By: D Abraham Cooper| Grand Gedeh County Correspondent
Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County-Thursday, May 15, 2025-In a landmark moment for healthcare in Grand Gedeh County, local authorities, health practitioners and partners on Wednesday officially unveiled the county’s first oxygen plant during a ceremony held at the Martha Tubman Memorial Hospital compound in Zwedru.
The unveiling and fundraising event marked a major milestone aimed at improving medical care for patients struggling to breathe independently.
The oxygen plant was facilitated by Partners In Health (PIH), and funded by the Global Fund and constructed by Playing Libya. It is expected to reduce the burden of transferring critical patients to distant facilities in Tappita or Maryland County respectively.
Providing a brief history of the project, Mr. Isaac Zulu, the County Health Services Administrator, expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the success of the initiative. He recognized the County’s Superintendent Alex C. Grant, local government officials, the general citizenry, religious leaders, village council leaders, international and local NGOs, the steering committee, health workers, prominent citizens, and the media, especially TOP FM, for their unwavering support.
Mr. Zulu described the plant as a life-saving facility that will produce medical-grade oxygen on-site. He noted that the initial plan was to use solar power due to limited electricity access from the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), but with LEC now present in Grand Gedeh, it was thought that its services would be utilized. However, technical constraints and heavy equipment limitations have made this move somewhat difficult.
During the event, a total of LD$130,000.00 along with USD$ 70.00 was raised from participants and supporters to help sustain the operations of the plant and improve healthcare services delivery in the county.
Speaking at the event, Superintendent Alex C. Grant highlighted the importance of corporate social responsibility, urging businesses and development partners to invest in community well-being. He announced an initial county government contribution of LD$100,000.00 toward supporting the oxygen plant and related health initiatives.
“Our children especially newborns are the future. We must ensure they live,” said Superintendent Grant, committing to work closely with the hospital and private sector partners to stabilize and uplift the community.
He further emphasized the connection between business and society, saying, “When you invest in people’s lives, you secure the future of your own enterprises.” He called on companies like Goldman and the Gold Camp Brothers to join the effort, even urging absent stakeholders to make their contributions as well.
The Superintendent concluded with a powerful reminder: “If we have a vision, provision will follow. Let us prove we can maintain what we receive, and inspire a new spirit of giving one shared in both the Bible and the Quran.”
The event ended with renewed commitments from local leaders and a call to action for greater collective investment in health and development across Grand Gedeh County.
Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief
