In a press conference held at CAF Congo Town office over the weekend, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Fatu Gbedema, named the J.J. Dossen Memorial Hospital in Harper, Maryland County, C.B. Dunbar Medical Center, Gbarnga, Bong County, Government Hospital, Grand Bassa, C. H. Rennie Hospital, Kakata, Margibi County, the Curan Lutheran Hospital of Zorzor, Lofa County and the Gbeapo Health Center in Fish Town, River Gee County as facilities that are expected to benefit.
Madam Gbedema said the donation, which falls under the CAF Health Infrastructure Support Project (CHISP), is part of the foundation’s effort to support and improve healthcare delivery in Liberia.
She disclosed that the distribution of the items, which ranged from comprehensive sets of surgical equipment, catheters, gauze, bandages, examination beds, gloves, gowns medical furniture and consumable and non-consumable medical products, started at the C.H. Rennie Hospital and C.B. Dumbar Maternity Hospital on June 14, 2017; to be followed by the Liberian government Hospital in Buchanan and the Curan Hospital in Zorzor on June 19 and 20, 2017 respectively.
“In spite of the rainy season and the current road conditions in Liberia, CAF is doing everything humanly possible to deliver the last batch of our health infrastructure support project donation to the South East before the 27th of June.
The CAF team will be in Fish Town, River Gee County on June 24, 2017,” Gbedema noted.
She added that as part of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms put into place for the proper use of the items by the hospitals, CAF has included itself, the Ministry of Health, and community leaders in the hospital locales to conduct unannounced spot checks to ensure that the equipment and supplies benefit the estimated targeted one million people whose lives will be touched by the donations.
Speaking at a turn over ceremony at the C.H. Rennie Hospital in Kakata, the Chairman and Founder of the Cummings Africa Foundation, Alexander Cummings, asserted that health is one of the cardinal sectors of the country which needs lot of support and he and his family were glad to help.
“The Foundation’s objective is to empower and uplift Liberians in the health, education and agriculture sectors.”
“The health sector needs lots of support. And I believe primary healthcare is one of the key ways you can help many Liberians,” Mr. Cummings averred.
For her part, the Medical Director of the C.H. Rennie Hospital, Dr. Kumblytee L. Johnson, is describing the donation as a timely intervention, thanking CAF and promised to use the items for the intended purpose.
She explained that the hospital caters to 130 patients daily from across Margibi, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu and Montserrado Counties, and performs over 25 minor surgeries including cesarean, hernia among others.
“With all what you have given, I am sure that it will help us tackle the problem of delay in catering to the needy people that you have brought these materials for. We assure you that we will use it maximally,” Dr. Kumplytee averred.
The Administrator of the C.B. Dumbar Hospital expressed his gratitude upon accepting supplies from CAF and termed the donation as timely.