Dr. Hyla S. Watters 1950-1961 Doctor Waters came to Ganta Hospital in 1950 with twenty five years of experience from working in Wuhu Hospital as a Missionary surgeon in China. She was the third child of a Methodist clergyman who at one time was president of Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Smith College, and received her Medical training at Cornell Medical School. After receiving her diploma from the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, she set out for China. She was the first full time surgeon to serve at Ganta and had to setup the facilities as she needed them. She was very energetic, and curious with an opened mind. She was concerned about the wellbeing of others. The medical program at Ganta grew under her leadership. She loved her work at Ganta and when she was due for retirement at age 65 in 1959 she asked for two more years. At the end of 1961, her request for further extension was not granted and she left for home. She was involved in many aspects of the work at Ganta beyond the hospital. She taught Sunday school and worked with the church choir. In 1953 she was ordained at the 120th Liberia Annual Conference of the Methodist Church. In 1967 she was named “Woman of the Year” by the Women’s Medical Society of New York. She was almost 94 when she died on 3 August 1987.

Over the decades since its humble beginning, many dedicated physicians and surgeons have come to contribute to the work at Ganta Hospital. In the beginning the medical manpower was mainly from the Methodist Church in the United States. There were also doctors from Europe who have served in Ganta. Gradually local manpower began to be developed. This process started with the building of the School of Nursing to provide the critical manpower needed to run the service. The training of local doctors was a more difficult proposition. It required scholarships to study outside of the country since we did not have a local medical school until the building of the A.M. Dogliotti School of Medicine at the University of Liberia in the 1960’s. The number of local doctors has grown over the years and now makes up the majority of the staff. A gallery of doctors who have served at the Ganta Hospital from 1926 to 2007 is attached.

Dr. Wilfred S. Boayue 1971-1976. Dr. Boayue was the first Ganta student to become a medical doctor in 1967. After his postgraduate training, which included a year of public health and tropical medicine, he returned to Ganta Hospital to serve with the other missionary doctors who were there. He became Medical Director of the hospital and Public Health Officer for Nimba County. In 1976 he was appointed the first Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Minister of Health of Liberia. In 1980 he became World Health Organization Program Coordinator for Liberia. He was later appointed WHO Country Representative for Zambia in 1986, the first Liberian doctor to hold that position in WHO. He served in that position for twelve years before retiring in 1998. Dr. Boayue served as president of the Liberia Medical and Dental Association for several years. He is a fellow of the West Africa College of Physicians and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

The Nursing Program

Miss Dagmar Petersen was the first registered nurse to work with Dr. Harley at Ganta. She arrived around March , 1949 about nine months before the arrival of Dr. Hyla Watters. She had also served in China and had to leave because of the war. Her church in Denmark was willing to loan her for the appointment to Ganta. She was only able to stay for one term. Prior to her arrival, the only trained personnel were assistants trained by Dr. and Mrs. Harley. They were trained for specific duties such as giving injections, dressing wounds and suturing minor cuts, examining specimens in the laboratory, and so on. Here you see Miss Petersen with some of the head assistants. Mr. J.J. Wrotto is on her right and Mr. Sei Didi Dolopei is on her left. They both worked in the laboratory and Mr. Didi was in charge of the unit. I worked with them as a student. They were good teachers. We used to think that Mr. Didi was so good that he could make a diagnosis without use of the microscope. Mrs. Harley trained Miss Black and Mr. Didi to do the lab work and they helped to train the others. I think the fellow on the extreme right is Mr. Zawolo who used to give injections. Dr. Harley gave Miss Petersen a free hand to make all the changes she wanted and she setup the units that were needed such is improving the sterilizing facilities and areas for surgery and deliveries. She started the training program for the help that was needed. She made us write essays about why we wanted to work in the health area. After a few months she left for medical reasons. During the period she raised funds for hospital supplies. She also was able to bring back the first set of uniforms for the school. She was very good to us students and made a lot of friends during her short stay. Dr. Watters was glad to have her help in setting up the hospital. The system setup by Dr. Harley in the clinic was very efficient and required no change.

