As we move into our last quarter of 2021, we reflect on the highlights of our ministry this past summer. Our new Eye Center continues to thrive as Waterfield employees are trained. We praise God that even without vaccinations, COVID-19 cases in Margibi County have been minimal. Friends, relatives and governmental officials gathered on September 18th to celebrate Dominic Hena’s 100th birthday. We are in need of a replacement van so that our Community Health Workers can continue to reach out to the 37 villages they serve. On August 15th the CH Rennie Hospital burned resulting in additional demand for medical care at our Waterfield Primary Healthcare Center. Take a few minutes to read additional details on these stories of God’s people at work living out their faith.
Replacement Van Needed for CHWs
Outreach to the community through the Waterfield Primary Healthcare Center is an essential function of Healthy Women, Healthy Liberia’s Christian medical ministry. Community Health Workers are dedicated to their mission but cannot access many of their clients without a vehicle, and unfortunately the old van has broken down beyond repair. We need the support of you, our partners, to purchase a new(er) 15 passenger van and ship it to Liberia. Please visit the donate page to donate and more information. Or if you prefer, write a check to HWHL, PO Box 816, Waxahachie, TX 75168 and write “Van” on the memo line.
Meet Community Health Worker, Joyce Olivia Tokpah
“My name is Joyce Olivia Tokpah, 28 years of age, a Community Health Worker at Waterfield Primary Healthcare Center. I am a Liberian, Kpelleh by tribe, and a Christian. I am a high school graduate and a Nurse Assistant.
I was born unto the union of Mr. and Mrs. Tokpah in Gbarnga, Bong County, Liberia on March 2, 1993. My parents [had] eight children which include five girls and three boys [who] were farmers. I am the last child of my parents, engaged to Saah Harris [and have] one son.
As a Nurse Assistant with no experience in Community Health when I started worked at WPHCC, [I began] going into the communities, giving health education to community dwellers and distributing prenatal vitamin tablets to pregnant women. [This was] challenging to me because it was something new, however I worked on those challenges through our constant visits, distribution of the prenatal vitamins and making friends with many of my communities’ dwellers.
But, today I can now go anywhere to educate my people, even on the radio. I am proud to speak to my people on health issues with the experience I have now. Many thanks to Dr. Hena who always prepared our lessons and educated us before our presentations in the field.”
Dominic Hena Celebrates 100th Birthday!
Dr. Chris Hena celebrating her father, Dominic Hena’s 100th birthday on September 18th. Dominic is probably best known for founding and building the Dominic Hena High School in Kakata which now has over 1,000 students.
Neighboring CH Rennie Hospital Burns
Fire has destroyed the C.H. Rennie Government Hospital in Margibi County, leaving thousands of impoverished residents who cannot afford to go to private hospitals. The incident occurred at about 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 15, 2021, forcing hospital authorities to transfer in-patients to other health facilities in Kakata and Bong County. No casualties have been reported but major components of the hospital, including the emergency response room, pharmacy, administrative offices, and the records room are destroyed completely. County Health Officer Dr. Augustine Fannieh blames the incident on an electrical fault. Hundreds of Margibians rushed on the scene in the Walker Farm Community where the hospital is located and made frantic efforts to put out the fire but to no avail.
Healthy Women, Healthy Liberia’s Waterfield Primary Healthcare Center is doing all it can to help by sharing supplies and seeing patients.
Waterfield Staff Receives Eye-Center Training
As you know from our previous newsletter in the second quarter, Healthy Women, Healthy Liberia reached an agreement with L V Prasad Eye Institute Liberia to set up and operate an Eye Care Center within HWHL’s Waterfield Primary Healthcare Center. Recently LVPEI was able to provide eyecare training to the staff at our Waterfield Primary Healthcare Center. We are excited that this addition to our ministry is changing lives in our community and teaching valuable skills to our staff.
Asbury United Methodist Church, Allentown, PA was able to ship 170 boxes of medical supplies, 50 walkers, 26 wheelchairs, 20 pairs of crutches and more to Healthy Women, Healthy Liberia.
With thanks to Asbury (www.asburylv.org) for packing and shipping and Through These Hands (www.throughthesehands.org) for donating medical supplies to support the ministry of HWHL.
Happy Independence Day Liberia!
174 years! In 1847, the Republic of Liberia declared it’s independence from the US and became the first democratic republic in African history. Joseph Jenkins Roberts was elected Liberia’s first president in 1848. Before Liberia became independent, Roberts was the colony’s first Black governor who went on to expand Liberia’s boundaries and improve her economics.
Although we were unable to celebrate Liberia’s Independence Day as usual due to COVID , we are celebrating how far we’ve come.
