NATIONAL NEWS
YEKEPAH – ArcelorMittal’s Global Chief Executive Officer and Vice President for Mining, Kleber Silva, paid a surprise early-morning visit to Yekepa Hospital, where he praised recent improvements and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening healthcare services within its concession area.
During the visit, Silva toured the facility, engaged with medical personnel, and met members of the company’s Quality-of-Life team.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
He commended staff for their dedication to enhancing care delivery and emphasized that the hospital must operate “efficiently and sustainably” to meet the needs of both employees and surrounding communities.
“The hospital must be supported to function effectively,” Silva said, underscoring its critical role in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of workers, residents, and the wider region.
A key highlight of the tour was the recently refurbished female ward, which hospital management said has significantly improved patient comfort and overall care conditions.
Dr. Paul Whesseh, Medical Director of Yekepa Hospital, disclosed that the renovation was completed in less than four months by ArcelorMittal Liberia’s in-house Engineering Team under the Quality-of-Life Department, led by Civil Engineer Gabriel Paye.
“The team did an excellent job,” Dr. Whesseh said. “I believe Mr. Silva wanted to see firsthand how far we have progressed, and that is why he visited.”
He noted that relying on the company’s internal engineering capacity for urgent infrastructure needs has proven both faster and more cost-effective than outsourcing, which can sometimes delay projects for years.
Dr. Whesseh further revealed that the hospital has recruited additional physicians across multiple specialties to meet rising demand. Since launching surgical operations last August, the facility has steadily expanded its capacity to deliver critical care services.
However, he cautioned that the increase in surgical procedures has created a growing need for more nurses to ensure adequate staffing levels and maintain high standards of care.
Yekepa Hospital provides healthcare services to ArcelorMittal Liberia employees and surrounding communities in Nimba County, where the mining company remains a major operator.
