– Pres. Weah Dedicates Emirates Hospital
By. Jerromie S. Walters
Bopolu city, Gbarpolu county, Liberia—Thursday, December 29, 2022: Following the dedication of the newly constructed Emirates Hospital in Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County, President George Weah has assured his government’s commitment to providing an accessible and affordable healthcare option for all Liberians.
The Liberian Leader, while officially dedicating the modernized and standardized Emirates Hospital, characterized seeking the availability of affordable and accessible healthcare for every Liberian as an intrinsic aspiration and goal of his government.
“Improving healthcare delivery has always been foundational to the pro-poor agenda for prosperity and development.” This is why there have been consistent increases and add-ons to the operational budgets for already-existing hospitals in order to provide the equipment and trained staff required for the delivery of critically needed services. He continues, “As we strive to improve the health sector by training healthcare workers both at home and abroad and by providing free medical education in public health training institutions, such as the Medical School and the School of Pharmacy, my government is committed to creating access to health infrastructure by constructing more new health facilities in underserved communities,” President Weah said.
President George Weah further disclosed that his government is currently finalizing talks with their counterparts in the United Arab Emirates for additional structures and health facilities of the same nature to be built in other parts of the country.
“The goal is to ensure access and affordability as we exert more effort to improve quality healthcare.” This is another demonstration of the commitment we have always voiced to help improve the living conditions of our people, regardless of where they may be in the country.
He believes that the construction and commissioning of the Emirates Hospital will not only help the people of Gbarpolu to have access to quality health care but will also enable the surrounding counties (Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Bong), as well as some parts of Lower Lofa, to benefit from better health care.
“It may even encourage some citizens of Sierra Leone, who are close to the Liberian border in Kongba District, to seek medical care here at this hospital.” Additionally, Gbarpolu County hosts other foreign nationals who are involved in the gold and diamond industries located here, and they too will be able to seek world-class medical care at this well-equipped facility.
President Weah expressed his heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, for this profound act of humanitarian generosity to the people of Liberia, and also thanked the management and staff of Intbox Global Building Contracting LLC, Dubai, UAE, the construction company that built the facility in only 14 months from groundbreaking, in spite of the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its subcontractor, Horizon Construction Company of Equatorial Guinea.
The inauguration of the Emirates Hospital, according to the Liberian Leader, is a further manifestation of his government’s commitment to improving the quality of health services in Liberia by expanding health coverage to our rural population.
“This now brings a total of three entirely new hospitals that have been built and opened during my administration, namely: Gbandeya Hospital, Rivercess; 14 Military Hospital, Margibi; and now Emirates Hospital, Gbarpolu.”
The Emirates Hospital, which is located in Bopolu Executive Grounds, Gbarpolu County, was officially dedicated on Wednesday, December 28, 2022.
The occasion was graced by Members of the 54th Legislature; the Dean and Members of the Cabinet; other officials of government; the Doyen and Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps that included His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, United Arab Emirates; and His Excellency Dr. Aysha Sultan Aldhaheri, Executive Director, Military Health Services, UAE Army, United Arab Emirates.
Among others were the general manager and staff of The Emirates Hospital, the chief medical officer, doctors, and nurses of The United Emirates Hospital, traditional leaders, chiefs, and elders; members of the clergy; as well as political and business leaders.
The modern, state-of-the-art medical facility covers more than 52,000 (fifty-two thousand) square feet and is almost entirely powered by solar energy. It contains a 100-bed capacity for inpatients, several operating rooms, a modern laboratory, an intensive care unit (ICU), various specialized departments, and many more facilities that set it apart from other hospitals in the country.
