German-Funded Primary Healthcare Facility Brings Modern Medical Services To Remote Chiefdom For The First Time
BY: Prince D. Copeland River Gee County Correspondent
The River Gee County Health Team has officially dedicated and handed over the newly constructed Killepo Primary Healthcare Clinic to health workers and residents of Killepo Chiefdom in Chedepo Administrative District marking what community members described as the first major government development project in the area.
The clinic was constructed by the Government of Liberia with support from the German humanitarian organization Welthungerhilfe, through funding from the German Government under the KfW Development Bank. The project is expected to significantly improve access to quality healthcare services for thousands of people living in Killepo Chiefdom and surrounding communities.
The new facility is equipped with solar power, improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, and modern treatment rooms designed to strengthen healthcare delivery in one of River Gee County’s more remote administrative districts.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, River Gee County Health Officer, Dr. Pauline Weah Medeh, expressed profound gratitude to the Government of Liberia, the Ministry of Health, the German Government, Welthungerhilfe, and the people of Killepo for their collective support in bringing the project to fruition.
Dr. Medeh described the clinic as a major achievement that will improve healthcare services and strengthen the county’s health system, noting that it represents a concrete step toward universal health coverage for rural Liberians.
Also speaking, River Gee County Superintendent Mike T. Swengbe praised the government and its development partners for investing in the county’s health sector. He called on residents to protect and maintain the facility so that it can continue serving future generations.
Speaking on behalf of the women of Killepo Chiefdom, Madam Betty Koffa thanked the Government of Liberia and its partners for completing what she described as the community’s first major government development project. She assured authorities that residents would take good care of the clinic and use it for its intended purpose.
Community elder David Tweh also pledged the community’s commitment to protecting and properly using the health facility, emphasizing the deep sense of ownership residents feel toward the project.
According to county health authorities, River Gee currently has 22 health facilities, including Fish Town Referral Hospital, two comprehensive health centers, and several clinics spread across the county. The addition of the Killepo Clinic is expected to expand access to essential healthcare services for residents of Chedepo Administrative District and surrounding communities.
The dedication ceremony was held on Thursday, July 23, beginning with a traditional kola nut ceremony at the Killepo Kanweaken Town Hall. It brought together county health officials, local government authorities, development partners, and members of the community in a celebration of progress and partnership.