Monrovia – The Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) has pledged support to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital (JFK) following a high-level visit led by its Commissioner/CEO, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr., on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
The visit came in response to a request from Dr. Linda A. Birch, CEO and General Administrator of JFK, who had earlier paid a courtesy call on LiMA’s leadership at its Congo Town headquarters. The discussions focused on fostering collaboration to address critical medical needs at Liberia’s largest referral hospital.
During a guided tour of the hospital, the LiMA delegation visited key facilities, including two surgical theaters, the pediatric ward, the optical ward, and the VIP ward. Dr. Birch used the opportunity to highlight urgent challenges facing the hospital, with a particular emphasis on the pressing need for a mammogram machine to aid early breast cancer detection. She also stressed the importance of renovating one of the operating theaters to enhance surgical services.
“Mammogram machines are essential for early breast cancer screening and diagnostics. Identifying abnormalities before symptoms appear can significantly improve patient outcomes,” Dr. Birch explained, underscoring the need for infrastructural improvements to strengthen JFK’s medical interventions.
Following the visit, Commissioner/CEO Lighe Sr. reaffirmed LiMA’s commitment to supporting the hospital through its corporate social responsibility programs. He commended Dr. Birch and her team for their unwavering dedication to healthcare delivery and requested a comprehensive plan detailing the hospital’s priority needs to facilitate targeted assistance.
“Our visit today demonstrates LiMA’s commitment to national development beyond the maritime sector. Healthcare is a fundamental pillar of our society, and we are eager to explore meaningful ways to support JFK,” Commissioner/CEO Lighe stated.
