Danish Group Gives US $250,000 to Rehabilitate Phebe Hospital

The Inquirer (Monrovia)
May 26, 2004

Patrick Wrokpoh, Monrovia

The Danish Evangelical Mission has signed an agreement with the Lutheran Church of Liberia for the rehabilitation of the Phebe Hospital in Suakoko, Bong County.

The agreement was signed yesterday at the Lutheran Compound on 13th Street in Sinkor.

Lutheran's Bishop Sumuwood Harris signed on behalf of the church while the Danish Evangelistic Mission Secretary General Erik Wengel signed for his organization.

In keeping with the agreement, the Danish Mission will provide a total of US$250,000 for the renovation of the Phebe Hospital which was severely damaged as a result of the civil war.

Speaking shortly after the agreement was signed, Bishop Harris expressed happiness over the accountability of the funds to the church so as to assist rehabilitate the hospital.

He said as a result of the war, the church is one of the highest affected with most of its facilities destroyed in areas such as Lofa among others.

Bishop Harris expressed joy over the Danish Mission assistance stressing that the mission has also expressed their willingness to work within the church to assist with the rehabilitation of important facilities of the church.

For his part, Mr. Erik Wengel said his mission has already dispatched an assessment team to the country to begin the possible rehabilitation of the Phebe Hospital.

He also expressed happiness over the signing of the agreement describing the amount as his mission initial assistance to the church for rehabilitation of its facilities.

Mr. Wengel who is expected to leave the country today, said the signing of the agreement is just an opportunity to renew the cooperation between his mission and the Lutheran Church.

Also speaking, Dr. Emmanuel Sando of the Phebe Hospital said the amount would assist for the hospital to use its original building in Sokoko. He said it has been approved by the hospital's authority to relocate the hospital from Salala to its original building - stressing that the Danish Mission assistance will play a meaningful role in this direction.

He added that it would really cost US$9 million for the total rehabilitation of the hospital, but the amount would help to kick off the process.