The Government of Liberia and the World Bank have toured the facility of the new Redemption Hospital in Caldwell. The visit was aimed at getting firsthand information about the ongoing project.
The visit underscores the collaborative effort between the Government of Liberia and World Bank in addressing the healthcare needs of the people.
During the visit, the delegation reviewed the ongoing roofing of the main building’s structure, electrical installation, fencing of the facility and landscaping.
The visit by senior officials from the Liberian Government and the World Bank is not just a routine inspection, but a crucial step towards the realization of a project that symbolizes hope and healing for many.
The hospital is expected to be completed in 2025, with plans to open its doors to the public by October next year.
Speaking to reporters after the tour, Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Dehpue Y. Zuo said “On behave of the Government of Liberia, I want to say thanks to the World Bank for their financial support for this hospital. This project is very much crucial for the human development of the country because health is very much important.”
The Deputy Minister called on the international and local contractors to apply their best efforts and expertise to ensure that the hospital is one of the best in Africa and the world at large.
Minister Zuo stated that when the hospital is completed, it will cater to the healthcare needs of residents in Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Margibi Counties.
He added that the estimated catchment population for the New Redemption Hospital is about 1.1 million.
“At the height of the 2014-2016 Ebola crises in Liberia, the Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town became overwhelmed with patients, particularly from the densely populated Bushrod Island and Western Liberia. Basic services were disrupted as the hospital was used as an Ebola treatment center, further exacerbating health challenges in the area as families struggled to afford the associated costs at private facilities,” the Minister narrated.
He explained that recognizing the need for a sustainable solution, the Government of Liberia in 2016 decided to use part of the funds from the World Bank supported Ebola Emergency Response Project (EERP) for the construction of a 155-bed capacity state-of-the-art New Redemption Hospital in Caldwell Township.
Zuo revealed that the construction of the new hospital started in 2018 but stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2023, the Ministry of Health engaged the International Consolidated Groups Offshore S.A.L (ICC) to finalize the construction of the hospital.
For her part, World Bank Country Manager, Madam Georgia Wallen narrated, “I feel very encourage about the project and it is very important during my third visit to see such a process. The contractors are doing very well.”
According to Wallen, as Liberia continues to rebuild and develop its healthcare services, the New Redemption Hospital is poised to play a key role in shaping the health outcomes of the people of Liberia for generations to come.
The World Bank Country Manager noted that three governments have invested and supported the project; stating that the world Bank is looking forward for the completion of the project.
She described the project as a long term investment and disclosed that the World Bank has invested US$42 Million in the project.
