Rep. Kamara Demands Budget Increase For Neglected Clara Town Health Center 

By Amos Harris

Monrovia, Liberia — Montserrado County District #14 Representative, Hon. Muka Kamara, has sharply criticized the government for what he calls years of neglect toward the Clara Town Health Center, the district’s sole public health facility.

The center, which serves over 60,000 residents, continues to function on a meager US$20,000 annual budget, a figure Rep. Kamara described as insufficient and a “direct threat to public health and human dignity.”

Appearing before the House plenary on Tuesday, Rep. Kamara expressed profound frustration that the health center’s budget has remained stagnant for years, even as the national budget has expanded dramatically—from US$880 million in Fiscal Year 2025 to a proposed US$1.2 billion in FY2026.

“How can a health facility that caters to tens of thousands survive on only US$20,000 when the national budget keeps increasing every year?” the lawmaker asked, highlighting the stark disparity in resource allocation.

In his formal communication (BL:263375) to the House, the Representative detailed the severe operational constraints crippling the Clara Town Health Center, a facility crucial to the densely populated Bushrod Island corridor.

Rep. Kamara warned that without immediate intervention, District #14 faces a potential worsening health crisis due to the facility’s inability to meet basic community needs.

To avert this crisis, the District #14 lawmaker is urgently calling upon the Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget to significantly increase the center’s budgetary allotment.

Rep. Kamara is proposing an immediate budget hike from US$20,000 to US$70,000, effective in FY2026.

“The Clara Town Health Center urgently requires expanded resources to keep medicine in stock, improve service delivery, upgrade infrastructure, and increase staff capacity,” he stated, adding that the proposed US$50,000 increment “is not a luxury but an essential investment in public health.”

Following intense discussions, the House of Representatives voted to mandate the budget committee to review Kamara’s proposal and return with recommendations. If approved, the new allocation would represent the first major investment in District #14’s healthcare system in years, offering renewed hope to the thousands of residents who rely solely on the struggling facility.