ICRC Inaugurates Voinjama Health Center
Forum
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
Commissioner Jemel Kamara, Development Superintendent Joseph Yengbeh, and County Health Officer Dr. Jallah took part in the opening programme among representatives of UNMIL, CIVPOL, UNHCR and IMC. Commissioner Kamara said: “The ICRC was the first humanitarian organization to arrive in Lofa after the war to assist the people. Today, inhabitants of Voinjama and around are very glad to benefit from free health services.
The clinic contains two wards with twelve beds for short stays, two consultation rooms and delivery, vaccination, dressing and injection rooms. Malaria, diarrhea, heart problems and respiratory infections will be the main diseases treated. Laboratory will be installed in the near future. The ICRC has renovated the building, furnished medical supplies and pays incentives for the staff. All the work is done in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, which will be in charge of the structure.
The Voinjma Health Center was first constructed in April 1954. Later,
all health activities were transferred to Telewoyen Hospital. The health
center was badly damaged in 2001 during the war.
“We reconstructed it to provide health services in a decent place
to the people of Lofa. However, the building is just a structure, which
cannot do the work. Work has to be done by professional people. There is
a need in Liberia for more professional people to work in health centers”,
the ICRC Health coordinator Paivi Laurila explained.
The ICRC is currently supporting three other clinics in Lofa- Duogomai in John’s Town, Velezale and Bondi. The ICRC has focused its medical activities in rural Liberia this year. The institution plans to assist altogether ten health care structures in Lofa and seven in Grand Kru.