The arrival of Miss Uniola Adams and Miss Prentice gave a great boost to the nursing program and the training continued to grow. However, it was the effort of Miss Loretta Gruver, as Director, that the School came unto its own. She and Miss Vera Hughlet worked hard to improve the school. Loretta loved her school and devoted some twenty five years to it under the most trying circumstances. Even during the war she came back as soon as she could be allowed to run the school. Some of her students have been walking in her footsteps and are running the school.

Two Ganta women, who were not products of the School of Nursing, however, came back after completing their training at Cuttington College and doing some postgraduate studies abroad to serve the school at Ganta. These two nurse educators taught at the Ganta School of Nursing and were also faculty members at Cuttington College School of Nursing. They are Mrs. Martha K. Belleh and Mrs. Marian Kehleay Webba. Mrs. Webba (see picture on the left) also served as Director of the Ganta School of Nursing and she has served on the faculty of Bennett College in Nursing Education in the United States. Mrs. Belleh and Mrs. Webba are both Fellows of the West Africa College of Nursing. They are both in clinical practice in the United States.

Loretta Gruver – Winifred J. Harley School of Nursing

School of Nursing Graduation – Some Faculty Members include from L-R: Mrs Stella Boayue, Miss Vera Hughlett, Miss Marian Kehleay, Miss Mildred Black

2005 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GANTA UNITED METHODIST HOSPITAL

Introduction

Ganta Hospital continues to provide quality and affordable health services to people in northeastern Liberia (population of 450,000), as well as parts of the southeastern region, and also to our neighboring countries, the Republic of Guinea and Ivory Coast.

During March 2003, civil unrest caused the abrupt closure of the hospital for a period of 13 months. During this period, many buildings were either damaged or destroyed, and all supplies, equipments, and furniture looted. The hospital re-opened in April 2004 on a clinic level and has gradually added on services. `The success of the Ganta Hospital since its reopening has been made possible through the selfless services of a faithful staff, coupled with the ongoing moral, material and financial support of UMKCOR, and other faithful and committee partners in the USA and Europe. Since 2004, UMCOR has provided the hospital with a $12,000.00 quarterly grant.

Bishop Innis and the Board of Health and Welfare of the Liberia Annual Conference also provide Ganta Hospital with excellent leadership and direction. The hospital administration is grateful for this support, which allows continuous growth and development of this much-needed medical ministry for poor, rural, subsistence farming families.

With a new government, headed by a competent and committed president, buttressed by the ongoing presence and support of the UN Peace Keeping Mission, the forecast for Liberia is one of peace and stability. Prayerfully, this government will prioritize the development of economic opportunities to enable raising the standard of life and quality of living for these poor families.

Over the past seventy-nine years of operation, Ganta Hospital continues to encounter extremely poor people living in very impoverished situations and conditions. Some have no homes or food, and must depend on other households (who are also poor) to provide (from the little that they have) their daily meals and other needs. Many are unable to afford the funds to transport themselves to the hospital for treatment, and die of simple illnesses that, if caught early, can be properly treated.

These extreme realities are difficult to confront, comprehend, accept and accommodate. It is indeed an honor, a privilege and a great blessing to provide affordable, and often times, charitable, medical care for God’s poor people who must struggle in all circumstances just to provide their basic necessities. Ganta Hospital is grateful for all partners who continue to enable us provide excellent, affordable, and Christian-based medical services.

Staff

Ganta Hospital has a staff of 130 persons. Included in this amount are: three doctors (2 general practitioners and 1 ophthalmologist), 24 RNs (including 2 ophthalmic nurses), LPNs-2, Physician Assistants-3, Midwives-5, Lab Technicians – 3, Lab Aides – 4, Anesthetist -1, Nurses Aides – 31. The remaining staff is administrative, maintenance, security, and house keeping.

RENOVATION/CONSTRUCTION

Drugs Room

The burnt drug room has been renovated (to be used as a regional site for drug storage) by United Nations Development Program Global Fund to store and dispense HIV and Malaria Drugs. Ganta Hospital has been selected as one of the centers for HIV counseling.

Out Patient Clinic

The First UMKC of Peoria, Illinois, donated $20,000.00 to renovate the burned Out Patient Clinic. This should be completed by March 2006.

EYE Hospital

With the help of CBM (Christoffel Blindenmission), a modern eye hospital was constructed.

