GBARNGA, Bong – Dr. Obed Dolo, the Medical Director of the C.B. Dunbar Hospital in Gbarnga, recently outlined several constraints faced by the hospital.

“Since we took over about two years ago, there are lots of challenges we are faced with in running the affairs of the C.B. Dunbar hospital,” he said.

Dolo said some of these challenges are drug shortages at the hospital, inadequate operational funds, and liabilities to vendors for the procurement of medicines amongst others.

He mentioned electricity supply specifically as one of these challenges, adding, “To run the generator every night is a big problem for us.”

Dolo also said patients are frequently directed to local drug stores to buy medication because the hospital regularly runs out of basic medicine.

The medical director of the hospital said the government of Liberia apportioned US$300,000 annually to the hospital for operations.

“This fiscal year that ended was really challenging,” Dolo said. “This hospital was allocated for a little over US$ 300,000, but we were only able to receive in the third quarter US$ 51,000. This money, we had to use entirely on vendors for drugs that we took on credit,” he said.

Dolo said he wants the government of Liberia and other partners to increase the budgetary allotment for the C.B. Dunbar Hospital.

“We have written our proposal to some stakeholders, and the Ministry of Health is advocating and stating why they need to increase our operational budget,” he added. “Our understanding is that they are still looking at that, and we are hoping that something will happen very soon.”

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah