By: Emmanuel Wise Jipoh
Monrovia, Liberia; June 10, 2025 –The African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) has cleared out medical bills for 24 babies’ mothers at John F. Kennedy Maternity Hospital in Monrovia.
The gesture to pay off over $600,000 Liberian dollars overdue medical bills for all 24 babies’ mothers at the Liberia-Japanese Maternity Center on Friday came as part of the University 30th anniversary.
Speaking during the wipe out of babies’ mothers’ overdue bills that brought out a great sense of relief, excitement and thanks, Reverend Dr. Alvin Attah, President of the AME University stressed the University commitment to community care.
He expressed the institution’s dedication to fostering compassion and support as a faith-based entity.
“We have come to set you free, and after here you will be going home to take good care of your children. We heard some of you have been here for long time after being discharged and no means to foot your bills, no means to go home, but you’ve given birth to wonderful children, who might be great leaders of our country, incoming Presidents, Ministers, lawmakers, senators and so on, but unfortunately, life has had its own toil on you. And these babies are going through what they should not be going through, and you too are going through, what you should not be going through”, Dr. Attah lamented.
He said all is over now, as the University has intervened to “wipe out your bills and ensure that you go home and take good care of our future leaders.”
According to Dr. Attah, the University has agreed thru a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cover 30% of burden medical bills, around 600,000 Liberian Dollars for 24 patients, while the hospital shoulders 70% and allow the babies mothers, who have been discharged but unable to leave the facility due to financial constraints, to now go home and take care of their children.
Over twenty baby mothers and other patients had been constrained due to high medical bills at the John F. Kennedy Medical hospital after being discharged.
Dr. Attah stated that the gesture is a pivotal moment in the university’s anniversary celebrations, adding, “We are pleased to make this contribution to help you go home with smiles on your faces as you reunite with your families and communities.”
For her part, Davidetta Parker-Sirleaf, Administrator of the JFK- Maternity Ward, lauded AMEU for its goodwill, affirming the significant impact this act of kindness will have on patients and staff alike.
Madam Sirleaf acknowledged challenges faced by the maternity ward in taking care of patients and expressed openness to further collaboration to help patients.
At the same time the gesture was met with gratitude, as the mothers thanked the University for relieving them of burdens and are now able to unite with their families.
“We are happy to go home; it has been six months now, and difficult for us, some of us have been here, taking care of our children, no support, but thanks to JFK, that has been by our side always, and everyone”, Miatta A. Kromah, said on behalf of her colleagues. Editing by Jonathan Browne
