Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan said there is a lot of progress taking place in the country, contrary to assertions by some, that nothing is happening in Liberia.

Minister Ngafuan reflected on the several developments taking place across the country including recent dedication of projects in the three host counties of the country’s 166th Independence Anniversary.

Serving as the keynote speaker recently for the official dedicatory ceremony of the Velly-Ta Maternal Waiting Home in Kakata, Margibi County, the Foreign Minister reflected on the Health Ministry’s recent statistics which showed improvement in the country’s infant mortality.

“Liberia is one of Africa’s best performers-if not the best-when it comes to infant mortality. Maternal mortality, we are making tremendous strides. When I saw that, I was tremendously moved. It means something is happening. People are working, they are not just clustered in Monrovia. They are all around this country, dedicating their time and their services to change the lives of real people”, he said.

“And people are quick to say nothing is happening”, the Foreign Minister added, as he frowned on some Liberians who argue that there is no progress taking place in the country.

The Velly-Ta Maternal Waiting Home intends to serve as a waiting place for pregnant women who are far from a health center pending their labor.

Minister Ngafuan then used the time to congratulate the entire Health Ministry team while at the same time acknowledging financial challenges confronting the health sector.

Minister Ngafuan also volunteered in helping to get much-needed assistance for the health sector when he stated: “I intend in joining the Minister of Health in knocking on all the doors possible so that our health sector can continue to the gains that it has started making. I’m here to assure you that I intent not to just with the Minister of Health and others but also with legislators because we need to budget for health.”

Earlier, Dr. Hawa Kromah, Margibi County Health Officer cited the importance of the facility as she recalled a previous death toll of maternal deaths being between 20-30 deaths annually a few years ago.

While naming some steps taken to improve health care delivery in the county, Dr. Kromah explained the importance of the newly-dedicated center: “Our principal objective-even though we had other direct objectives- was to create a maternal waiting home where pregnant women who are in risky areas or who live in far distances away from health facilities would be in prior to labor”.

She hailed the collaborative efforts from the various parties including the Ministry of Health, Margibi County Legislative Caucus and other donors including Save The Children International. She used the occasion to appeal for an ambulance for the new center.  Also speaking was Good-Will Ambassador on Maternal Health, Miatta Fahnbulleh.