BARCLAY’S FARM, Margibi – Liberians living in highly urbanized areas like Monrovia have relatively easy access to many hospitals and clinics. However, those in more remote rural settings can find it difficult to access quality medical care.

In the small Margibi community of Mende Town, retired midwife Ellen Jones has established a small maternity clinic to meet the needs of residents who would otherwise have no other access to such health care services.

At the clinic, which Jones currently operates on the outskirts of the Firestone plantation, she said her services are almost free. She sees it as an opportunity to help out people who can barely afford to pay for medications.

“My focus has not been on profit, but on helping to save lives,” she noted.

Most of her clients are pregnant women, but she sometimes encounters minor cases like malaria, fever, and patients needing first aid treatments.

Ellen Jones at her clinic. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Jones is now branching out to another small town that lacks such services. She will be opening the Lisnow Maternity Clinic in Barclay’s Farm, also in Margibi. The clinic was constructed with the assistance of Jones’ son-in-law, James Mullah, and a partner in the United States, Harmon Lisnow. It will officially commence operations on April 30.

“There is a serious need for a maternity center in this community because the population here has grown and there is no easy access to a medical facility for maternal services,” Jones revealed.

The center, which is located about a 35 minutes’ drive from the nearest hospital, will focus primarily on maternity nursing and some interventions in pediatric services.

She said most of the residents there are retirees of Firestone who may not be able to afford the cost of medications at the Firestone Duside Hospital.

“I worked as a midwife for Firestone for about thirty-two years and retired. Because of my interest in the profession and for saving lives, I thought to have this clinic,” she said.

A patient bed at the new maternity clinic. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

She said her services to people at the Mende Town clinic and her experience in the field will help her attract people to the new center, which she hopes will help generate income for her family.

“Although I will still help people who cannot afford, I will make business here,” she said.

Jones believes that the Lisnow Maternity Clinic will also help reduce threats to the lives of pregnant women and their unborn babies.

She plans to hire professional staff and get quality medication, but added that her clinic would be referring complicated cases to the Firestone Medical Center.

Mrs. Jones displaying maternal patients resting bed. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

When it opens, the Lisnow Maternity Clinic will be the only facility in Lower Margibi that will specialize in maternity nursing.

However, Jones said there are challenges to maintaining smooth operations including bad roads, lack of access to water and electricity, standard medical equipment, and access to affordable medications.

Jones said the organization would appreciate support from anyone who wants to support her initiative and help save more lives, including the government, organizations, and individuals.

Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah