JFK a national nightmare

The President’s Delivery Unit (PDU) Coordinator Michael P. Korkpor says the story of state – run John F. Kennedy (JFK) Memorial Hospital is a national nightmare, but reports more than 60 percent completion of renovation works exclusively on the Emergency Center and another area.

“And we all know the story of JFK: It’s a national nightmare. The Minister of Finance was able to allocate the total of $500,000.00 to do some work at JFK,” Mr. Korkpor said during a presentation at the just ended Cabinet Retreat in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

Mr. Korkpor recalls that one of the first assessments that President George Manneh Weah made upon taking office this year was to walk through the facilities of the JFK, after which Finance Minister Samuel Tweah was able to allocate some $500,000.00 to do some works at the hospital.

He says the renovation work at JFK focus exclusively on the Emergency Center and another area for patients care, adding that the works are more than 60 percent completed.

According to him, while the money may not be enough to do a complete overhaul at JFK, the renovation works are however ongoing currently in addition to what PREVAIL is doing to construct the center that will house both MRI and CT Scan.

Additionally, he says the JFK has decided to do some works on operating facilities … to ensure that the place is efficient, up to date and the medical condition is enhanced.

Mr. Korkpor notes that they want to change the roof and there are so many interventions that are being made to upgrade the sanitation system there, do some painting, put some light in the place and upgrade the general condition of the hospital.

According to the PDU Coordinator, the wants to construct an oxygen plant so that the hospital can provide oxygen not only at JFK, but also at other hospitals.

He says a site has already been identified for that purpose and two machines that have been sitting there unused have been identified by Dr. Jerry Browne.

Mr. Korkpor had earlier named 14 key priorities identified by the PDU for the first 150 days.

They include payment of West African Senior Certificate Examination (WASCE) fees, credit line for the private sector, installation of 736 street lights in strategic parts of Monrovia and surroundings, digitization of state – run University of Liberia (UL) student registration and government – run John F. Kennedy (JFK) Hospital equipment and facility upgrading.

Others include laying the first brick for the 14 Military Hospital, RAP for Sanniquellie to Loguatuo Road project and First Lady Clar Weah’s humanitarian outreach project, among others.

Earlier introducing the PDU Coordinator, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Mr. Nathaniel McGill said President Weah did not intend to achieve everything at the same time, but intends to put premium on certain key areas so as to make progress. He says some contribution was therefore made to the JFK, and the understanding is that some progress has been made.

By Winston W. Parley