New Hospital

Bishop Innis and members of the Liberia Annual Conference broke ground for the construction of a new and modern hospital. As the church plans for the future health care needs of a growing population during the 2005 session of the Liberia Annual Conference, it was recommended and approved that a new hospital building be constructed. The current hospital was built during the forties and presently cannot adequately accommodate the large numbers of patients attending the hospital on a daily basis. The new hospital construction project will commence in March 2006. The old hospital will be used to house the School of Nursing and other specialized service areas.

FEEDING

The hospital feeds her patients from the meager intake received from patients. Rev. William N. Sonwabe, District Superintendent of Gompa District, LAC/UMC and Mrs. Nohn V. Flomo, President of the Gompa District Women Organization continue to sensitize local churches in the district to assist Ganta Hospital with food kind. As a result of that appeal, the hospital receives large consignments of locally produced food items like cassava, bananas, plantains, eddoes, potatoes, palm nuts, etc. from most of the local churches. The food items have assisted the hospital in feeding the in-patients.

We were also blessed with $500 USD donation from The Sua Foundation of the United States of America (citizens of Gompa District residing in America) to offer a scrumptious Christmas meal for patients. This amount was used for both Christmas and New Year meals.

WORK TEAMS/VOLUNTEERS/VISITORS

The following work teams assisted with our ongoing renovation and other needs during 2005.

Pacific Northwest Conference Team, Detroit Conference Team, Edenton Street UMC (Raleigh, NC) team, and two Operation Classroom Teams.

Two short term volunteers came to assist our ongoing service revitalization work.

Betty Palfy of Ohio, assisting with laboratory revitalization, Martin Graf of Germany assisting with civil engineering and drafting needs, and Markus and Melanie Dittes of Germany assisting with education and building renovation needs.

TRAINING/WORKSHOPS/HUMAN RESOSURCE DEVELOPMENT

During the period of reporting, staff of the hospital benefited from many training exercises and program.

The united Methodist Church of Liberia Board of Health and Welfare conducted two workshops with the Ganta Hospital staff on HIV/AIDS and STI Awareness.
Dr. Paul Whesseh and Allen Zomoway (Primary Health Care Director) participated in a weeklong seminar on HIV and Malaria Control in Sierra Leone early December.
Dr. Albert Willicor was a guest physician/surgeon on the Mercy Ship (docked in the capital, Monrovia) to obtain insight on VVF surgical procedures. As a result of Dr. Willicor’s participation on the ship, there has been great improvement of VVF surgeries at Ganta Hospital.
Other staff (Counselor/Chaplain and other nurses) participated in various workshops.
The Associate Administrator, Victor Taryor, is on a one-year scholarship studying Public Health and Hospital Administration at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He will return June 2006.
A driver, Prince Flomo, is on a one-year scholarship studying auto mechanics at a college in Ghana.
The maintenance head, Herbert Goaneh, completed training as a Medical Equipment Repair technician in Ghana.

Finance

Fees charged for services are able to pay monthly payroll (equivalent6 to 11,000.000 USD monthly) and other general (building renovation, patient food, etc.) expenses. The hospital is dependent upon foreign funds to pay its doctors (USD 3,800.00 per month), do part purchase of fuel for the generator, building renovation and construction, and do part purchase of drugs.

ACTIVITIES

In 2004, the hospital began with 25 beds. It has increased to 90 beds capacity, operating three shifts.

Eye Clinic

The staff of the Eye Department is involved in a hospital-based and outreach program for serving people who are suffering from operable and/or treatable eye illnesses. The Eye Clinic I partially sponsored by Christoffel Blindenmission (CBM) International. Through outreach activities, it was realized that very poor victims of eye related illnesses live in remote villages and are unable to pay public transportation fees to transport themselves to Ganta Hospital. Ganta Hospital appealed to CBM for a vehicle to enable full outreach activities. The vehicle was donated and aggressive outreach activities began. This resulted in 523 successful cataract surgeries for 1005!

