French NGO Pulls From Gbarnga

The French based NGO Medicine Du Monde, has donated two vehicles to the C.B. Dunbar Maternity Hospital in Gbarnga, Bong County as it pulls out. They include one Toyota Land Cruiser and a pick-up truck. The vehicles provided by the organization are fairly used. Medicine Du Monde also donated drugs and stationeries to the hospital.

Speaking to this paper after the donation over the weekend, the Administrator of the hospital commended the institution for the gesture. Madam Patience Marshall said the hospital has been without a vehicle for long, describing the donation as timely.

She added that the French charity has demonstrated good partnership since it started operations in Bong County and recalled assistance to health workers in the county including payment of salaries.

She foresees a big gap in the health system as the NGO pulls out of the county. The C.B. Dumber Hospital Administrator noted that the donation by the NGO is not the first, and that drugs provided will last for the next six months.

Similar presentation was also made to the County Health Team. Medicine Du Monde which has operated in Bong County for about ten years has finally closed its offices there.

The institution worked with about ten health facilities in the county during its operation. It worked with the Liberian government in the expansion of the C.B. Dumber Hospital, which led to the construction of a hundred bedroom annex to boost health care delivery in the county.

Many residents of Bong County, who spoke on community radio stations in the county, were sadden by news of the departure of the French based medical NGO. They expressed fear that the Liberian government might not be able to adequately handle the affairs of those health institutions Medicine Du Monde has worked with.