IPNEWS: It’s been more than 200 years since the Great Legend ‘King Saoi-Boso’, a devout Islamic warrior aided the settlement of ‘Free American Slave’ to establish a country now known as ‘the Republic of Liberia’.

Certainly, his remains laid in Bopulu City, in Gbarpulu County, with similes since President George Weah dedicated the Emirates Hospital in Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County in Western Liberia, an initiative funded by the Government of the United Arab Emirates.

The 100-bed hospital is part of phase one of approximately ten hospital projects to be executed by the Government of Liberia.

The projects are being undertaken through a bilateral partnership with the Government of the United Arab Emirates across the fifteenth political subdivisions of Liberia.

The Emirates Hospital is worth $20 Million United States dollars and is seated on 52,000 square feet of land space.

Now the government of Liberia has announced the formal opening and operations of the Emirates Hospital.

Liberia’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Francis Kateh, told the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, that there is no need for Liberians and visitors alike to stress to get quality healthcare, especially major surgical operations in the region or other parts of the World as the Emirates Hospital is now fully capacitated to address over fourteen surgical operations that were previously a challenge to conduct in Liberia.

Dr. Kateh narrates that upon the operationalization of the Hospital last week, surgeons performed at least six deliveries including a first-time female to a girl child.

He tells IPNEWS that the Emirates Hospital has at least five specialized Doctors, including an American general surgeon, an acclaimed fellow of the American College of surgeons.

The Liberia Chief Medical officer said as part of its capacity building strategy at the Hospital, the government of Liberia has recruited over 237 specialized and professional Nurses to aid the works of the surgeons at the Emirates Hospital.

Dr. Francis Kateh boosted with joy that the Emirates Hospital infrastructure is fully equipped with state-of-the-art surgical equipment including four ICU beds, a rain-integrated water system, a 400 KVA Solar system aided by two standby 400 KVA generators, and an executive suite for high-profile patients.

Dr. Kateh lauded President George Manneh Weah, for his vision to select Gbarpolu County, for the construction of the Emirates Hospital.

It may be recalled in December 2022, during the opening of the modern hospital, President George Manneh Weah said his government is committed to improving access to essential and quality health services throughout the country.

Pres. Weah stated that improving healthcare delivery has always been fundamental to the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).

He explained upon the PAPD, HE decided consistently increase the operational budgets for already-existing hospitals to provide the equipment and trained staff required for the delivery of critically needed services.

“…My government is committed to creating access to health infrastructures by constructing more new health facilities in under-served communities,” he said.

According to him, the hospital is equipped with all the relevant departments of a modern hospital around the world, including, the Urgent Care Department, Diagnostic Department, Operation Theater, Mother and Child Department, NICU and Intensive Care Department, Internal Medicine and Pulmonology Department, as well as a Source of Solar energy in every corner of the hospital.

President Weah stated that the construction of the hospital will enable residents of the remote region of Bopolu, Gbarpolu County, and its surrounding counties of Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Lofa, including neighboring countries of Sierra Leone, and Guinea to gain access to health care.

“I am asking you all to pay particular attention to the maintenance of this facility,” he urged.

President Weah lauded the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), through its Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, and International Cooperation, Sheihk Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, on behalf of UAE President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with profound gratitude for humanitarian generosity to the People of Liberia.

“The dedication of the facility is a clear manifestation of his government’s commitment to improving the quality of health services in Liberia by expanding health province to the rural population,” he said.

For his part, the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, Nahyan Al Nahyan, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the President of the UAE as he turned over the key of the facility to President Weah.

Speaking earlier Liberia’s Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, thanked the UAE delegation for the hospital.

She noted that President Weah’s focusses on developing the health sector is commendable because it will improve the lives of his people.

His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan conveyed the greetings of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his wishes for his country and people to achieve continued progress and prosperity.

His Excellency said in his speech during the opening ceremony, “Bilateral relations between the UAE and Liberia have been going from strength to strength since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2009 with the support of the leaderships of the two countries. This is reflected in the growth of trade exchange and economic cooperation between the two countries.”

His Excellency added: “The opening of Emirates Hospital in Liberia supports the health sector there in particular and Africa in general, as the hospital’s important location provides health services of the best international standards to more than half a million people in rural Liberia and Sierra Leone.”

His Excellency underscored the promising opportunities for strengthening partnerships between the two countries in light of the UAE’s desire to expand bilateral relations with Liberia, particularly in sustainable development.

The hospital has a capacity of 125 beds and covers an area of 80,000 square meters with all modern facilities. The hospital has operating rooms, a modern laboratory, an intensive care unit and various specialized departments. The hospital is also powered by a solar energy system.

Emirates Hospital offers its medical services and treatments to residents of Gbarpolu, and the surrounding areas can also benefit from the hospital’s medical services, including Sierra Leoneans located near the Liberian border in Kongba County.