02/04/2026
President Boakai Launches Ear and Hearing Care Project
Hearing care encompasses a broad range of professional services and practices dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and restoring auditory health, from routine checkups to the medical management of complex hearing disorders.
On Thursday, April 2, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai launched the Ear and Hearing Care Project at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia.
The initiative brings together the Rotary Club of Monrovia, Church Aid Incorporated, and the Ministry of Health. The equipment was procured by Rotary International following consultative efforts led by Church Aid Incorporated, with a focus on supporting children living with hearing impairments in Liberia.
During the launch, President Boakai described the initiative as a significant contribution by the Rotary Club of Monrovia and its partners toward strengthening healthcare services across the country. He recognized the Club as a major partner to government, noting its contributions to various sectors of society.
“These are important contributions,” President Boakai said. “Our effort should be to build facilities for the well being of our people, and we are fully committed to improving the country’s healthcare delivery system.”
The President also commended health workers at the nation’s leading referral and teaching hospital, the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, for their continued sacrifice and dedication. “I am very proud of the improvement at JFK,” he said, while acknowledging the challenges facing the institution.
He recalled conversations with two individuals who said it was their first visit to the hospital and expressed satisfaction with the level of service received. “We must continue rebuilding and improving. Development does not happen overnight, but through commitment and consistency,” the President added.
President Boakai, who is also a past president of the Rotary Club of Monrovia, thanked members of the organization for their continued service to society and encouraged others to embrace the same spirit.
For the Rotary Club, the project reflects a commitment to service and impact. The President of the Club, Rtn. G. Gbassay Golee, expressed satisfaction with the contribution.
“Today, we are proud as Rotarians to use our time and resources to support something of such significance,” he said.
Golee noted that the project aligns with the Club’s mission to implement programs that deliver meaningful results in communities across the country. The project will also benefit health facilities in Lofa, B**g, and Bomi Counties.
He called on health institutions to properly manage and sustain the equipment, stressing the importance of accountability and long term use.
“Of great importance to us is the sustainability of this project after it is handed over to government institutions. We will continue to monitor its use to ensure the equipment serves its intended purpose. We also expect measurable outcomes that demonstrate the difference this initiative will make in society,” he said.
Church Aid Incorporated played a key role in advancing the project. Its founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bishop Kortu Brown, worked closely with the Rotary Club to support its implementation.
Providing an overview of ear and hearing services, Ear, Nose and Throat consultant Dr. Tabeh L. Freeman highlighted the growing global burden of hearing impairment.
He noted that about 20 percent of the world’s population is affected, underscoring the need for urgent action. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.5 billion people are living with hearing impairment, he warned that by 2050, one in four people could experience hearing problems if the issue is not addressed.
Dr. Freeman also reflected on the history of ENT services in Liberia. He noted that the country maintained uninterrupted services between 1972 and 1989. After that period and until 2003, services relied largely on visiting medical teams from the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries.
He said that with the restoration of services, the hospital has treated at least 3,000 patients, with about 60 percent of cases related to ear and hearing conditions.
“Many children in schools for the deaf and communities were not born with hearing loss. Their conditions were acquired,” he explained.
Dr. Freeman emphasized the need for modern equipment to support early detection and called for the establishment of a fully functional ENT unit across the country within the next five years.
He also expressed appreciation to the Rotary Club of Monrovia and Church Aid Incorporated for providing equipment that will support screening and prevention of ear diseases.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Cuallau Jabbeh Howe, thanked the donors and said the equipment will be integrated into government health facilities across the four counties and other regions.
“This initiative goes beyond the donation of equipment. It represents a shared commitment,” she said. “Through collaboration, health professionals can be trained to deliver services effectively and sustainably.”
Dr. Howe added that the formal transfer of the equipment to the Ministry of Health reinforces the government’s responsibility to ensure access to hearing care.
“We reaffirm our responsibility to ensure that every child has access to hearing care and quality healthcare services,” she said.
Photos credit: Executive Mansion Liberia
