By Moses J. Dawoe
/Southeast Correspondent
A local government official in Gbolobo Nemeken is urging the Government of Liberia to complete a long-abandoned community clinic project, warning that the lack of healthcare services has forced pregnant women to give birth in the streets, sometimes with fatal consequences.
The US$30,000 clinic construction, initiated under former President George Weah’s administration, remains unfinished, leaving residents without access to essential medical care, according to Clan Chief Cyrus Cooper.
In an interview on March 28, 2025, Cooper highlighted the dire consequences of the clinic’s absence.
“Women are delivering babies on the roadside because there is no medical facility nearby. Some do not survive childbirth, while others suffer serious health complications,” he lamented.
With no clinic available, community members rely on motorcycles to transport pregnant women and other patients to distant health centers.
According to Chief Cooper, motorcyclists typically charge LR$1,500 for regular trips but increase the fare to LR$3,000 in emergency cases—an expense many families struggle to afford.
“The young men in our community are often the ones assisting in these emergency cases, but without proper healthcare infrastructure, we are left with no choice but to depend on motorcycles,” he explained.
Chief Cooper also criticized the lack of accessible roads, which he said has hindered healthcare workers from providing regular outreach services.
While nurses from the Pleebo Health Center make efforts to visit surrounding communities—including Gbolobo Nemeken and Judge Town—the poor road conditions have severely limited their reach.
“The health workers want to help, but without good roads, they can’t continue their regular visits,” he said.
Chief Cyrus Cooper also accused the Cavalla Rubber Corporation of failing to fulfill its corporate social responsibility.
He alleged that the company, which operates in the region, has neglected road rehabilitation and other essential services that could benefit the community.
The challenges extend beyond healthcare.
The community’s only government-run school has been closed for months due to an unusual incident involving the assigned government teacher.
According to Cooper, the teacher allegedly assaulted his girlfriend on a farm, leading to his removal.
“This kind of behavior is forbidden in our community, and under traditional laws, it could require compensation in the form of cow or money,” he explained.
With the government teacher absent, volunteer teachers who previously filled the gap have stopped working, leaving children without access to education.
“Until a new teacher is assigned, our children are left without schooling,” Chief Cooper added.
Meanwhile, Cooper is calling on both the Liberian government and private stakeholders to address these pressing issues.
“Our people are suffering. We need urgent action to complete the clinic, fix the roads, and ensure our school reopens,” he pleaded.
Gov’t Official Alarms Over Unfinished Clinic
