By G. Watson Richards
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Government of Liberia and with support from the Government and people of Japan, has officially handed over the newly renovated labor and delivery wing of the Liberian-Japanese Friendship Maternity Hospital.
The wing is expected to strengthen maternal and newborn health services in Montserrado County.
The renovation was completed under the project “Responding to Maternal and Newborn Mortality and Public Health Emergencies in Liberia’s High-Burden Districts in Montserrado County.”
It includes upgrades to key areas such as the labor ward, delivery rooms, emergency unit, and postnatal recovery spaces, all designed to improve the quality and safety of care for mothers and newborns.
In addition to the building upgrades, UNFPA provided transport and logistics support to strengthen referral services connected to the Careysburg Health Center, where work is still ongoing, and the Barnersville Health Center, which is also scheduled for renovation.
The hospital had previously received medical equipment and supplies, including anesthesia machines, infant warmers, and delivery beds to support service delivery.
The upgraded facility is expected to ease pressure on health workers and improve access to lifesaving maternal services for women and newborns in one of Liberia’s busiest and most high-need health districts.
At the handover, UNFPA highlighted the importance of investing in maternal health systems and what it means for women and girls across the country. The agency stated:
“By enhancing the capacity of health facilities to deliver high-quality emergency maternal obstetric and newborn care, UNFPA and its partners ensure the dignity, rights, and health of women and girls.”
The intervention forms part of broader efforts by UNFPA and its partners to reduce maternal and newborn deaths in Liberia through stronger health systems, improved facilities, and better-equipped frontline services.
