By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – Mrs. Dama R. Yekeson-Koffa, the wife of embattled House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Administration at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK Medical Center), has tendered her resignation, citing the need to dedicate her full attention to her mother’s medical needs. In her resignation letter addressed to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., Yekeson-Koffa expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and highlighted the significant strides made under her leadership at Liberia’s largest referral hospital.
Mrs. Yekeson-Koffa, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) with advanced degrees in nursing and healthcare administration, has been a pivotal figure in the transformation of JFK Medical Center over the past seven years. Her tenure saw the implementation of numerous groundbreaking projects that have revolutionized healthcare delivery in Liberia. Her resignation comes while her husband is navigating through a complex political struggle at the House of Representatives, which previously saw what many consider as his unconstitutional removal as Speaker of the House.
Transformative Achievements at JFK Medical Center
In her resignation letter, Yekeson-Koffa outlined several key accomplishments during her time at JFK Medical Center, including: -The establishment of an Imaging Center and Dialysis Unit, providing critical diagnostic and treatment services. The renovation of the E.S. Grant Mental Health and Rehabilitation Hospital and the launch of the Psychiatrist Residency Program, addressing mental health needs and training future specialists.
The renovation of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), enhancing care for newborns. The modernization of the Pathology Laboratory and the establishment of a Cancer Center, improving diagnostic and treatment capabilities for life-threatening diseases. The creation of a Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Unit, offering specialized care for survivors. The renovation of the Infectious Disease Clinic, strengthening the hospital’s capacity to manage outbreaks and infectious diseases. The introduction of a Health Management Information System, streamlining hospital operations and patient care.
Full accreditation of the West Africa College of Physicians and the West Africa College of Surgeons in multiple departments, including Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Surgery. The renovation and upgrade of critical facilities, including a 21-bed private ward, the Emergency and Outpatient Department (OPD), the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and the Operating Room (OR). The addition of specialist consultant physicians in fields such as Cardiology, Radiology, Anesthesiology, Neurosurgery, Nephrology, and Oncology, among others.
Yekeson-Koffa also highlighted the introduction of banking services for bill payments, upgraded plumbing and sewer systems, and the expansion of the hospital’s morgue as part of the comprehensive improvements made under her leadership.
A Difficult Decision
In her letter, Yekeson-Koffa described her decision to resign as “particularly difficult,” given the progress made at JFK Medical Center and her passion for improving healthcare in Liberia. However, she emphasized the urgency of her mother’s medical needs, which require her full-time attention.
“Effective immediately, due to the urgency of this situation, I will not be available to serve in the capacity of Deputy CEO for Administration at JFK Medical Center, as I can no longer fully commit to the demands of the position,” she wrote. “I do not wish to stagnate the inevitable growth and commitment required of the JFK Executive Management Team to responsibly serve the thousands of Liberians seeking care at our nation’s largest tertiary referral and teaching hospital.”
Yekeson-Koffa expressed pride in the transformative impact of her work, stating, “The privilege to positively impact health outcomes for thousands of Liberians through mitigating challenges to allow the Medical Center to achieve financial, medical, and operational sustainability has been my singular honor.”
She expressed confidence in the hospital’s continued growth and its role in shaping the future of clinical healthcare delivery in Liberia. “It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve as the Deputy CEO for Administration at the JFK Medical Center, and I look forward to the opportunity to serve Liberia again,” she concluded.
