Liberia: Ganta Methodist Hospital Receives Huge Diabetes Drugs
The consignment of diabetes drugs is so huge that they have decided to share some with other health centers across the country.
The Ganta United Methodist Hospital has received a huge consignment of diabetes drugs from an American-based humanitarian organization known as ‘Direct Relief.’
According to the administrator of the hospital, Allen Zomoway, the consignment of drugs — about 300 cartons altogether — is so huge that they have decided to share some with the national government for further distribution to other health centers across the country.
“We have decided to send some of these drugs to the Ministry of Health so they can be distributed to other clinics or hospitals across the country,” he said. “We’re providing diabetes assistance to 14 counties in Liberia and, even if we distribute these to all 14 counties, we will still have enough left. So it is better we give some to the government.”
The Ganta United Methodist Hospital has a free Diabetes Clinic, catering to over 1,000 patients free of charge. Therefore, according to the administrator, the drugs are intended to be dispensed free of charge. Zomoway said the GUMH is also involved in providing free medical drugs to those living with HIV/AIDS and also gives free prenatal drugs to pregnant women as part of their medical services to the people.
There have been complaints that the GUMH was charging for drugs and other medical services. In response, Zomoway explained that “it is the drug revolving funds that keep our hospital intact with the drugs we want. But when people come down with malaria they want us to give them free drugs.”
“If we give them free drugs, then how do we go about replacing the drugs to keep the hospital running?” he cautioned.