Church of Jesus Christ Renovates Maternity Center and Surgical Wards at Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia

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On 3 June 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated a newly constructed maternity center and three well-equipped surgical wards to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital (JFK) in Monrovia, Liberia. The Church also donated a new neonatal ward to the hospital. A donation ceremony was held in the conference room of the hospital’s maternity center.

JFK is Liberia’s biggest referral hospital and once served as a beacon of hope for all those in sub-Saharan Africa who sought proper medical services before 14 years of Liberian civil conflict (1989-2003) devastated the physical building and created serious shortages of necessary life-saving equipment and supplies.

Today, that beacon of hope has been shattered as the hospital struggles to provide services for Liberians who seek quality medical help. It is not for the lack of qualified doctors, but the lack of necessary equipment and supplies needed to deliver the expected healthcare outcomes for their patients.

The Church of Jesus Christ has stepped in to support the maternity and newborn unit of the hospital by providing a newly constructed and fully equipped neonatal ward, as well as a fully equipped operation theatre. The Church also renovated two surgical wards — one within the maternity center and the other inside the main hospital building.

Representing the hospital at the donation ceremony was Dr. Linda A. Birch, CEO of the facility. She was joined by Dr. Ian Wachekwu, deputy chief medical officer, and Dr. Readom C. Ideh, head of pediatrics and consultant neonatologist.

Wachekwu thanked the Church for the work that was done, noting that the outcome of the donation would be that many newborn lives would be saved. He noted that the neonatal and antenatal mortality rate at the hospital often exceeded 10% due the lack of the medical equipment and supplies needed for the facility. 

“It’s hurtful that someone will carry a baby for nine months, and when that child is born and taken home, after two to three days, that baby is no more simply because of infection. The baby got sick and there was no space at our facility and insufficient equipment and supplies,” Wachekwu said.  

In his remarks, Ideh named infection as the major cause of unnecessary deaths at the facility.

“What your Church has done can only help address that situation in a more practical way,” he said. “You have gotten rid of some of the things that were in a deplorable state, and now, we have glass and method panels that are easy to disinfect. This gives us the ability to do things that we couldn’t do before.” 

“As a doctor and neurologist, I can’t thank you enough for choosing our hospital to invest in. This is a good investment. Every baby saved and every little breath they take is an appreciation for what you have done,” Ideh added.

Representing the Church of Jesus Christ at the event was Elder Lee Trapani and Sister Cheryl Trapani, humanitarian missionaries for the Church. They were joined by President Moses B. Slamie of the Monrovia Liberia Bushrod Island Stake.

Elder Trapani thanked the staff and doctors of the hospital for their cooperation while the construction was taking place. He said it was pleasure to work with them and noted that the Church looked forward to rendering additional services to the facility.

He also told them that the Church’s humanitarian efforts were not funded by government or companies but by individual members of the Church in Liberia and throughout the world whom God has blessed. In return, they selflessly donate to help their brothers and sisters in need.

"We have a great responsibility to spend the money well, and we always find that the government hospitals help many people for small amounts of money," Elder Trapani said. "We believe that this is a good place to invest our humanitarian resources because of the good work that you do and the concern you have for the people of Liberia."