Revamps JFK Maternity Unit
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s fight against maternal and newborn deaths had a significant boost from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with financial support from the Japanese government, renovated the maternity facility at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) and delivered an extensive shipment of comprehensive reproductive health kits.
The intervention, which is a component of a maternal and newborn mortality emergency response project that targets high-burden districts in Montserrado County with the goal of improving maternal healthcare services and patient outcomes, will involve the delivery of roughly ten truckloads of essential medical supplies and equipment.
The initial batch of the reproductive health kits was officially handed over on April 8, 2026, by UNFPA Country Representative, Dr. Mady Biaye, during a ceremony attended by health officials and hospital authorities. The delegation also toured and inspected the newly refurbished maternity facility to ensure it meets international standards.
In the upcoming days, representatives of the Japanese government are scheduled to attend a ceremonial commissioning and final handover ceremony for the renovated facility and remaining equipment. Speaking at the handover, Dr. Biaye defined the program as a strategic collaboration between the Government of Liberia, UNFPA, and Japan with the goal of addressing the high rate of maternal death in the nation.
“This is a strong commitment to ensuring that we reduce maternal deaths across Liberia. Today marks just the beginning, more supplies will follow as we continue to support the country’s reproductive health needs,” he added.
Assistant Minister for Preventive Services Dr. Cualleu Jabbeh Howe, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health, commended UNFPA for its ongoing assistance, pointing out that the intervention coincides with the government’s efforts to modernize ageing health infrastructure.
“UNFPA’s support is helping to strengthen our efforts to provide safe and respectful maternal care. Many of our facilities, especially in Montserrado, have long faced infrastructure challenges,” she narrated.
Linda A. Birch, the chief executive officer of JFK, applauded the development and emphasized that the renovation and new equipment will greatly enhance service delivery at the biggest referral hospital in the nation. “With the high number of patients seeking care at JFK, this upgrade is timely. We now have improved space, more beds, and better equipment to handle multiple deliveries and reduce waiting time, ultimately improving maternal health outcomes,” Madam Birch said.
The initiative is a crucial step in Liberia’s continuous efforts to lower maternal mortality and increase women’s and girls’ access to high-quality reproductive healthcare.
Reported by: Prince Saah
