Community Rallies to Build Nurses’ Quarters at Kilipo Kanweaken Clinic in River Gee

By: Ben TC Brooks | River Gee Correspondent

River Gee County | May 7, 2026 | Residents of Kilipo Chiefdom in River Gee County have launched a community-driven initiative to construct modern nurses’ quarters at the Kilipo Kanweaken Clinic, signaling a major step towards improving local healthcare delivery.

According to the Township Commissioner Matthew Quayee, the project is already underway, with community members, especially youth actively contributing labor and locally sourced materials.

Sand mining and brick molding efforts have begun as part of the groundwork for the construction.

“We are determined to carry out the project ourselves,” Quayee stated, stressing the community’s commitment.

Plans include four fully equipped apartments, each designed with porches, kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces to accommodate nurses and physician assistants to be assigned at the newly constructed clinic.

According to Quayee, the project has received early backing from the county superintendent Mike Swengbe, who has donated over 50 bags of cement and 75 steel rods to support the construction efforts.

Quayee highlighted the urgent need for improved healthcare access, recalling the hardships residents faced in the past.

Before the establishment of local facilities, patients often endured long journeys to seek medical care in neighboring areas such as Grand Gedeh County and Gbeapo Kanweaken.

“In the years following the war, accessing healthcare was a serious challenge for our people,” he noted. “Many had to travel distances during emergencies.”

In response to these challenges, the community previously built a self-help clinic, which is now being utilized by the government through the ministry of health.

With the population steadily increasing, a new and larger health facility has recently been constructed through the Government of Liberia, in partnership with Welthungerhilfe.

The facility was officially dedicated on January 22, 2026, by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, during events marking the opening of the Grand Gedeh Referral Hospital, also built with support from the same partner.

The planned nurses’ quarters will be situated near the new clinic, reducing travel time for healthcare workers who currently reside in Kilipo Kanweaken Town, about a 10–15 minute walk away.

The goal is to ensure that medical staff have safe, convenient accommodation, thereby strengthening service delivery.

“We hope to make progress on the quarters before the County Health Team officially turns over the facility,” Quayee added.

As construction progresses, the community is calling on individuals, humanitarian organizations, and members of the county’s legislative caucus to provide additional support to ensure the successful completion of the project.