By: Ben TC Brooks| Contributing Reporter
River Gee County –Monday, August 11, 2025 – The Chedepo Jakarken Clinic is grappling with serious challenges that threaten its ability to provide essential healthcare services to the local communities.
Currently, the clinic is struggling with a shortage of medical personnel and a lack of electricity, both of which pose risks to patient care and safety.
Intended to serve the health needs of approximately 9 communities in the remote part of River Gee, the clinic severely lacks medical staff, power access, security, and cleaning personnel.
The combination of understaffing and frequent electricity outages not only delays patient treatment but also places immense pressure on the few available staff, leading to fatigue and potentially adverse outcomes for patients.
Miss. Gbarnon Satoe, the Officer in Charge (OIC) at the Chedepo Jakarken Clinic, shared that during her more than three years of service; the facility has faced numerous difficulties.
“We have just four staff for the clinic, which serves nine nearby communities, including Jakarken. We have two registered nurses and two midwives, and we’ve had to take on security and cleaning duties ourselves. I have raised these issues with the River Gee County Health Team multiple times, but there have been no changes. Only God is watching over us here,” Gbarnon Satoe expressed.
She also noted that the clinic frequently finds itself in darkness and is left vulnerable to wandering livestock, including goats and cows, due to inadequate fencing.
Healthcare workers often have to use their phone’s flashlight to perform basic procedures or maintain hygiene standards, escalating safety risks for both patients and staff in poorly lit conditions.
However, residents of Jakarken have expressed their concerns regarding the safety of the clinic; emphasizing an urgent need for improvements in staffing and infrastructure.
They are urging both the national government and NGOs to make the clinic’s needs a priority and to take immediate action to ensure safe and dependable healthcare for the community.
“Patients in labor rely on light from Chinese sources or staff phone lights since there’s no generator or solar lighting available for the clinic,” remarked Ma-Oretha George, a resident of Chenwiniken who sought medical assistance at the facility.
In response to the situation, Eric Sneh Chea, the Director of Community Health Department of the River Gee County Health Team, acknowledged the challenges currently being faced.
“We are aware of the difficulties impacting our healthcare facilities. It’s not exclusive to the Jakarken Clinic; similar challenges are also seen at the Chedepo Putuken Clinic, River Gbeh, and Jimmiville Health Facility in Webbo, all of which are struggling with electricity shortages. We are working with partners to address these power issues,” said Chea.
The situation at the Chedepo Jakarken Clinic and other health facilities in River Gee underscores a broader issue regarding healthcare accessibility in rural areas, where limited resources can significantly affect those in need of medical care.
Without prompt action, the future of healthcare in River Gee may remain precarious, putting vulnerable populations at greater risk during times of health crisis or emergency.
