The Rebirth of Curran Hospital
Last updated, April 2007

• See photos of recent Curran reconstruction

• See more photos of Curran reconstruction -- posted March 2006

• More on history of Curran's reconstruction -- article from March 2006

• More on history of Curran's reconstruction -- article from November 2005

Rededication Event
Since June of 2006 at least four different dates had been proposed, but finally in early January 2007, Curran Hospital was rededicated. In addition to LCL Bishop Sumoward Harris and Minister of Health, Dr. Walter Gwenigale, the new president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was able to present. The festivities were coordinated with Johnson-Sirleaf’s visit to all of the districts in Lofa county on January 9 and 10.  The president arrived at the St. Paul River Bridge by helicopter,  walked across the bridge and then boarded a car and drove in a motorcade through the towns of southern Lofa. En route to the hospital compound, thousands of citizen from Zorzor and surrounding towns followed her motorcade.  At the hospital entrance an arbor of bamboo and palm branches had been constructed and chairs were set out for a brief program. Speeches were given by Bishop Harris, Zorzor city officials, before the president made some spirited remarks. She made a point of recognizing the contribution the ELCA and its volunteers had made in rehabilitating Curran. Johnson-Sirleaf then cut a ribbon (actually, a rolled bandage) across the front door of the hospital and toured the hospital, both the completed and uncompleted areas.

Report on Progress at Curran during 2006-2007

Renovation and Construction
During the first three months of 2006, a team of volunteers from the Upper Susquehanna Synod (USS) Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) with funding from Grassland Trust renovated the outpatient department, laboratory, operating room and maternity ward. See photos of construction during early 2006. During these months a new generator, funded by the ELCA, became operational. Construction of a new eye clinic, supported by Christoffel Blindenmission International (CBMI) was completed. In addition, the Balazuwalzu Clinic with funding from the United States Ambassadors Self-help Fund is complete.

Outpatient clinic provides for general health care 
The outpatient caseload increased in 2006 to 8,638 visits compared with 3,306 in 2005. The acuity level of patients seeking care at the clinic is increasing as Curran receives referrals from area clinics operated by other Non Governmental Organizations. In 2005, malaria accounted for 30 percent of all cases treated; in 2006, it was only 21.3 percent. 

An increase in the percent of acute respiratory infection (ARI) occurred (21.8 percent in 2006 as opposed to eight in 2005).  This difference is most likely because laboratory facilities are available, therefore the diagnosing of patients with symptoms of fever and cough is more accurate.  Antenatal visits also increased in 2006 to 2,199 in contrast to 1,216 in the pervious year.  With the presence of laboratory facilities, all pregnant women are receiving basic screening tests to detect problems so preventive measures can be instituted.  The number of family planning visits also increased, from 176 visits in 2005 to 217 visits in 2006.

Basic medical and surgical care in the newly renovated building
Global Health Ministries and the Upper Susquehanna Synod-ELCA generously provided needed equipment and furnishings for the rehabbed operating room and other areas of the renovated hospital. In August of 2006, all services but the general care ward moved to the newly renovated portion of the hospital.  Mrs. Diana Cleta, maternal child health supervisor, and her staff relocated to the newly renovated maternity ward and delivery room August 1.  The staff increased by two additional midwives and a nurse’s aid, enabling the maternity department to provided 24 hour care.  The number of deliveries increased from 112 in 2005 to 222 in 2006.  Fifty-eight women and two neonates were admitted to the ward for other conditions, such as threaten abortion and infections.  Nine percent of all maternity admissions required better management and transfer to Phebe Hospital.

With assistance from Global Health Ministries and World Wide Labs, the laboratory has received necessary equipment. A laboratory technician and an assistant are now on site and the laboratory is functioning, which has significantly increased the quality of care Curran is providing.

Located in the building vacated by the maternity center is now a general ward with ten beds.  Children and adults are cared for in the same ward.  Nursing staff has been increased by two, allowing for 24 hour care of patients with acute care needs.  194 patients received care in this less-than-ideal ward last year. Thirty four percent of the patients admitted required care that is more complex and were transferred to Phebe Hospital. So far, Curran has been unable to recruit a medical director therefore no surgical care was available at Curran during the past year.

Primary Eye Care Program
With the completion of the Eye Clinic, Dr. Larbelle and her staff moved from their temporary rooms into a spacious building in May 2006.  As with any new project, program development takes time.  Late in December, John Paye joined the Eye Unit staff after completing his training as an opthaphomological nurse.  With the addition of a new vehicle from Christoffel Blindenmission International (CBMI), outreach visits will increase and as the services available at the Eye Clinic  become better know through out Lofa County.

