By Seun Ibiyemi
The Director-General of the West African Health Organisation, Melchior Athanase J. C. Aïssi, has conducted an on-site inspection of an ECOWAS-funded health facility in Bo Waterside, underscoring its importance to regional healthcare delivery.
The visit, which took place on April 8, 2026, formed part of the Director-General’s official mission to Liberia and brought together key stakeholders, including Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Health, senior ministry officials, the ECOWAS Resident Representative, and technical teams overseeing the project.
During the inspection, Aïssi assessed the progress of construction works and engaged directly with engineers and health infrastructure teams at the site.
Strategically located along a major transit corridor between Liberia and Sierra Leone, the facility is expected to function as a regional reference centre, providing healthcare services to populations across multiple member states of the Economic Community of West African States.
The WAHO chief noted the high level of cross-border utilisation already being recorded at the facility, with patients from different nationalities accessing care. He stressed the need for the centre to reflect ECOWAS’ vision of regional integration and equitable access to quality healthcare.
While commending progress made on the structural components of the project, Aïssi emphasised the importance of completing finishing works to high standards, noting that this stage would determine the facility’s functionality and overall quality.
He called for meticulous attention to detail to ensure the centre meets the standards of a modern regional health institution.
Officials of Liberia’s Ministry of Health informed the delegation that the government had secured support from the Ministry of Defence to construct a perimeter fence around the facility.
They also requested additional assistance from WAHO to build an extra block to accommodate pregnant women travelling long distances, enabling them to stay near the facility ahead of delivery.
Read also:Nigeria Has Recovered From Economic Brink, now on path of stability – Shettima
Upon completion, the health centre will feature a triage unit, maternal and child health services with surgical capacity, a laboratory, outpatient services and an incinerator. It is also designed to be energy self-sufficient, powered by a high-capacity solar system with a backup generator.
The visit is part of ongoing high-level engagements aimed at strengthening collaboration between ECOWAS institutions and member states, and advancing regional health integration across West Africa.
