Equipping a New Kakata Primary Health Center

With the exception of the lab and imaging equipment, the Waterfield Primary Care Center is fully equipped  and supplied for operations.  Much of the equipment and supplies were provided through donations from Save the Children and other ngos as a result of closing the local Ebola Treatment Units. Other donations, including those made by the Liberian government, were made at our facility dedication ceremony in August.  Although commitment of an ambulance was made at the dedication by the GSA, none was available and we are now on the waiting list.

The ebola crisis exposed the significant lack of properly equipped, staffed and supplied laboratory resources, which are critical for proper diagnosis and treatment.  Last year we worked extensively with Partners in Health and others to secure donation of laboratory equipment and training resources for our clinic. Unfortunately, at year end we were advised that due to budgetary restraints, the decision on this donation has been pushed out to the spring of 2018 at the earliest with shipment no sooner than year-end, leading us to seek another source.  We are now working with Project Cure and other potential donors to secure the laboratory equipement we need.  Equipment from these suppliers will be donated at no charge, but we need to pay for shipping costs. This project is fully funded.

Imaging resources are almost non existent in Liberia. The local hospital has equipment, but no trained staff. Hands of Hope provided training for HWHL staff last year.   We are working with Project Cure to secure donation of sonogram equipment to provide basic imaging services in our clinic.  This is equipment is critical for our work in materinal health as well as the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and urgent care needs.  As with the lab equipment the donation of the equipment will be no charge, but shipping must be fully funded.  

We fully expect that the remaining items we need will be shipped by mid-year and be fully operational by the end of summer.  We already begun discussions on the need to implement modest fees for pharmarcy, lab, and imaging services with local Community Leaders and fully expect to begin to generate a stream of sustainable income by year end. There are still significant shortfalls in trained medical professionals available in Liberia, but we believe that with the new facility and your continuing support we will attract the best talent to fill the 23 new positions currently planned.  

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