Rural Health Promotion Program
Under the leadership of Mr. Barkolleh Joekia, the community health department has expanded its services to meet the primary health care needs of the increased number of individuals in towns and villages without clinics. The community outreach team made 107 visits to 50 remote towns and villages.  6,893 individuals received curative, prenatal and vaccinations, compared with 2,627 in the same period last year. Presentation of health information is a part of each village visit. The total number of children vaccinated has increased from 1,290 in 2005 to 2,902 in 2006.  Tetanus immunizations for women of childbearing age followed a similar trend.   The Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program became active February 1.  During the past 11 months testing of 127 person suspected of having tuberculosis diagnosed 25 with pulmonary tuberculosis, 2 with extra pulmonary tuberculosis.  All 27 individuals have received treatment. Seventeen of the 27 considered cured and discharged from the program.  The program diagnosed and treated two new cases of leprosy.

Decreasing maternal and infant mortality
Two staff members have received extensive training in maternal and newborn care provided by United States Agency for International Development through Africa Care. Management of women during labor and delivery is improved.  Although it is too soon to note a trend in maternal and perinatal deaths, there is a small decrease in maternal and perinatal mortality from the pervious year.  The one maternal death occurred for a patient delivered at home and carried to the hospital hemorrhaging; she died on the way to Phebe Hospital.  The Danish Mission Council approved a three-year project to expand the community outreach primary care program targeting women and children.  The project will begin January 1, 2007.  The first year of the project will focus on upgrading staff skills, the second year to train community health workers and traditional birth attendants and to establish Women Health Ambassador groups in remote villages. 

Future projects
Additional fundraising for hospital renovations are continuing into 2007. Curran has been helped substantially by a work team from ELCA Global Mission and the Upper Susquehanna Synod of the ELCA during January-March of 2007. A well has been dug with funding from Concern, an international NGO.  Specification and cost of a pump, pipes and water tank have been obtained.  The total cost of the system is $16,000 dollars.  ELCA Global Mission is also raising funds through congregations and synods for the water system.  In addition, a proposal has been submitted to Concern Worldwide.

Two new programs
Curran Lutheran Hospital is now a testing and counseling center for the Lutheran Church in Liberia HIV/AIDS Program Internally Displace Persons (IDP) Project.  Counselors are available 5 days a week.  The counselors offer prevention of HIV/AIDS health education to OPD patients on regular bases. 

Also, the World Food Program selected Curran hospital as a nutrition center site.  Food supplements are available for selected categories of pregnant women, patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDs and tuberculosis, and malnourished children under the age of five.  Severely malnourished children are cared for in a feeding center and mothers taught proper feeding nutrition.

Miscellaneous

• Curran has received some help from Lofa County Representatives and Senators, who presented the hospital with a new vehicle designated for physician and administrative use.
• Curran Hospital is now eligible for duty free fuel.  Beginning the first quarter of 2007 Curran will purchase fuel in bulk, transport and store it on the compound at an estimated savings of 75 cent per gallon.
• The Liberian government granted Curran with $50,000 for operating expenses for the fiscal year 2006-2007.  In addition, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare provided a motorcycle for Community Outreach activities.
• Eleven new employees joined the Curran staff in 2006.
• Curran is still operating at a deficit.  A new patient fee structure was instituted the middle of October.  It is too early to determine the effect the increase in fees will have on revenue and client visits. Curran developed a financial policy clearly outlining all financial activities.
• A new vehicle for Community Outreach activities was donated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria to be delivered early in 2007.
• Negotiations are proceeding with a Liberian Physician who is willing to relocate from the United States to Liberian.

2007 Objectives
In looking ahead to 2007, the following objectives will guide Curran as it strives to become a center of excellence for primary health care:

• To continue to operate clinics for general health care
• To increase by 50 percent the number of hospital deliveries
• To provide basic medical and surgical care in the renovated hospital
• To continue to implement the primary eye care program
• To implementing a rural health promotion program
• To use evidence-based interventions to decrease maternal and infant mortality
• To continue to seek funding to complete renovation of the hospital building
• To continue to seek funding for a water supply to the hospital and Eye Unit
• To continue to work with Phebe Hospital on plans for an Infusion Unit
• To obtain funding to renovate auxiliary buildings on the hospital compound and restore the water system
• To begin planning professional educational programs
• To decrease the amount in Accounts Payable

Resources needs

• Medical doctor
• Additional staff
• Continuing education for staff
• Sixteen hours of electrical power per day to the hospital and Eye Unit
• Regular meetings of the Board of Directors
• Increase in revenue  

Plans to obtain needed resources

• Present to the Ministry of Health and Social Work and potential donors data demonstrating the amount and quality of care provide by Curran to the citizen of Liberia
• Continue to request assistance from all partners
• Devise innovated methods of covering operating costs

If you are interested in financially supporting projects at Curran, you may contribute in the following way: