Tenegar Town Celebrates Dedication Of New Clinic As Beac...( President Jo...),Health

President Johnson Sirleaf received a traditional gift of two roosters along with the keys to a new health clinic built with Mercy Ships funds and oversight. It was constructed by workers from 10 villages and has been handed over to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The new clinic will serve the needs of the residents of Tenegar and surrounding villages for many years to come.

Monrovia, Liberia (Vocus) November 26, 2008 -- Hundreds of Tenegar Town residents and community leaders came together from diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds on November 21st as Her Excellency Madame President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf cut the ribbon to the area's long-awaited health clinic.

The Samolu M. Dukuly Memorial Health Center now proudly occupies the original site of a burned-out clinic that stood empty since the facility was looted by rebels in the early 90's during the nation's 14-year civil war.

Plans are for the new clinic to be staffed and operated by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. One building includes a waiting room, pharmacy, lab, records area, and two examination rooms for outpatient services. A second is intended to serve maternity needs of the community. Services will be offered free to the community. The greater Tenegar area has a population of about 6,000 from many tribes including Mandingo, Vai, Gola, Kpelle, and Bassa, all with different dialects and is 90 percent Muslim in population.

During the past 10 months while Mercy Ships surgeons provided free surgeries in the Port of Monrovia, the ship's community development volunteers also provided management and expertise to the Tenegar site. Day workers from 10 different villages contributed 12, 000 hours to clear and construct the clinic. Matching funds came from Mercy Ships Swe
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