By: Laymah Kollie – Contributor
Monrovia, February 2, 2025 – The Health Committees of the Liberian Senate and House of Representatives, in partnership with SisterAid-Liberia, toured the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital on Friday, January 31, 2025.
The visit aimed to assess the hospital’s challenges and progress in delivering healthcare services. This initiative falls within the Legislature’s oversight responsibilities to the Executive and public agencies.
The Joint Committee, led by Senator Dabah Varpilah of Grand Cape Mount County, included Senator Botoe Kanneh of Gbarpolu, Representative Prescilla Cooper of Montserrado, Representative Julie Wiah of Lofa, and Representative Isaac Bannie of Grand Bassa.
Providing an overview of the tour, Senator Varpilah, Chair of the Senate Health Committee, emphasized the need to personally observe JFK’s service delivery and operational challenges. She noted that reports on social media and radio often portray a different picture of the institution, making firsthand assessment necessary.
“When you listen to the radio or read social media, it gives you a different opinion about JFK. So, it was prudent for us to come and see for ourselves,” she stated.
The lawmakers, accompanied by JFK administrators, visited various departments, including Maternity, Emergency Services, Surgery, Pharmacy, Trauma, X-ray, Laundry, Kitchen, Immunology, Laboratories, and the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf National Dialysis Center.
During the visit, significant shortages were observed, affecting the hospital’s ability to provide adequate care. Equipment deficiencies were noted, particularly in monitoring and treating high-risk maternal cases.
JFK Chief Executive Officer Linda A. Birch highlighted major challenges, including electricity supply, staff conduct, and medication shortages.
“We need a generator with a capacity of 800 to 1,000 kVA for smooth operations. Currently, we have 550 kVA and 350 kVA generators running, but they cannot serve all departments. We have tried securing a bank loan to purchase higher-capacity generators, but it has been difficult,” Birch explained.
The visit concluded with a closed-door meeting involving lawmakers, JFK administrators, and SisterAid-Liberia representatives. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration, addressing key hospital needs, and reviewing the Public Health Bill.
Senator Varpilah assured the hospital administration of continued legislative support and urged them to identify priority projects for annual implementation.
However, she acknowledged growing concerns about the abortion component of the Public Health Bill, noting that it could be hindering progress due to its controversial nature.
“The abortion component is just a small part of the bill, but it’s becoming a contentious issue. We need a balanced approach to ensure the broader health priorities, such as maternal care and hospital infrastructure, are not overlooked,” she said.
Representative Julie Wiah, Chair of the House Health Committee, emphasized that the bill addresses a wide range of critical health concerns, including emerging diseases like Ebola, Marburg, and COVID-19.
Amelia Siaffa, Acting Executive Director of SisterAid-Liberia, praised Senator Varpilah’s openness to dialogue and stressed the importance of continued engagement between lawmakers and civil society to ensure the bill reflects public health needs.
“The bill’s impact extends beyond women and girls—it affects the entire country. Bringing health workers together to revisit the bill is a positive step toward inclusive decision-making,” Siaffa noted.
President George Weah submitted the Revised Health Bill to the Legislature in February 2020 to address current and future health challenges and integrate existing public health laws. The House of Representatives passed the bill on July 21, 2022, forwarding it to the Senate for concurrence.
Meanwhile, Senator Varpilah has pledged to call for a public hearing to determine the bill’s fate.
