J.J. Dossen Hospital To Begin Operations Soon
...From HUMEDICA’s Assistance
By: I. Solo Kelgbeh
The Inquirer
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
Posted April 30, 2004
A German humanitarian group, Humanitarian Medical Aid International(HUMEDICA),
has brought into the country a consignment of medical supplies and relief
items for use at the J.J. Dossen Memorial Hospital in Harper, Maryland County.
This means J.J. Dossen Memorial Hospital which once catered to the health needs of the residents of Maryland County and adjacent areas in the Southeastern region of Liberia, ceased operations due to the massive looting of its facilities during the 14 years of civil crises in the country, is about to bounce back.
In addition to the medical supplies and relief items brought in for the hospital, HUMEDICA International is acquiring building materials to speedily carry out renovation work at the hospital so it would immediately begin to provide medical services and relief to the thousands of residents in Harper and other towns in Maryland and other southeastern counties.
Speaking about HUMEDICA’s plans and objectives, the group’s Program Officer Joerg Eich said there is a need for them to identify with Liberians in the area of health.
Mr. Jeorg made the assertion on 18th Street, Sinkor last Wednesday when a 40-foot container of the relief and medical items were offloaded.
Some of the items brought include mattresses, clutches, wheel chairs, a generator, several cartons of medication to last for not less than six months.
After realizing the needs of the people of Liberia, HUMEDICA International whose Harper’s project is being sponsored by the Foreign Ministry of Germany started operation in Liberia last year with the supply of medicines to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
Mr. Joerg said in spite of medicines supplied to the IDPs, he has noticed that there is still need for more assistance mainly to the people in Harper. He said it was against such backdrop that his group got in contact with the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies to take over J.J. Dossen Memorial Hospital.
According to the HUMEDICA’s Program Officer, a professional German doctor will work along with the local staff at the hospital. He said only the Out Patients Department(OPD) will be operational for now under HUMEDICA International.
In about seven days time, items and building materials purchase for the renovation work will be transported to Maryland County.
Mr. Joerg said the Foreign Ministry of Germany gave 120,000 Euros of the total 130,000 Euros for the project.
He then appealed to Liberians and the international community to help in the reconstruction process to make Liberia once more peaceful saying, “the peace process is going on in a rather encouraging way.”