NATIONAL NEWS
PAYNESVILLE – The Government of Liberia and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Thursday broke ground for a new maternity hospital on Duport Road, a major humanitarian project aimed at improving maternal and neonatal healthcare in one of Greater Monrovia’s fastest-growing communities.
By: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr.
The more than 100-bed facility, jointly funded by the Ministry of Health and the LDS Church, will feature a neonatal intensive care unit, delivery suites, operating theatres and laboratories.
The project will expand the existing Duport Road Health Center, which currently serves tens of thousands of residents and records more than 200 deliveries each month.
The groundbreaking ceremony comes ahead of the opening of the Strengthening Families Conference 2026, the church’s annual interfaith gathering, which begins Friday at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.
Speaking at the ceremony in Paynesville, First Lady Kartumu Y. Boakai described the initiative as an investment in Liberia’s future, saying it was inspired by her visit to the aging Duport Road clinic near her former community.
“What once represented hope is now becoming a symbol of transformation,” she said. “True faith gives. True faith builds. True faith transforms. When we invest in maternal healthcare, we are strengthening the future of our nation.”
Liberia continues to grapple with one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, with delays in accessing healthcare contributing significantly to preventable deaths.
Health officials said the new hospital is expected to reduce referrals to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center and Redemption Hospital, both of which are frequently overwhelmed by patient demand.
Health Minister Dr. Louise M. Kpoto described the project as one of the most important initiatives of her tenure.
“If there is one project that I could complete before my tenure is over, this Duport Road Maternal Center should be that project,” she said, noting that it aligns with the Ministry of Health’s efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths.
Representing President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Senior Presidential Advisor Prof. Dr. Augustine Konneh described maternal and newborn healthcare as “a governance imperative and a moral duty” and commended the church for what he called a genuine partnership with Liberia.
Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran, a member of the Africa West Area Presidency and General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the project reflects the church’s commitment to humanitarian service.
“Today we break ground, but more importantly, we plant hope,” he said. “Access to quality healthcare is not a privilege but fundamental to dignity and progress.”
Bong County District Two Representative James Kolleh disclosed that the church is financing eight projects across Liberia, including one hospital, three clinics and four schools.
Montserrado County Superintendent Rory Bryant also revealed that members of the church in Liberia contributed more than US$100,000 toward the construction of the maternity facility.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia has endorsed the Strengthening Families Conference, saying its review found that the event is not tied to the doctrine of any single faith, but rather focuses on family values, health, culture and social development.
Liberia is hosting the conference for the first time. The 2025 edition was held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, while previous gatherings took place in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
