"Rural Lives at Risk: LMDC Exposes Abandoned Clinics, Blames Government — Says Concession Companies Ignoring Health Commitments"

Monrovia, Liberia: A looming health emergency is brewing in Liberia’s rural southeast as the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) uncovers severe neglect of medical facilities under the responsibility of major concession companies.

Following a nationwide health assessment conducted by the LMDC, the Council reports that several multimillion dollar concession companies have failed to maintain or support the health centers in their areas of operation facilities originally established to serve both employees and surrounding communities.The LMDC, through its Chairperson Dr. Bennetta Andrew, said the neglect is raising alarm bells across the country’s public health system.

“What we found is a ticking time bomb,” Dr. Andrew stated. “Some of these health centers are barely functioning — it’s a disgrace to the idea of corporate responsibility.”

She indicated that counties like Sinoe and Grand Kru where companies such as Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) operate are among the hardest hit.

“In places like Sinoe and Grand Kru, the absence of doctors and basic medical supplies is not just neglect it’s a violation of human dignity,” she stressed.

Dr. Andrew further revealed that health centers surveyed in these areas were found to have only one nurse and one midwife on staff, with no doctors employed, despite the significant population depending on these facilities.

The LMDC identified at least four such facilities lacking basic medical personnel and infrastructure — a condition that violates Liberia’s Corporate Social Responsibility Policy and puts countless lives at risk.

The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, funded the LMDC's assessment as part of efforts to strengthen rural healthcare delivery.Yet, the very companies expected to support these communities continue to operate without upholding their healthcare obligations.

“We cannot talk about development if we allow communities to die in silence while billion dollar companies operate nearby,” Dr. Andrew warned.

According to her, the situation is not only a breach of corporate responsibility but a potential public health disaster in the making.

“This is a call to action. The government must enforce the laws already on the books, and companies must be held accountable for the well-being of the people they profit from,” she asserted.

The abandonment of medical obligations by concession companies could lead to a rise in preventable illnesses and deaths, especially in hard to reach rural communities where access to alternative care is nearly non existent.

Despite these challenges, the LMDC is making progress. The Council has begun certifying facilities that meet national standards in the southeastern region and is now expanding its operations to other parts of the country.

The nationwide expertise is being hailed as a critical step in strengthening the regulatory oversight of Liberia’s healthcare system.

The Council describes the health situation in several rural areas as deeply troubling and far from conducive for sustainable healthcare delivery. It is calling on the government to not only enforce existing corporate responsibility laws but also ensure that concession companies prioritize the health of communities within their operational zones.

As Liberia seeks to rebuild its health infrastructure, especially in the wake of multiple health crises over the years, the LMDC’s findings serve as a sobering reminder that equitable healthcare cannot be achieved without the full cooperation of both the public and private sectors.