IPNEWS: Grand Bassa County Electoral District #3 Representative has written the Plenary of the House bringing to its attention the Executive Budget Proposal (Draft Budget 2023) with specific emphasis on the budget for the Liberian Government Hospital in Buchanan City in Grand Bassa County.
In his Communication to the Plenary of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 Rep. Matthew Joe said the Liberian Government Hospital in Buchanan City is considered a referral hospital because it addresses the health care not only of Grand Bassa County but for other counties, to include: Rivercess, River Gee and Sinoe respectively.
It can be recalled that the referral hospital was gutted by fire in 2018, 2019 and 2022, thereby causing colossal damage to the health facility.
As a result of the fire disaster, five (5) generators, mortuary, laundry, kitchen, and the outpatient departments were all destroyed.
According to Representative Joe it few weeks ago, citizens of the county voluntarily donated over (155) gallons of fuel to the hospital. “The donation stemmed from a public service call made on Ablee-Jay- a community radio, that several individuals were under oxygen and that the generator was running out of fuel”.
He added that based on this urgent call, and the love for humanity, residents hurriedly rushed to the hospital and donated over 155 gallons of fuel.
The Grand Bassa County lawmaker said considering the challenges of the county’s only referral hospital, he earnestly implores his colleagues to augment the budget of the hospital to an appreciable amount that would make the hospital to function fully.
The current amount in the (2023 draft budget) for the hospital is (US$110,000) which is a drop in the bucket. “In order for the hospital to function at its full potential, there is an appealing need for increment”.
Following the reading of the Communication it was placed on the Floor for discussion and some lawmakers made their inputs and said the issues of Government health facilities not receiving the needy support is not only unique to Grand Bassa County but all of the various Counties.
After the Discussion it was voted upon the Communication be sent to the Committee on Health and the Committee on Ways, Means and Finance to report to the body within two weeks.
