CSI on Fifth Medical Mission to Firestone

A 25- team member, under the banner of the American medical charity, Children’s Surgery International (CSI), has arrived in Liberia on its fifth medical mission to the Firestone Medical Center located in Duside, outside Harbel.

The team, which touched down on Friday, November 8, 2013, at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County on board a Delta Airline flight is expected to be in the country for about a week. Madam Lora Koppel, who coordinated some of CSI previous missions expressed delight to be back in Liberia and in particular at the Firestone Medical Center.

The team which comprises doctors, nurses, and other social workers are from renowned American medical institutions. They will in partnership with the medical personnel at the Firestone Medical Center perform free surgeries and other medical procedures on Liberian children afflicted by various kinds of facial deformities and other pediatric conditions.

The Firestone medical staff treats about 9,000 patients each month with quality health care in various communities within the concession area. More besides, the Firestone Hospital is one of the best referral hospitals in Margibi County and the Republic Liberia. 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 Firestone Medical Center also works with the Ministry of Health for the control of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Firestone employees and their dependants do receive free medical care at this facility. People in need of medical treatment from around the country come to Firestone Liberia when they cannot find the treatment they need elsewhere.

Furthermore, the Firestone Medical Center continues to play host to a number of medical students from several medical institutions around the country, including the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine, at the University of Liberia, the Nursing Department of Cuttington University in Bong County, The Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) at the J.F. Kennedy Medical Center, and the Phebe School of Nursing and Midwifery, among others.

The Firestone Medical Center continues to make available its improved health infrastructure as well as expertise to these health institutions for the advancement of knowledge in support of the human resource development of Liberia.

In appreciation of its support and commitment towards quality health care delivery system in Liberia, the Firestone Medical Center was presented a certificate of appreciation by the class of 2006/2007 of the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine as the most cooperative clinical institution in the country.

Children’s Surgery International is a non-profit organization providing free surgical services in a safe and compassionate manner. The surgeries include reconstructive surgery for cleft lips and palates, facial deformities, urological malformations and general pediatric surgery.

This program also provides valuable training to doctors, nurses and technicians of the Firestone Medical Center. Since its maiden visit, the medical team, in partnership with their Firestone counterparts has performed nearly 600 free surgical operations on the children of Liberia and neighboring countries.