Liberia’s health ministry has, once again, received 15 new hard top Land Cruisers ambulances from the World Bank to ensure the safe transfer of patients to health facilities across the Country.
The donation was made on Friday, October 23, 2020, at the Ministry’s office in Congo Town. The 15 ambulances are great milestones for the ministry and government.
Health Minister, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, in a statement, thanked the World Bank for continuously contributing to the Country’s health sector.
He said, “On behalf of my Boss, H.E. Dr George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, MOH, IMS and all those who have been participating in the COIVD-19 response, I want to say thank for this donation.
“These ambulances were purchased under the COVID-19 response to be used by MOH, not only to transport COVID-19 patients but, to enable us strengthen routine care for our people. We want to thank the World Bank and our local team for all the work that they did collaboratively to have made these ambulances reached.
“I want to thank UNOPS for the delivery and even taking on the responsibility to procure these ambulances under the World Bank project. I want to turn these keys over to the administration, which will later be turned over to the Transport Department.
“We are going to monitor all of these ambulances and make sure they are all use for the intended. Your contribution to this Government is something that cannot be overemphasized. We are proud of this donation, and we will ensure that these items reach their intended beneficiaries.”
Dr. Jallah said the distribution of the donation made is expected to commence within the soonest possible time.
“We will soon start the distribution of these ambulances to our needed counties once all modalities are worked out,” she said.
Jallah called on Liberians to continuously follow all health protocols prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and health authorities in the country for their safety.
He said, “We should not forget that the virus in the Country. Please let’s continuously follow all of the health measures prescribed by WHO and health authorities in the country to avoid further spread of the virus. Thanks for all the work that you do for us intense of keeping us strict as we all embark on keeping Liberia save.”
Meanwhile, the Project Manager of World Bank to Liberia, Mr. Mathew Flomo, disclosed that the donation is in fulfillment of a promise made to the Ministry in early August this year to procure 15 additional vehicles (ambulances) to heighten the Country’s fight against the pandemic, which according to him is World Bank’s goal to curtail further spread of the deadly pandemic.
“Madam Minister, this donation is in fulfilment of a promise made by the World Bank to beef up the Ministry’s fight against the virus. Therefore, I am pleased to turn over these vehicles to the government through your Ministry to enhance the fight against the virus. We hope that together we can end this global health crisis,” he said.
After the novel coronavirus pandemic first case in Liberia was reported on March 16, 2020, the Ministry of Health and the Government of Liberia obtained funds from the World Bank to support Liberia’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Project.
The project intends to support the MOH with essential equipment including vehicles (ambulances) that are required for use by the Ministry and other frontline agencies involved in the response.
The 15 ambulances were strategically and durably procured by UNOPS through the World Bank.
This donation is aimed at equipping the Ministry with the needed logistics to effectively follow the outbreak of COVID-19 promptly.
Since the outbreak of the virus in the country, this is the third time the World Bank has made such a huge donation to the Country through the Ministry. In July and August this year, the Financial body donated 20 ventilators (in addition to the 4 ventilators government had in Country) and 10 hardtop ambulances to boost Liberia’s preparedness in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. As it stands, the World Bank has donated 25 ambulances donated in total.
