The Minister of States for Presidential Affairs (MoS), Nathaniel Falo McGill has dedicated 10 Presidential housing units for healthcare workers in Tunmanburg, Bomi County.
He disclosed that President George Weah asked him to inform the health workers that he will continue to work with the leadership of the county in order to improve health facilities and also provide dwelling places for them.
Minister McGill made these assertions over the weekend at a program marking the official turning over ceremony of the Nurses’ quarters on the compound of the Liberian Government Hospital saying that the President, including the citizens indeed appreciate their services to the country.
According to him, healthcare workers in the country were able to defeat the deadly Corona virus disease due to their resilience, adding that government is unable to pay them for their tremendous sacrifices but that they can only pray that God will continue to protect them as the ‘Frontline Soldiers’ and as such he assured that more volunteer nurses will be placed on the government’s payroll.
Speaking further, the President’s Chief of Office Staff explained that President Weah-led Administration has been in power for four years and seven months but clarified that two years of that period mentioned were overwhelmed by the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic that ravaged lives and global economies.
“Despite its associated worsened economic consequences, government was able to construct three modern hospitals; the 14 Military Hospital, Rivercess Hospital including the Gbarpolu Hospital while the new Redemption Hospital will be dedicated at the end of 2023. The government is also planning the construction of a new modern state of the art 35M John F. Kennedy Hospital,” he remarked.
Additionally, the Minister intoned that a blue print of the Grand Bassa County Hospital is on its way hopefully expected to be delivered early 2023 among others.
He continued that some people are insinuating that the government is not performing well, stressing that the Unity Party (UP) Government that ruled for twelve unbroken years and it only built the Jackson F. Doe Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County, and as such, he wonders as to what they failed to do in more than a decade that they want power again after four years and seven months.
Mr. McGill then frowned on those who he says leave the country and go abroad purposely to destroy the image of the motherland so as to present the leadership of the country as incompetent as they return and they shamelessly go the people asking for their votes so that they can be elected as President which is an unpatriotic attitude on their part.
Minister McGill however urged every citizen of the country to emulate the good example of Senator Edwin M. Snowe because according to him, he didn’t vote for President Weah during the 2017 Elections that brought him to power but indicated that Senator Snowe has been a strong supporter of his administration which he said portrays patriotism.
“Since I arrived in Bomi today, I have noticed that there is an appreciable level of unity amongst the people that is laudable. As I see Senator Snowe and former Speaker Alex Tyler sitting side by side is a testament that development will surely come to the county and the western region at large,” he added.
Minister of Health (MoH), Dr. Wilhemina Jallah said that she is proud to have a President who is always fulfilling his promises relative to development projects and described the ceremony as the beginning because she believes that other counties will also benefit in the future.
Minister Jallah pointed out that the issue of conducive housing facilities especially for volunteer health workers as well as others who are assigned away from their counties have been posing challenges for them.
“On behalf of my dedicated health service providers, we extend our profound thanks and appreciation to the President for providing everlasting solutions to the problem, so continue providing professional services to the people,” she urged the health workers.
The Bomi County Senator, Edwin M. Snowe divulged that he was elated that Minister McGill along with relevant states actors have come in the county to turn over the Nurses’ quarters to the authorities of the county and commended the medical practitioners for their professional services.
He then informed the gathering that the hospital has been connected to the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) Grid through Presidential mandate and that the housing units will also be connected.
“The people of Bomi County are very excited today because of the gradual developmental initiatives taking place in the county,” he added.
Senator Snowe then assured the beneficiaries that each unit will be furnished with two-bedroom set along with a refrigerator before the final turn-over.
He lauded the Minister of MoS for always appealing to his friends and other people on phone purposely for them to support the scholarship program including other projects admitting that he noticed that during most of his visits at the Minister’s office.
“Do not be deterred; continue exploring means aimed at giving back to the people and ignore those who are misconstruing your generosity because trees that bear good fruits are the ones stones can be thrown at,” he told Mr. McGill.
The Bomi County Health Officer (CHO), Dr. S. Jackson Mentoe, who was seen filled with enthusiasm said that she was very much grateful to the President for delivering as per their appeal to him last year terming it as a dream come true.
According to her, words are in adequate for them to express their joy explaining that they cater to 107, 256 patients including Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount as well as lower Montserrado Counties.
Dr. Mentoe disclosed that there are eight medical doctors along with four specialists, four General Practitioners including her, nurses and score of other service providers and that they are expecting two additional specialists so that the apartments will be used for the intended purpose.
She then appealed to authorities at the Ministry of Finance Development Planning (MFDP) for the timely release of their allotment and a utility vehicle and also placing the midwives and others on the payroll.
Speaking prior to the presentation of the keys to the facilities, the Executive Director of the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), Pepci Q. Yeke said that the housing units are fulfillment of President Weah’s promise that he made to the people of Bomi County during his counties tour last year.
“There are ten units and each contains two bedrooms, bathroom, furnished kitchen with tiles including sliding windows and entire plumbing system fully installed,” he stated.
