Dozens of residents in Gbonokai Town and its environs in Bong County District 7 are calling on Representative Joseph Papa Kolleh to fulfill his 2017 campaign in the area.
The hopes of residents of Gbonokalai Town in electoral District seven who thought relief was underway with the construction of a clinic have been dashed after the district lawmaker started the construction of a clinic, but failed to complete it for more than five years.
Roads leading to Gbonokalai, a town with a population of nearly two thousand residents, are in very bad shape, rendering it difficult to transport expectant mothers to the nearest health facility which is approximately 50 kilometers away.
Despite constructing a dirt-to-dirt building in 2018 that has turned as rat center, it is yet to be turn over to the community people and there is no sign that the clinic will be dedicate anytime soon.
Based on the situation, Gbonokalai might not participate in the upcoming October 10, general elections.
Addressing a team of journalist following a visit to the area, the town chief of Gbonokalai, Emmanuel T. Singbeh, said residents of the region have become vulnerable to illnesses due to the lack of a health facility.
“We will mobilize our people not to participate in the upcoming October 10 general elections most especially for a representative in order to draw the attention of our leaders to our situation,” he said.
Gbonokalai Town is situated between Bong and Gbarpolu Counties, and its residents walked about 3-4 hours just to seek medication at the nearby health facility, while residents in Gbarpolu County walked 5-6 hours to seek medication in Bong which is their only alternative.
Chief Singbeh said they have lost several pregnant women and newborn while transporting them to the nearby health facility using locally made hammock due to distances in the area.
Also commenting on the challenges, the delayed clinic project is posing for the community, Singbeh said, “If it is left with my one, let the building be there and let animal live inside. We are tired talking.”
He said in April 201,7 Representative Kolleh broke grounds in lower Dingmah clan, Sanoyea District to construct a five-bedroom house to be used as maternity center in order to buttress government’s efforts in meeting the health needs of citizens in that part of Liberia.
According to him, after the completion of the building, it was inspected by the Liberia Dentist Council and was requested to be opened.
Madam Nyamah Tonkollie, the community’s women leader, said the absence of a public health facility is causing serious constraints for them when seeking health services.
“Last week one woman had to give birth on the road while carrying her to the nearby clinic in Sanoyea Town. You think if this clinic was finished and dedicated this was going to happen?” Nyamah Tonkollie, a trained traditional midwife wondered.
“Every time a woman is in pain, I will have to carry them to Sanoyea to because the government says we should not conduct delivery at home. Sometimes, when we are going some of them gave birth on the road and because we are all women and we don’t want to be disgrace, we will take off our lappas and put it around her until we finish with everything. So, we are begging Papa Kolleh, the government and other NGOs to please help finish this clinic we are tired with the shame,” she said.
Uriah G. Cooper, the administrative assistant, in the office of Representative Kolleh attributed the delay in the dedication of the clinic to the lack of health workers’ willingness to work in the region.
He said all assessments by MOH have been done and over two thousand worth of drugs are in safekeeping for the clinic opening.
However, Cooper did not state the mean date for the opening of Gbonokakalai but hoped it could be opened before or after the elections in Liberia.
“The lawmaker hasn’t forgotten that clinic but we are still looking for qualified workers and also people who are willing to work in that place, as soon that is done, we will have that place opened to the public,” he assured.
