By Mark N. Mengonfia
In Liberia’s Western Grand Cape Mount County, a health center said to be valued at US$ 122, 712 has reportedly been abandoned, claiming the attention of citizens of that county.
The health facility, built on a 5,271 sq. ft. parcel of land, was constructed based on request made by citizens of Sewu Town in Cape Mount.
It was done through a local organization under the binder ‘Tewor Development Initiative which was headed by one of their late sons, Agusutus Siafa James.
In an interview in Sewu, Town Chief Adama Fahnbulleh said that since the request was made in 2011 and subsequent construction from the County Social Development Fund, they (citizens) are yet to benefit from the well-built facility.
Sewu Town Chief Adama Fahnbulleh
Old man Fahnbulleh said that the people of Sewu, Kru Town, Popo town and other nearby towns were joyful when the project was completed in 2014 and was dedicated by former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai.
Bit he said that joy ended right after the celebration of the 2014 July 26 Independence anniversary celebrations, which caused the VP to have visited the area for dedication.
Pointing to the medical supplies taken to the health center by the former Liberian Vice President Boakia, the Sewu Town Chief said: “The vice president brought many health materials here during the dedication program, we were very happy during that time because we were thing that everything was well with us, but see everything is damaging each day.
According to Town Chief Fahnbulleh, the locals are really in need of the health facility and are urging President George Weah government to quickly intervene in their matter and get the health center functional.
The town chief said that the facility has been overtaken by termites or commonly referred to in Liberia as, “bo-kor-boy”.
In a sad mood, Old man Fahnbulleh said, “we used to brash the grass around every time it gets bushy, our women and children will take their own time to work hard to keep the place clear, but we have done it for many years now and we are not seeing the result of their efforts; we had to stop the work and as you can see my son, the place has been taken over by the grass.”
The people of Sewu, Popo town, Kru town and other adjacent areas mainly survive on fishing.
Town Chief Fahnbulleh said locals are hit by cases of serious cold, malaria and other illnesses but they cannot get treatment from the health center that cost US$ 122, 712 to build.
And he said the only means of accessing health facility is to travel as far as Sinje, Robertsport or Monrovia, in order to seek treatment or buy medicine from drugstores or street vendors who sell drugs locally known as “black bags doctors”.
When the Head Midwife of Sewu Town was asked about how she manages when there is a complication during delivery of pregnant women who go to her, Madam Kadii Kiawen, speaking through an interpreter, said “my son I thank God for helping me and my other people in this town, but when we try our best. Things not working we will have to walk to go to Bo Waterside or when the case is very bad, we send the patient to Robertsport or Monrovia depending on the severity of the case or cases.”
Madam Kadii Kiawen, Midwife in Sewu
Old lady Kiawen has been practicing as Midwife in Sewu Town for the past nine years. “During our training, we were told that we should not take risk with women with swelling feet, those who have hard complications and we should not allow pregnant women to be transported on motorbikes, but sometime because things are very hard for our people, we sometime take the ricks to made sure that women and girls who get pregnant receive the care needed,” the aging Midwife of Sewu Town said through an interpreter.
The trained Midwife indicated that it pains her to see women going through the kind of suffering they endure during deliveries due to the lack of a functional health facility.
According to her, she and other women are praying that the health center is opened, so as to make sure that the pains tolerate by them during pregnancy reduces.
“We cannot use bikes to transport pregnant women and the only time we see care here is during market days,” Midwife Kiawen said.
A mother of five kids, Madam Massa Passawe, who give birth to all of her children with the aid of traditional midwife, said that during all of her deliveries, she has had serious problems. But in an interview, she said that delivery done by traditional Midwives was the only means by which she said she would have given birth.
She said, “I cannot stand for long because of the problem I can face after giving birth. My back can be hurting me but I just sitting down with it, what to do?”
The Chair of the women of Sewu Town, Madam Tawadudu Kamara also stressed the need for the completion of the facility which she said will bring liberation to them (women).
District #3 in Cape Mount is represented by Representative Emerson Kamara in Liberia’s House of Representatives.
Grand Cape Mount County has a total population of 127,076 thousand and the number of females is 61,397, while the number of males is 65,679, according to 2008 National Census.
Tewor district, the district that is hosting the abandoned Sewu health facility is 27,460, with males accounting for 13,348 while females account for 14,112 thousand.
In 2009 during the presidency of former President Ellen Johnson, the Liberian government introduced the County Social Development Fund to directly impact the lives of citizens in the 15 counties.
Meanwhile, reports from Grand Cape Mount County say the newly inducted Superintended has promised to have an emergency meeting to identify some of the issues of concerns with specific reference to the US$ 122, 712 health facility.
When contacted via mobile phone, Superintendent, Aaron Vincent acknowledged the abandonment of the facility, but was quick to say that he needs time to speak with the Health Minister on the matter before making any public statement.
Article 8 of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution says: “The Republic shall direct its policy towards ensuring for all citizens, without discrimination, opportunities for employment and livelihood under just and humane conditions, and towards promoting safety, health and welfare facilities in employment.”
President George Weah in December 2017 got the popular mandate of Liberians to service them for the next six (6) years as their president.
And it is therefore incumbent upon his administration to address the health needs of Liberians in every part of this country, Sewu Town being no exception.