French Charity Dedicates Health Center in Bong

As part of its complementary support to the health sector of Liberia, the French medical charity Medecins du Monde has turned over a newly constructed health center in Belefanai, Zota District in Bong County to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The construction of the facility was sponsored by the European Commission and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Medicins du Monde.

Medicins du Monde  Desk Officer based  in Paris, France  Bertrand Brequeville, said  the charity will continue to assist  the Liberian government in  the implementation of its health programs in Bong County  to ensure  an improved and responsive health care  delivery system, especially for the country’s rural population.

Mr. Brequeville said though lot has been done, more needs to be achieved in the health sector, which was badly affected by the fourteen years of civil conflict in Liberia, which has created wide range of challenges.

He said since 2006, Medicins du Monde has done a lot in buttressing the implementation of government’s health policy in the county in different ways and remains committed to the process.  The desk officer praised the European Commission, which is its major donor in Liberia for continuous support to the   organization.

Receiving keys to the new health center on behalf of the government, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Moses Pewu, praised Medicins du Monde for buttressing the Liberian government’s effort in catering to the health needs of its citizens.

Dr. Pewu described the construction of the facility as a major boost to the health care delivery system of the country. He assured that the government will provide health workers and pay salaries to ensure smooth running of the center. However, Dr. Pewu appealed to Medicins du Monde to help provide initial drugs to jump start the process.

Speaking earlier, Bong County Chief Medical Officer Dr. Garfee Williams said the Belefaniai Health Center was amongst many facilities selected during a health planning conference in 2007.

According to Dr. Williams, this is the first health center to be constructed in Bong County since the inception of the Unity Party-led government. He expressed delight for the facility and called on the people of Zota District, who are direct beneficiaries to ensure its maintenance.

The nearly  US$280,000 modern health  facility  is expected to meet the health needs of citizens in  Zota and Panta districts and parts of Lofa County as well as residents of neighboring Guinea.

Besides the new health facility in Belefanai, Medicins du Monde currently supervises a maternity hospital in Gbarnga, constructed in 2010, including 11 community clinics across Bong County.

The French  Charity started humanitarian intervention in Bong County particularly in the health sector  since  2004  immediately following the cessation  of  hostilities  by the warring parties at the time when  the United  Nations established  a peace keeping mission for Liberia.