MONROVIA – On Monday, March 17, 2025, ELWA Hospital issued a statement in response to the growing concerns surrounding the medical case of Jamesetta Kugmeh, who has made disturbing claims about the treatment she received during her recent childbirth experience at the hospital.
In the brief statement, Rev. James Freeman Garway, the hospital’s administrator, expressed empathy for Kugmeh and her family, acknowledging the difficult circumstances they are facing.
“We empathize with the patient and the family during this challenging time and understand how she feels,” Garwey said. He further emphasized that the hospital was aware of the concerns shared on social media and invited Kugmeh’s family to meet with hospital officials for a direct discussion. “We are actively conducting our own internal review and remain committed to fully cooperating with the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) investigation,” Garway added.
Out of respect for Kugmeh’s privacy, the hospital declined to release further details about her case. The statement concluded with well-wishes for her recovery. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with Jamesetta Kugmeh and her family, and we continue to hope for her full recovery,” Garwey said.
Kugmeh, whose account of her ordeal was widely shared on social media on March 15, 2025, raised alarms about the quality of maternal healthcare in Liberia. She described her routine delivery at ELWA Hospital as a life-threatening ordeal that left her with severe complications, including kidney failure, liver damage, and the removal of her womb. Kugmeh also alleged that she suffered severe burns on her legs and back, underwent eight sessions of dialysis without producing urine, and experienced a collapsed urethra.
According to Kugmeh, her ordeal began on February 24, 2025, when she visited ELWA Hospital for an antenatal care (ANC) appointment. She was told by doctors that she was past her due date and needed to be induced into labor. Although initially hesitant, she agreed to the procedure but claimed it failed to progress, leading to hours of extreme pain. On February 25, doctors recommended a cesarean section (C/S), which Kugmeh reluctantly agreed to, despite objections from her partner.
In her account, Kugmeh described the C/S operation as the beginning of her suffering, saying, “I accepted, not knowing I was accepting my death.” She further claimed that ELWA Hospital delayed transferring her to another facility when her condition worsened. By the time she was finally moved to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), Kugmeh said her health had deteriorated significantly. She is now seeking urgent medical treatment abroad, fearing that her life is at risk if she does not receive advanced care.
