Over the weekend, a cross-section of citizens from Sehyikimpa Town, Nimba County, welcomed a team of reporters from Nimba D-9 TV, who had gone to ask the citizens about the impression over the plan by the government and AML to relocate the GW Harley Hospital to their town.
GW Harley, built in 1947 in Sanniquellie City, is the largest public health facility in Nimba County. It has seen severe depreciation, which called for its recent renovation, to which AML contributed more than US$45,000.
The renovation saw the roof and other components of the hospital entirely changed and dedicated.
Its nearness to the rail, which enables transportation of iron ore from Yekepa to the port of Buchanan, has prompted a bigger plan for a total relocation of the hospital to Sehyikimpa.
It is for this planed relocation that the Government of Liberia (GOL) has asked ArcelorMittal Liberia to contribute toward, and which, according to the medical director the company will be making available more than US$250,000.
Fifteen men and women of the town who spoke with a team of Nimba–D-9 TV reporters separately expressed joy that their community is poised to become the home of a modern structure to Nimba County’s oldest hospital.
A summary of their views as reported by Nimba D-9 with some translation from the local Mano dialect: Esther Yeaney said, “I am very happy that our home has been selected for the construction of this hospital. This will bring more relief to us and our daughters when they are in labor. It is most often difficult for us to carry pregnant women through far-to-reach areas, but now it will be easy for us. Our children who are educated will equally work, and we have houses that hospital workers will rent.”
Kou, another citizen, stated, “If AML-GOL starts the construction work today I will give room to those who will come to do the work—feed them, and I will even help in speeding up the work. I am happy for you people to come and hear from us.”
Teta, in the same vein, observed, “We don’t deliver women in communities as the government has passed a law against that, but getting to Sanniquellie has been too difficult for us. But now that the hospital is coming here, it will be easy for some of us.”
Nyah Newah, another citizen, maintained, “When our home was selected and the land provided, I knew that AML was coming to help the government, including the community. We are so happy that a media team will come to hear from us and for the world to know we are happy for what AML is doing. We are highly in support of this news, and we can’t wait to see it come to pass.”
Similarly, Roland Zoyah noted, “AML is doing well and this will benefit us as citizens from Sehyikimpa because we will have businesses running and jobs will be there. We have to be preparing ourselves for the days ahead. Thanks to Nimba D-9 TV for coming to hear from citizens on this side of the county.”
Citizen Larry Korto went on, “This is a welcoming development as it will be a great relief for our mothers when they are in delivery and for us to get jobs as well. For so long we have suffered and are still suffering to get to hospital. So if ArcelorMittal and government bring the new hospital here, it is very good for us.”
Terry Z. Quoi stared, “I appreciate Nimba D-9 TV for reaching out to us as this is the first time for the media to reach us, the citizens, in getting our reaction about development coming in our community. More often it is the bad news the media will take and leave the good news, but since you guys are coming for the good news about our health, we are happy. ArcelorMittal-Liberia’s contribution for the plan to relocate the hospital here is news of hope for all of us. We are waiting and all prepared to work with the team.”
James K. Gbato, appreciative of the development, declared, “We are happy, and the first beneficiaries are our mothers who will not be suffering again. To have a hospital here, like people are saying, will be a good thing, and we will not worry about transporting them over to Sanniquellie when they are in pain.”
The citizens of Sehyikimpa, where the new GW Harley Hospital’s planned location is expected, stand to benefit a lot when the project starts and is completed.
Some of the residents are even asking AML to do the project all by themselves to avoid delay.
ArcelorMittal Liberia has evidently continued to stand with the people of Nimba County over the years with the provision of assistance, ranging from education and training to healthcare and infrastructural development.
This is in addition to regular annual payment of about $1.5 million in social development funds to Nimba alone.
With the commencement of phase two of its mining operation in Liberia, aimed at building an ore concentrator in Yekepa, upgrading the rail with additional investments, the optimism is that the people of Nimba will continue to benefit from a company with a clear vision for community development.