TAPPITA, Nimba County — The Government of Liberia is advancing plans to expand specialized healthcare services outside Monrovia with a major upgrade of the Jackson F. Doe Memorial Regional Referral Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
The government has dedicated newly constructed housing for healthcare workers and broken ground for a new emergency room, intensive care unit (ICU), and three additional duplexes for hospital staff.
The projects form part of an ambitious plan to transform Jackson F. Doe into a major regional referral center and, eventually, Liberia’s second national referral hospital.
Speaking at the ceremony over the weekend, Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs Anthony G. Myers, who represented Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung and Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, said the investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to extending critical public services beyond Monrovia.
“Strengthening healthcare infrastructure outside Monrovia is fundamental to inclusive national development,” Myers said, noting that Jackson F. Doe Hospital has been designated a priority Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) project.
US$44.4 Million Invested Since 2010
According to Myers, Jackson F. Doe Hospital was incorporated into Liberia’s national budget in 2010, and the government has since invested approximately US$44.4 million in the facility.
Of that amount, about US$3.9 million was allocated during the 2026 fiscal year, he said.
Myers warned, however, that additional resources will be required as the hospital’s catchment area expands and improved road connectivity makes Tappita more accessible to patients from Nimba and neighboring counties.
Focus on Emergency and Critical Care
A major component of the latest expansion is the construction of a new emergency room and intensive care unit, facilities expected to strengthen the hospital’s capacity to treat life-threatening illnesses, severe injuries and other medical emergencies.
Myers said the investment is about more than constructing physical infrastructure.
“When a patient arrives with a life-threatening condition, the quality and speed of emergency care can determine the outcome,” he said.
The government expects improved emergency and specialist services at Jackson F. Doe to reduce pressure on referral hospitals in Monrovia by allowing more patients from southeastern and central Liberia to access advanced treatment closer to home.
Staff Housing Targets Retention Challenges
The staff housing component is intended to address another persistent challenge facing regional healthcare facilities: the recruitment and retention of qualified health professionals.
Myers said adequate accommodation for doctors, nurses, specialists and other healthcare workers is critical to retaining skilled personnel and ensuring continuity of services at the hospital.
He also commended the hospital’s financial management, noting that its 2025 budget execution rate exceeded the health sector average of 97 percent.
However, he acknowledged growing pressure on health financing as some external sources of funding decline.
Myers said the government is responding by reallocating resources within the national budget to protect essential health services.
Part of Boakai’s ARREST Agenda
The Jackson F. Doe expansion is being implemented under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and is listed as a priority PSIP project.
For a country where advanced medical services remain heavily concentrated in Monrovia, the expansion could represent a significant step toward decentralizing healthcare and bringing specialized treatment closer to patients in the counties.
The government says the investment is part of a broader, long-term strategy to strengthen Liberia’s national referral system and expand access to specialized and life-saving medical care outside the capital.
Myers Honored in Nimba
During the visit, chiefs and elders of Nimba District Six honored Deputy Minister Myers for what they described as his contribution to the development of the region.
The ceremony brought together Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr.; Nimba District Six Representative Dorwohn Twain Gleekia; Deputy Health Minister for Research, Policy and Monitoring & Evaluation Atty. Malayah Tamba Chieyoe; Deputy Director General for Administration at the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority Stephen R. Johnson; hospital administrators; and local government officials.
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