Church of Jesus Christ Donates Much Needed Equipment and Supplies to Hospital in Liberia

On 27 February, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated much needed  equipment and supplies to the Jackson Doe Regional Referral Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County, Liberia. 

A donation ceremony held at the hospital was attended by all the department heads and many of the staff workers.  Representing the Church were humanitarian missionaries Elder Lee Trapani, and Sister Cheryl Trapani. 

The Jackson Doe Regional Referral Hospital is one of Liberia’s largest hospitals and serves the rural central east area of Liberia as well as patients from the neighboring countries of Guinea and Cote D’Ivoire.  All services are free of charge for the patients.  The hospital is also the second largest teaching hospital in Liberia. 

The hospital was in great need of basic equipment to help treat and diagnose patients. Some of the items that were donated were operating tables, incubator, warming lamps, blood pressure cuff, infant bed, microscope, and fetal heart doppler. The need for this equipment was so great that the hospital staff asked if they could start using the equipment as soon as it was delivered. When the operating table was delivered it was installed and had a patient on it within 30 minutes.

The donation ceremony was covered by local news media and can be viewed here. 

Elder Trapani noted that members of the Church of Jesus Christ donate so these types of donations can be made.  He was grateful that they found this hospital because of the good work that it does.

“We met with the doctors, saw the beautiful building and the wonderful staff, and realized that all that was needed was more equipment and better equipment.  We are grateful that we have had the opportunity to help you with this donation,” said Elder Trapani.

Dr Ponnie Robertlee Dolo, Supervising Physician at the hospital, accepted the donation on behalf of the Liberian Minister of Health Dr Louise M. Kpoto.

“This equipment is so important to us,” said Dr. Dolo. “Our hospital has taken a big leap today.  You can’t even imagine how this will improve the level of care for the patients that we serve.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to grow in Liberia with over 22,000 members of the Church meeting in 75 congregations.  Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Patrick Kearon visited with the President of Liberia, David Bolokai, earlier this year.