Kogar Pushes for Additional US$150K Allocation to Expand Services at Jackson F. Doe Hospital

Nimba County Senator Samuel G. Kogar is seeking an additional US$150,000 for the Jackson F. Doe Memorial Regional Referral Hospital (JFD) in the 2026 Draft National Budget, stressing that the allocation is necessary to expand critical health services and strengthen the hospital’s capacity to serve thousands of patients across Liberia and neighboring countries. 

In a communication to Senate Plenary, , and addressed to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Senator Kogar informed the Liberian Senate that the hospital administration has developed a plan to widen its service delivery through the establishment of three essential units: a dental unit, an eye clinic, and an oxygen plant. Senator Kogar explained that these units are vital to bringing the hospital to full capacity. He emphasized that an additional US$150,000 is needed to fully staff, equip, and operationalize the new departments. 

According to him, the funding will play a crucial role in ensuring that the hospital meets the increasing health demands of citizens, particularly those in rural and hard-to-reach areas. The Nimba County Senator urged his colleagues to mandate the Joint Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget to reflect the additional allocation in the upcoming fiscal year. “Fellow colleagues, the JFD Memorial Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County, being a referral hospital in that region, must be adequately supported to ensure it caters fully to the health needs of our populace,” he wrote. 

Senator Kogar noted that many Liberians who lack financial means depend heavily on public health institutions like the JFD Hospital.  Strengthening the hospital, he said, is essential to maintaining accessible and high-quality healthcare for the population. He further expressed confidence that his colleagues would consider the request during the ongoing budget debate. Located in Tappita, Nimba County, the Jackson F. Doe Memorial Regional Referral Hospital is one of Liberia’s largest and most advanced government-run medical institutions. 

With a 206-bed capacity, it serves as the primary referral center for patients from Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, Bong, and parts of neighboring Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire. Built as a gift from the Government of the People’s Republic of China and inaugurated in February 2011, the hospital currently offers a wide range of specialized services, including internal medicine, pediatrics, laboratory and pathology services, pharmacy, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology with the country’s first CT scan laparoscopic surgery, general surgery, and an established eye center. Despite these services, Senator Kogar stressed that significant gaps remain, particularly in dental care, expanded eye services, and reliable oxygen supply all crucial components of modern healthcare delivery. 

He maintained that closing these gaps requires strategic budgetary support from the national government. As the Legislature continues deliberations on the FY 2026 budget, Senator Kogar expressed hope that the additional funds will be approved. He believes that such support will not only enhance service delivery but also reaffirm government’s commitment to prioritizing the health needs of vulnerable citizens across the country.

Author: Zac T. Sherman