Tornolah Varpilah, the broad Chairman of the Phebe Hospital has broken Silence over recent government withdrawal of Doctors and Nurses at the phebe Hospital.
Following the withdrawal of some government employed medical Doctors assigned at the phebe referral hospital in Bong county, the Board chair of the phebe Hospital Mr. Tonorlah Varpilah has described the decision as ‘political influence’ by Bong county county D#3 Lawmaker Josiah Marvin Cole.
The government of Liberia recently began withdrawing its assigned doctors and nurses from the Phebe Hospital due to the hospital failure to give more power for decision making at the institution.
He also accused Liberia’s chief medical officer Dr. Francis Ketah and Bong county Electoral district three Lawmaker Hon Josiah Marvin Cole of masterminding the process.
He recalled that on November 5, 2020 the Liberia chief medical officer Dr. Francis Kateh confirmed the reassigning of government employed medical Doctors at the health facility in a reaction to the alleged refusal of the hospital Board to offer slots to the Liberian government for appointments.
Appearing as guest on a local radio station in the county on Tuesday Mr. Varpilah testified that there has been policy disagreement with Rep. Cole and Dr. Ketah on who appoints medical Director and Administrator at the Phebe referral hospital.
The Phebe Board Chairman narrated that the Act and constitution governing the hospital, provides that the board of trustees has the power to appoint medical director and Administrator of the institution while the medical Doctor has the authority to appoint other workers in Administration.
Contrary to the Act, Hon. Varplah noted that district#3 Lawmaker Hon Cole and Dr. Ketah have repeatedly demanded them to be given the opportunity to appoint medical director and Administrator, something he said contravenes the by- law and constitution governing the memorandum of understanding between the Liberian government and the three Churches.
According to Mr. Tornolah Varpilah the act of withdrawing Doctors and Nurses from the Hospital was singlehandedly done by Liberia Medical Director and Hon.Josiah Marvin Cole.
According to Mr. Tornolah Varpilah, Hon.Josiah Marvin Cole wants to appoint people who he ( Rep.Cole) can control at the phebe Hospital.
The board chair of Phebe Hospital Hon.Varpilah in his conclusion he’s said, he’s willing to Challenge anyone who feels that he’s Hon.Varpilah is not saying the Truth.
Budgetary constraint and fuel
In the 2017/2018 fiscal year, the Ministry of Finance Development Planning budgetary appropriation to Phebe Hospital was US$2,010,341, only US1, 789,197 was received while in the following year under the new government, US$1,981,976 was allotted in the 2018/2019 budget for the operation of the Hospital and the Training School.
US$100,000 was projected for the running of the Phebe School of nursing.
The monthly average usage of fuel oil by both vehicles and generators is 6,000 gallons at the cost of US$3.70 (US$22,200.00). Yearly cost is US$266,400.00 and 12 drums of lubricants cost at US$9,600 yearly.
the hospital is also challenged with inadequate simulation and library spaces for students, limited support for ambulance service, the lack of space in the Emergency Room, unpaved road entry to the hospital compound, which is hampering its smooth operation.
The hospital was constructed in 1930s as a Faith Based health facility by three churches, the Lutheran, the Episcopal and the Methodist churches, with support from the government of Liberia.
