MONROVIA, Montserrado – On Tuesday night, May 30, fire gutted the building that hosted the laboratory and medical supplies warehouse of the National Drug Service located in the compound of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor.

The fire, which destroyed the entire NDS facility, was extinguished with the help of the Liberia National Fire Service, UNMIL, and the police.

Despite the massive destruction done to the facility, NDS has assured the public that its distribution of essential medicines to health centers across the country will continue.

At the same time, the JFK management has expressed regret over Tuesday’s fire incident in a press statement.

The burned National Drug Service building. Photo: Zeze Ballah

JFK said the hospital itself was unaffected by the fire and though the cause of the fire remains unknown, the hospital is currently working with the relevant authorities to establish what led to the incident.

“The JFK management is, therefore, calling on the public not to panic and desist from spreading rumors,” the press statement said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.

The National Drug Service has not yet released the monetary value of materials destroyed by the fire outbreak.

Even days after the fire, black smoke was still emanating from the burned building.

The entire roof of the building was destroyed while several cartons containing drugs and medical records were still seen burning by fire.

Stockpiles of other cartons containing drugs were seen in one corner of the burned building and may now be damaged.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah