President Sirleaf Holds Talks on Status of St. Joseph's Catholic Hospital

Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reiterated the Government of Liberia’s commitment to empower and encourage the private sector, especially the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital, which has rendered humanitarian services to the Liberian people over the years. She has reassured Government’s support to the hospital through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as a means of encouraging them to continue serving the Liberian people.

The Liberian Chief Executive gave the assurances today at the Foreign Ministry when she met with a delegation from the order of the Brothers of St. John of God based in Madrid, Spain. The delegation was accompanied by authorities of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital in Monrovia.

President Johnson Sirleaf reaffirmed the strong bilateral relations between Liberia and Spain. This, she added, was demonstrated during her recent visit to Spain and the provision of a shipment buses to the people of Liberia by the Government of Spain.

Recently, the Government of Liberia provided $100,000.00 USD to help with the running cost of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital. This was the first time the Liberian Government has offered assistance to the hospital since its establishment.

The head of the Spanish delegation, Mr. Alfredo Prada Presa, lauded the President for her leadership, for which the Spanish contingent have decided to render support to the Catholic Hospital to continue its work in Liberia. Mr. Presa, who assists in the day to day running of the Regional Government of Madrid, assured the Liberian leader that Spain will implement new projects towards the development of Liberia as well as the work of the Catholic Hospital.

The St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital was established in 1963 under the African Province with headquarters in Lome, Togo. The hospital has 140 beds with a staff of 170, which includes seven Liberian doctors.