Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Health Worker Duplex at Pleebo Health Center

Pleebo City, Maryland County – November 1, 2024

In a significant step towards improving healthcare services in Maryland County, the Ministry, of Health in collaboration with Partners In Health Liberia, has officially commenced  the construction of a new duplex at the Pleebo Health Center. Valued over 100,000 USD, the project is designed to enhance accommodations for health workers and strengthen emergency care in the region.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Pleebo Health Administrator Mr. Garrison Sayor highlighted the essential role Partners In Health has played in supporting the Center since its transition from Mercy to Pleebo Health Center in 2015. He pointed out the development of the existing annex, which caters to pregnant women and houses the Emergency Room, as a direct result of the partnership with the government.

However, Mr. Sayor emphasized a long-standing challenge which he noted is inadequate staff lounge facilities at the Pleebo Health Center. For more than a decade, health workers have faced difficulties with inadequate staff lounge due to the lack of appropriate accommodation, particularly during late hours when emergency care is most critical. The absence of a staff lounge poses a serious threat to patients in critical conditions, Mr. Sayor remarked. He stressed the importance of the new duplex, which  he said will  improve health worker availability and ensuring timely medical responses.

The duplex is expected to take approximately 52 weeks to complete, and will feature call rooms for on-call staff, especially those working late shifts. The project has generated significant support from both local health leaders and community members, with the groundbreaking ceremony marking a collective commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure in the area.

Mr. Sayor also announced that, upon completion, the Pleebo Health Center will expand its operations to address medical cases in the Pleebo Sodoken Statutory District. The center is now staffed with two medical doctors to help
manage the growing healthcare needs of the community.

Furthermore, Mr. Sayor expressed pride in the recognition of the Pleebo Health Center as one of Liberia best- performing health facilities under the World Bank’s performance-based financing initiative. This recognition underscores the center’s continued dedication to improving healthcare services for Maryland County residents.

Community members in attendance at the ceremony expressed their gratitude to both the government of Liberia and Partner In Health for their commitment to enhancing local healthcare resources. The new duplex, set to house health workers, represents a critical investment in the region’s healthcare infrastructure, promising to improve both staff conditions and the quality of care provided to patients.

The project is anticipated to have a transformative impact on healthcare delivery in Maryland County, addressing longstanding concerns and paving the way for more efficient emergency services and enhanced health worker support.