-Initiates massive renovation
By Jerromie S. Walters
As one of countless efforts to strengthen Liberia’s health system, Liberia’s First LadyMadam Kartumu Boakai, ably joined by the President, scores of international partners and Liberian health officials on Thursday, May 2, 2024, dedicated the refurbished and renovated Duport Road Clinic, following apt interventions, especially in the maternal wall.
The refurbishment of the facility birthed a new look to the maternal wall, preferable to what it had previously. Medical beds and supplies of ardent medical equipment among others were part of the refurbishment by the Office of the First Lady, in partnership with the Health Ministry.
In a remark, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai celebrated the First Lady for the gesture. Weighing in on the need for the change Liberians have long yielded for, President Boakai said his government is committed to delivering a new Liberia. The president is certain that this is possible under his leadership, as he believes the country does not lack resources, but rather it’s full of dishonest people.
With the coming of his leadership, the president has assured that he’s committed to delivering the deliverables, with absolutely no room for those he considered as distracters. “This country will be transformed. Liberia going to be a decent country. He believes Liberians deserve the best, and that’s what he’s committed to doing.
Meanwhile, First Lady Kartumu Boakai told her audience that the initiative is just the beginning of her efforts to improve healthcare in the country. She announced that her team is currently working on rebuilding the Love a Child Orphanage and constructing the new Lei Lei Town Midwife Clinic to provide healthcare to remote areas.
“Today is a day of joy and pride for all of us as we dedicate the refurbishment and renovation of the Duport Road Clinic. This clinic is more than just a building—it is a symbol of our dedication to the mothers and newborns of Liberia. In the same spirit of joy, may I remind us that I am here, not just as the First Lady, but as Liberia’s maternal and neonatal champion, a title I bear with pride and responsibility,” she said.
Despite facing challenges with funding, transportation, and outdated systems, Madam Boakai expressed determination to continue their work. She highlighted the importance of finding new partners, creating better pathways, and fixing systems to better serve all Liberians.
The Liberian First Lady also praised healthcare workers, volunteers, and everyone involved in promoting a healthier Liberia, acknowledging them as the heroes who make their dreams a reality. She emphasized that every healthy baby born and every mother who survives childbirth contributes to Liberia’s strength.
In her closing remarks, she emphasized the significance of the Duport Road Clinic as a symbol of their commitment to caring for each other and building a future where every Liberian can thrive. She urged everyone to remember the impact of their work on the nation’s strength and unity, emphasizing that the clinic represents a stronghold of life and a cradle of their future.
Madam Boakai concluded by calling for continued collaboration and dedication to achieving a Liberia where every life is valued, every dream is achievable, and no one is left behind. “I am convinced, we can do more if we think Liberia, love Liberia, and build Liberia. Thank you, and may God bless all of us and our beloved country, Liberia.”
From her end, Liberia’s Health Minister Dr. Louis Kpoto pleaded with the First Lady and the President that the gesture be extended to other medical facilities across the country.
She hailed the First Lady for the project and assured the Ministry of Health commitment to her endeavors as well as President Boakai’s ARREST agenda. Enraged with gratitude, the Office In Charge (OIC) of the medical facility, Korlu Johnson acclaimed the First Lady for the intervention.
