, performed 128 free surgical procedures on children who have suffered different kinds of facial and pediatric deformities.

Speaking during a well-attended farewell program on Friday, November 16, 2012, in honor of the visiting American medical team, held at the Dan J. Adomitis Hall, located within the Firestone Medical Center, the Administrator of the Firestone Medical Center, Mrs. Joye Collins Phillips, expressed heartfelt appreciation to the American medical personnel, their Firestone counterparts and support staff for their humanitarian gesture.

Mrs. Phillips had a special commendation and recognition for CSI team members and volunteers whom she said since the fourth mission started on Sunday, November 10, 2012, have worked with all their might to ensure that the mission become a success story. “Thank you so much. Your presence here makes the difference in this country, makes the difference for us and I think the quality healthcare provided at our center here; that’s tremendous contribution to us and to the country so I thank you for that.”

Mrs. Phillips further presented certificates of appreciation to all those who one way or the other help in making this most recent CSI mission to Liberia in general and Firestone in particular successful. She noted that words were inadequate to express her gratitude to them for the enormous sacrifices they’ve made in the interest of the Liberian children.

For his part, the Interim President and Managing Director of Firestone Liberia, Mr. Patrick Rodrigo, thanked everyone who worked assiduously to make the mission successful in the interest of the Liberian children and bring relief to the mothers of Liberia. To the CSI team, their Liberia counterparts and support staff he said: “You have come from far out to give this help to our children. You are helping our people, thank you very much.”

The Chief Medical Officer of the Firestone Medical Center, Dr. Lyndon G. Mabande, who earlier on introduced the occasion, said the CSI team and all those connected with the fourth mission worked so hard to help the children of Liberia in a special way. He further used the occasion to commend the personnel of the Firestone Medical Center for their cooperation with the CSI team whenever it is in Liberia.

The Firestone Hospital currently treats over 9,000 patients each month. In addition, Firestone Liberia is partnering with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and UNICEF to store and administer vaccines that help prevent Liberians from range of diseases. The hospital also works with the Ministry of Health for the control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Dr. Lawrence Sherman of the Firestone Medical Center who coordinates CSI activities in Liberia, described the fourth CSI mission as “a very successful mission, saying “I thank all of you who came before and have come now.”  The 25-member medical team which included doctors, nurses, and social workers has since departed the country.

The Clinical head of CSI mission, Katherine Houle expressed thanks and appreciation to the Management of Firestone, the Firestone Medical Center and support staff for the cooperation accorded her team. The program was graced by the presence of other senior teammates of Firestone Liberia including the Industrial Relations Manager, Cllr. Winleta Aynn Henries-Reeves and the Purchasing Manager, Madam Lillian Mauroum, among others.