Next was the problem of limited space for the eye care delivery service at Ganta Hospital. Statistical information gleaned from outreach activities (and other sources) prove there are a high number of persons (especially in remote areas of the northeastern region) affected by operable and/or treatable eye conditions and illnesses. To cater to this existing need, and talking into consideration future needs, Ganta Hospital appealed to CBM for a new Eye Clinic Building Complex. CBM responded favorably to this request and the building was completed in November 2005. Plans are under way to move into the new building as soon as additional staffing needs are sorted and catered to. Donated supplies, equipments, and furniture will assist Ganta Hospital in furnishing and supplying the new building complex. As the result of the outreach program, the Eye Clinic performed 523 eye surgeries during 2005.

Lab

A volunteer, Betty Palfy, who has experience in setting up laboratories in developing countries, volunteered for two months and trained our lab staff. Through her efforts, we were able to revitalize many viable laboratory services.

Primary Health Care Department

PHC – The Primary Health Care (PHC) Department of the hospital is involved in outreach activities to train traditional birth attendants and breast-feeding mothers. They also vaccinate children under five years old and women of childbearing age on Mondays and Fridays. Through the assistance of volunteer nurses from Pacific Northwest Conference, the PHC Department was able to develop a diabetes awareness and treatment program. The PHY outreach is also intended to encourage and promote preventive health activities in the communities.

Pharmacy

The pharmacy, which is considered the backbone of the hospital, is opened 24 hours to serve both the out patients and the in patients. Drugs are obtained through donations and local purchasing from local funds.

Surgical Theaters

The hospital now has three surgical theaters (two were renovated during 2005). One is dedicated to eye surgeries and the others are general surgical theaters.

Pre Natal Clinic

The Pre Natal Clinic caters to the pre-natal care of pregnant women living in Ganta and sixteen surrounding villages.

Presently, there are no x-ray and dental provisions at the Ganta Hospital. An international Aid Representative came over to install a used, donated, x-ray machine, but some of the materials were not available. However, International Aid has promised to send over another technician in February 2006 to complete the job of installing the X ray machine.

Statistical Information

Following is statistical information covering the period January to December 2005.

Pre Natal Clinic	Out Patient Clinic	In Patient	Eye Out-Reach	Eye Clinic Visit
3,070	19,603	1,823	1,727	1,705

Eye Surgery	General Surgery	VVF Surgery	HIV Test Done	HIV Positive
523	1,361	24	1,331	47

Normal Delivery	C/section	Death
505	178	147

Many visitors from various local and international churches and organizations, as well as the General Board of Global Ministries, visited the hospital during 2005

REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE

Ganta Hospital is requesting assistance for the following:

Work teams

Work teams/volunteers to assist in renovation of hospital buildings and residence Work teams/volunteers to assist in the construction of the new hospital complex Work teams/volunteers to assist with medical (nurses, lab technicians, OR personnel, doctors, etc.) administrative (accountants, bookkeepers, computer repair technicians, etc.), and technical (electricians, engineers, etc.) needs

Supplies and equipments

Donations of medical related supplies and equipments (new or used)

Funds

Funds for ongoing operational needs (drugs and medical supply purchases, generator and vehicle fuel, building renovation/construction materials, etc.).

PLEASE CONTACT MARY ZIGBUO ON EMAIL: umcliberia@yahoo.com if you are interested in assisting Ganta Hospital

APPRECIATION

On behalf of the administration and staff of the Ganta Hospital, we extend our thanks and appreciation to Bishop John G. Innis for his ongoing concern and advice as well as his able fund raising efforts around the world, and too the United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR), for its ongoing support. Thanks and appreciation also goes to our partners in the USA and Europe (Germany) for faithful contributions of funds, materials, and equipment, as well as ongoing prayer support. Our thanks and appreciation also go to the Board of Health and Welfare of the Liberia Annual Conference, headed by Dr. Samuel Bowman, for its tireless support and guidance to get the hospital to its present day status. Thanks and appreciation to the Gompa District, headed by Rev. William N. Sonwabe, for its constant presence, encouragement, advice, and able leadership. Thanks and appreciation to the doctors and all staff of the Ganta Hospital for their sense of sincere dedication, devotion, and many long hours of hard and tedious work. Thanks and appreciation to the Office of the Council on Ministries for its advice and support. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and your continuous support.

Submitted by:

Mary Zigbuo
Administrator
EMAIL: umcliberia@yahoo.com