After years of operating under poor conditions while under government control, the Esther and Jereline Medical Center (E&J) in Ganta, Nimba County has undergone a major transformation, offering renewed hope for quality healthcare services in the region.
Entering 2025, the once-deteriorated facility now boasts a fully renovated structure, with fresh coats of paint, refurbished facilities, and restored medical equipment, signaling a new era for the hospital.
In an interview with the Daily Observer recently, the Administrator of E&J Medical Center, Cyrus N. Younquoi, expressed optimism about the progress made under his leadership.
He emphasized that the hospital is no longer referring patients to other facilities, notably the Ganta United Methodist Hospital, as it frequently did in the past.
“Since I took over this medical complex in November 2024, my team and I have worked tirelessly to give the hospital a facelift,” Younquoi said. “We rebuilt the perimeter fence to enhance security and improved the electricity supply both inside and outside the hospital.”
“For now, I can assure you that this medical facility is no longer referring patients to other hospitals as it used to. Our X-ray department is fully functional, and we are proud of the capabilities of our medical doctors assigned here,” he added.
The hospital currently boasts three medical doctors: a pediatrician, a specialist in surgical diseases such as diabetes, and a general surgeon — a significant step forward for the facility.
Mr. Younquoi also lauded the administration of President Joseph Boakai for its support to the medical center. He noted that the supply of essential medical drugs has become regular under the current government and that medications are provided free of charge to patients.
The Esther and Jereline Medical Center has a rich history. It was established in 2016 by now-Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung when he served as Representative of Nimba County District #1. Initially operated as a private institution, the hospital conducted free hernia surgeries through partnerships with international medical experts under the umbrella of Hernia International.
However, after Koung reached an agreement with the Ministry of Health to transfer ownership to the government — making it the only public hospital in Ganta — the hospital suffered from neglect. Facilities deteriorated, drug supplies dwindled, and patients were often forced to buy their own medicines and surgical materials, such as gloves, before receiving treatment.
Today, with the restoration of facilities and the reliable availability of essential drugs, residents of Ganta and its surrounding communities can once again look to a government-owned facility for quality healthcare, reducing their reliance on the faith-based Ganta United Methodist Hospital.
Despite the remarkable improvements, challenges remain. Mr. Younquoi highlighted ongoing logistical problems and the need to address the plight of long-serving volunteer workers who have yet to be officially employed.
“We do not even have a bicycle in this hospital to enhance staff movement,” he lamented, calling for further government intervention to address these gaps.
