Monrovia, Liberia–Liberians are mourning the loss of 31-year-old Jamesetta Kugmeh, a young mother whose painful medical ordeal captured national attention and reignited criticism of the country’s failing healthcare system.
Kugmeh reportedly died early Tuesday morning at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia, after months of battling severe complications following what her family describes as a botched cesarean delivery at ELWA Hospital.
Her death, though not yet officially confirmed by Liberian or Ghanaian health authorities, has been widely acknowledged by relatives and supporters who took to social media with tributes and renewed calls for justice.
Kugmeh’s case became a lightning rod for public anger after she began sharing her story online.
In February, she went to ELWA Hospital for a routine prenatal checkup. Doctors reportedly determined her pregnancy was overdue and initiated labor induction.
Complications quickly escalated, leading to an emergency C-section. What followed, according to her family and her own detailed posts, was a cascade of severe medical problems: kidney and liver failure, a collapsed urethra, third-degree burns, and ultimately the surgical removal of her womb.
“I walked into ELWA healthy and hopeful, but I am now fighting for my life,” Kugmeh wrote in one of her now-viral Facebook posts. “I need answers from ELWA. I want to die knowing why you killed me.”
Despite efforts to stabilize her condition, she was flown to Ghana in April for further treatment.
Without the consent of her medical team in Ghana, she was later returned to Liberia-a decision ELWA Hospital has now acknowledged as a serious error.
“We bear responsibility,” ELWA said in a brief statement. “Returning her to Liberia was not our recommendation and was done without our knowledge. It was a poor decision, and we grieve with the family.”
Kugmeh died less than 24 hours after a protest held in her name. On Monday, mourners gathered in Congo Town demanding justice, holding signs that read “Our Health System is Bleeding” and “Justice for Jamesetta.”
The protest drew dozens of supporters who say her case is emblematic of deep-rooted issues in Liberia’s healthcare sector-particularly concerning maternal health.
Her story has become a painful symbol for the many Liberian women who suffer quietly under a broken system. Kugmeh, however, chose not to remain silent.
Her words, filled with pain and courage, inspired thousands and now echo as a rallying cry for reform.
The Ministry of Health has yet to issue a formal statement.
As Liberia processes this tragedy, one question remains unanswered: how many more women must die before the system changes?
