Gbarnga, Bong County — The Gbarnga Community Health Center (GCHC), a privately initiated health project more than a decade in the making, was officially turned over on Monday, December 22, 2025, to the Bong County Administration and the Bong County Health Team, marking a major boost to health service delivery in central Liberia.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, GCHC Chief Executive Officer Mr. Ayou S. Birch recounted the humble beginnings of the project, which started around 2012–2013 as a small vision inspired by his family’s long history in the health profession. Birch, a Liberian based in the United States, explained that the idea initially involved building just two rooms to support maternal services, drawing from his mother’s experience as a midwife in Buchanan.
“What started as one or two rooms gradually expanded as we asked ourselves, ‘What about the children? What about other services?’” Birch said. “Despite disruptions from Ebola and later COVID-19, we persevered. After more than 10 years, we are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Birch described the facility as a major private investment, noting that its total cost exceeded US$150,000 over the. He emphasized that the goal was not profit-making but service to the community.
With the formal turnover completed, Birch said the success of the health center now depends on strong management, qualified personnel, and close coordination with government.
“The key now is good people to run this place,” Birch stressed. This will not be a purely private facility; we intend to work with the government so that services are affordable and, in some cases, free.”
Looking ahead, Birch outlined plans to expand the center to include specialized services such as dental care, ear, nose and throat (ENT) treatment, and possibly visiting specialist doctors from abroad. He expressed hope that facilities like GCHC would one day reduce the need for patients to travel to Monrovia for basic and advanced medical services.
Birch also highlighted strong community involvement throughout the construction process, noting that residents contributed labor, materials, and support, including helping to build access bridges to the site. “This is their place,” he said. “They are part of it.”
Hospital Administrator A. Welehyon Duo announced that operations are expected to begin on January 1, starting with laboratory services, surgery, and other essential health programs. He said the facility is equipped with laboratory personnel and diagnostic tools, with additional services to be communicated to the public through awareness programs.
On the issue of cost, Duo assured residents that fees will align with national policy. “Liberia is operating under a fee-for-service system, and we will work strictly within government guidelines,” he said, adding that all operational decisions will be finalized in coordination with the Bong County Health Team.
Duo also emphasized maintenance, staff discipline, and support services, including human resources, counseling, reception, and ambulance services, as critical to the facility’s sustainability.
Head of Recruitment, Mr. Humphrey Gibbs-Lowell, said his role is to ensure that GCHC staff meet high ethical and professional standards. He acknowledged common public complaints about poor patient care and pledged refresher training for nurses and staff, focusing not only on clinical skills but also on respectful communication and compassionate care. “The tender loving care you give to patients can also be part of their treatment,” Gibbs-Lowell said.
Representing the Liberia Medical and Dental Council and speaking on behalf of the Bong County Health Team, Mr. Alex C. Duyah, Regional Coordinator for Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties, commended the initiative and reaffirmed regulatory support.
“As the regulatory arm of health policy in Liberia, we are open to work with initiatives like this,” Douya said. “We will ensure that services provided here meet national standards and follow established protocols, for the benefit of the people.”
The turnover of the Gbarnga Community Health Center is widely seen as a significant step toward improving access to quality healthcare in Bong County, particularly for communities that previously depended on distant facilities for essential services.
