“Benson Hospital Needs Critical Assistance”, Rep. Barry Rally House’s Support For Budgetary Allotment
By: Jeremiah Sackie Cooper
Gmail:Jeremiahcooper105@gmail.com
Capitol Hill, Monrovia: Montserrado County District #1 Representative Hon. Rugie Yatu Barry is rallying the plenary of the House of Representatives to allot budgetary support to the Benson Referral Hospital in Todee District, Montserrado County.
Making the call through a communication sent to the House on Thursday February 22, 2024, Hon. Barry said that Benson Hospital which is only the referral hospital in the district is battling numerous challenges, leading to residents lacking access to medical services.
As of the the National Election Commission 2023 statistics, over 56,000 residents of Bentol City in rural Montserrado heavily rely on the hospital for health care services.
“I am deeply constrained to bring a matter of serious emergency to you about the only referrer hospital in the Capitol of Montserrado County”,she stated.
The Montserrado County Female Lawmaker recounted that over the years, budgetary allotment from national government for the operation of the hospital has not been effective; leaving the hospital in dire need of critical assistance.
“For the last six (6) years, monies allotted by the government for the hospital annually were less than half of the actual budget needed to run the hospital and was never received in full. As a result of these persistent constraints, the hospital now stands in dire need of critical assistance to keep its doors open and to cater to the health of the population that is mostly comprised of subsistence farming communities within the district”, she stressed.
She furthered narrated that due to limited support, the hospital’s ability to provide quality healthcare services is impossible, therefore such act continuously jeopardize the health and well-being the district and its environs.
The Benson Referral Hospital was constructed in the 70s by President Williams R. Tolbert Jr, and it first major renovation was done in 2012 by USAID.
Since the renovation in 2012, the hospital continues to struggle to provide medical services to Liberians in rural areas.
At the sametime, Hon. Barry is seeking the general renovation of the hospital to include floor, rewiring of various departments, replacement of door, ceiling, roof work and painting, the construction of Hallways between the emergency room and OPD and construct a new storage facility for the hospital and expand the conference room.
She also want the reconditioning of the old Operating room and transforming it into a patient ward, revitalization of the hospital water system, general maintenance work on the doctors’ residence, supply of hospital furnitu, and procurement of essential drugs.
Others include the revitalize the patients’ feeding services, training of hospital registrars and other staff in basic computer skills, procurement of stationeries/office supplies, fuel and maintenance of the generator, and the provision of a 32 seaters bus to commute hospital staff.(Budgetary, Logistical, and Personnel support).
“I urge the honorable Speaker and members to kindly consider this matter with the utmost urgency and to take appropriate action to address the needs of the only Referral Hospital in the district. Our constituents deserve access to adequate healthcare facilities and services, and it is our duty as elected representatives to ensure that citizens receive the support and assistance they require”, she added.
The House through a Motion filed Montserrado County District #13 Representative Hon. Edward Papie Flomo has mandated a joint legislative committee comprising Ways, Means & Finance and Health to review a Hon. Barry’s communication.
