Pres. Weah Elated For Renovation Of Intensive Care, Trauma Units at JFK -Heaps Praises on NOCAL Boss & TGS-Nopec

Saying the investment by NOCAL-TGS-Nopec partnership into the health sector through the JFK renovated and expanded intensive care and trauma units Project comes as no surprise to him, President George Manneh Weah heaped praises upon the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Company of Liberia, (NOCAL), Attorney Saifuah Mai Gray, for dispelling the notion that young people are not experienced and cannot deliver.

President Weah further said Atty. Gray inherited a bankrupt NOCAL that was plagued with a huge financial deficit, but she has stabilized the company and brought the very impressive and newly renovated and expanded intensive care and trauma units at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center project to successful completion.

“I therefore urge all young professionals who are put in positions of responsibility, to emulate her great leadership,” President Weah dressed in his usual Pro-poor blue suit remarked. He made the statement yesterday, MAY 17, 2021 at the dedication and turnover ceremony of the newly renovated and expanded intensive care and trauma units at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center on 24th street Sinkor, Monrovia,

The Liberian leader recognized and appreciated the positive response to his appeal from two companies in the private sector, including the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), and TGS-Nopec, who have combined their resources in fulfillment of their Corporate Social Responsibility, to improve, upgrade, expand, and equip the intensive care and trauma units facilities at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center.

“They should, and must be, commended.  NOCAL has always been a major contributor to all areas that seek to develop the lives of our people, and therefore this investment into the health sector through this JFK Project comes as no surprise. The people of Liberia are indeed grateful for this gesture,” President Weah asserted in his remark.

Through the NOCAL-TGS partnership, the President said the upgraded intensive Care and Trauma Unit of JFK Hospital will bring a huge boost to the Liberian health-care delivery drive; and pointed out that this initiative will bring the people closer to the kind of health-care delivery they deserve.

“I am informed that the Project was done in two phases, where Phase One included the renovation, expansion and remodeling of the ICU & Trauma Units over a six-month period; while Phase Two included the supply of medical materials and equipment,” intimated.

He said he has learned that there is to be a Phase Three, whereby NOCAL will sponsor ICU and Trauma personnel abroad for advance training to enable them operate these equipment effectively and efficiently.

The President is further informed that the project will provide professional life-saving health services, on an equal-access basis, to over 1.8 million inhabitants of Monrovia and its environs, as well as residents in the 15 counties of Liberia who, based on referral and need, will require advance emergency care.

“Once again, on behalf of the People of Liberia, and in my own name, I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to NOCAL and TGS-Nopec for their support to this specific aspect of our National economic plan, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, in which the provision of adequate health care to our people is a major component,” he exclaimed.

He counseled and admonished the Management and Staff of the facility to take excellent care and maintenance of them, so that they will efficiently and effectively serve the purpose for which they were installed.

“To you Attorney-At Law Saifuah Mai Gray, I am very proud of you. You have dispelled the notion that young people are not experienced and cannot deliver.  The NOCAL that we know; you met it bankrupt and in a huge financial deficit. You went there, Stabilize it and now you have brought this very impressive project to successful completion. I therefore urge all young professionals who are put in positions of responsibility, to emulate her great leadership,” he reiterated.

He expressed the urgent need for similar facilities to be provided to other hospitals throughout Liberia, and therefore encouraged the NOCAL leadership through Madam Gray, other companies in the private sector and our international partners for more enabling support to the sector.

Earlier, Dr. Weah expressed pleasure over his participation in the dedication ceremonies of this newly-renovated and expanded Intensive Care Unit and Trauma Unit of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center.

He recalled that since the beginning of his administration, he has been very concerned about the lack of properly-equipped ICU and Trauma Units in Liberia, and that he has been relentless in his determination to bring such modern, state-of-the-art facilities to various hospitals in Liberia.

The upgrading and expansion of these facilities at the JFK Memorial Medical Center, the President said, is particularly significant because the JFK Hospital is not only the national referral hospital, but it is the main teaching hospital in Liberia.

Founded in 1971, for five decades the hospital has played an unparalleled role in healthcare and in training Liberia’s health workforce, according to President Weah.

Despite its long years of existence and the important contributions it has made as the main pillar of the Liberian health-care ecosystem, Dr. Weah said the JFK, as it is commonly known, has faced some difficulties over the years with meeting the full standards of care as is expected of its position as the apex teaching hospital in Liberia, due to challenges with funding and budgetary constraints.

“And that is why we have led the initiative to reach out to our international partners and the private sector, to lend their support to this venerable institution, such that it will be enabled to fulfill its important role of education, training, and leadership of our health sector.  To their credit, many of them have responded generously, for which we are grateful,” the President said.