Zwedru: FPAL Breaks Ground For Clinic

Family Planning Association of Liberia  (FPAL) has broken grounds for the construction of a clinic in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County. Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony, the President of FPAL, Mr. Steven Seidi, said the cost of the project is estimated at US$45,000.00. But Mr. Seidi was quick to point out that said amount may increase because the project will also include recreation center for the youth.

The FPAL boss, who underscored the importance of youth in the reconstruction of the country, warned that Liberia is destined to fail if nothing is done to address their needs.

Liberia’s population, according to 2008 Census, is 3.5 million. Of the 3.5 million popuslation, 60 percent constitutes young people between the ages of 25 and below. He said the role of the youth is paramount in the development of the country.  He then urged the FPAL Zwedru Branch to do all it can to recruit valuable and quality volunteers.

According to him, voluntarism is one way to start development in any country, stressing much of what the developed world obtained today, started from volunteerism.

“If your community is so desolate and you choose to full your hands to wait for government, then you are in for something negative. The challenges are there, the organization will surmount them and will support the renovation of the clinic to complete and refurbish it by December this year,” the FPAL boss added.

For her part, FPAL Executive Director, Miatta Kiawu, praised the uniqueness of her organization services. She named the education of youth, provision of medication among others as some of the services her organization are providing.

She said the most interesting part of FPAL operations is the involvement of youth at all its facilities to talk to their colleagues that attend FPAL Clinic so that they will be free to talk about their problems.

Meanwhile, all almost all of those invited to the FPAL ground breaking ceremony failed to show-up, but the South-eastern Women Development Association or SEWODA was the only women group that took part in the ceremony and at the same time, made their contribution through cash.

When contacted as to why the local authorities stayed away from the programme, Tarley Dweh, Grand Gedeh County’s Acting Superintendent expressed regret about their inability to attend.