Saah Joseph Proposes US$10m for Special Needs Fund -Says Fund for Ordinary Citizens’ Medical Treatment Abroad

By: Anthony Q. Jiffan, Jr.

MONROVIA – Montserrado County Senator Saah H. Joseph is proposing a $10 million budgetary allocation in the 2025 budget for what he referred to as “special needs fund” to help cater to the health needs of Liberians who might face major health complications.

Speaking during a press conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday, November 25, 2024, Senator Joseph said such funds, when made available through the budget, would reduce the burden on ordinary Liberians of struggling to generate money to take their relatives out of the country to seek medical attention.

Senator Saah Joseph indicated that there are several Liberians who are faced with different health complications difficult to be cured in Liberia as a result of inefficient health system of the country.

“I went to a program where Dr. Hart was trying to raise funds to help children under the ages of five to two years who were suffering from different heart diseases,” he said. “Out the twelve children, eight died and only four are alive awaiting death.”

According to him, while serving the people of Montserrado Country electoral District #13 as representative in the 53rd National Legislature, one of his sisters who was serving as chief administrative officer died of cancer due to lack of proper or inefficient medical treatment.

“She started her treatment at the hospital here in Liberia, but was later referred to India for further treatment, but it was late, so she died,” he recalled.

The Montserrado County senator maintained that there are several other Liberians who are currently struggling with different diseases for which local doctors have given up and only required foreign medical intervention, but their families lack the financial strength to take them out of the country for treatment.

He noted that it is the constitutional obligation of national government to provide an enabling environment which includes better health care delivery amongst others.

Senator Saah Joseph added that the committee on health at the Liberian Senate will advise on the management of the proposed US$10m, but indicated that such funds should be presided over by the Ministry of Health.