By Tokpa Tarnue tarnue82@gmail.com
Voinjama, Liberia- Liberia’s northwestern County of Lofa can now boast of a modern Infectious Disease Unit to handle various cases to pop up in the future.
Valued at 350,000 United States dollars, the new Infectious Disease Unit (IDU) has been dedicated on the compound of the Tellewoyan memorial hospital in the provincial capital, Voinjama.
The IDU which was constructed by Jusuma Construction Company in collaboration with UNOPS and the Ministry of Health was funded by the World Bank.
This modern center is expected to carter to over 17 isolated patients who may be suffering from different Infectious diseases.
Speaking during the dedicatory ceremony in Voinjama over the weekend, World Bank Health specialist Dr. Munirat Ogunlayi pledged the Bank’s commitment in strengthening the country’s health care delivery system.
Cutting of the ribbon to the Infectious Disease Unit in Voinjama
She named Redemption Hospital in Monrovia, Phebee Hospital in Bong and Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital in Voinjama as hospitals where World Bank has sponsored the construction of Infectious Disease Units.
“Although construction work on the IDU in Phebee has not been completed but has reached about 70 percent and when completed it will also help provide treatments for Liberians from Infectious diseases,” the World Bank Specialist said.
Dr. Ogunlayi also cautioned authorities of Tellewoyan hospital and the staff to make maximum use of the center.
This center was not only constructed to cater to Ebola, but also other Infectious diseases such as Cholera, Diarrhea, among other related diseases, Dr. Ogunlayi said.
Receiving the keys of the IDU on behalf of government from UNOPS and the World Bank, the Director of county Health Services at the Ministry of Health Dr. Lorraine C. Cooper also lauded the efforts made by the World Bank and UNOPS for being good partners to the Liberian government in promoting the health care delivery system in the country.
Dr. Cooper said that the ministry of Health will make sure that the center is not only completed but also to ensure that the center is properly maintained and use for the intended purpose.
“We can assure you our donors that this center will be fully used to the maximum capacity,” Dr. Cooper indicated.
For his part, The Board chairman of the Tellewoyan memorial hospital Cllr. Robert K. Borlay thanks World Bank, UNOPS and the Health Ministry for the construction project, noting that this is the first of its kind of such project to be initiated at the Tellewoyan memorial hospital in voinjama.
Cllr. Borlay urged officials and the staff of Tellewoyan memorial hospital to maintain the center properly.
Earlier, the chief medical officer at the Tellewoyan memorial hospital expressed gratitude to the Liberian and it partners including the World Bank and UNOPS for the project and promised that the center could be used properly.
Dr. James Korvieh also used the occasion to call on the Health Ministry to help build the capacities of health workers at the Tellewoyan memorial hospital in voinjama who will be assigned at the IDU.
According to him, the Tellewoyan Memorial Hospital is the only referral hospital that is catering to patients from Lofa and other parts of Liberia and as well as Guinea and Sierra Leone based on its location.
The program was attended by health officials of Lofa county, ordinary citizens, representatives of the World Bank and UNOPS.