NIMBA COUNTY – The Bahn Health Center, a crucial healthcare provider for over 35,000 residents in Zoe-Geh District, Nimba County, is currently undergoing a substantial transformation aimed at significantly enhancing the quality of healthcare services in the region. Efforts are being made to upgrade the facility into a Comprehensive Health Center, capable of delivering a broader range of medical services to surrounding communities.
Dr. Ponnie Robertlee Dolo, the Nimba County Health Officer, confirmed on February 28, 2025, that extensive renovations are underway, both in the infrastructure and medical equipment of the health center. The renovations include major updates to the center’s buildings, with a focus on improving sanitation and modernizing the physical structures. The outpatient and inpatient departments, as well as the maternal waiting home, have been refurbished with fresh paint and new tiled flooring, and essential plumbing and sewage systems are being revamped.
In addition to physical upgrades, the health center has received a variety of new medical equipment to bolster its ability to provide advanced care. These supplies include surgical and delivery beds, stretchers, admission and examination beds, and critical surgical tools such as kidney basins, gauze drums, and protective masks. The introduction of electrical and manual autoclaves has also been made, enhancing the facility’s capacity to conduct surgeries, blood transfusions, and other vital medical procedures.
Serving the health needs of 19 nearby communities, Bahn Health Center is positioned as a key healthcare hub. The ongoing expansion of the facility includes improved accommodations for medical staff, a modern triage unit, and a newly expanded inpatient ward. The center is now also equipped with an ambulance, a water tower, and solar energy systems, alongside a 30KVA diesel generator for consistent power supply. Additional installations such as water pumps and laundry machines have been introduced to further streamline operations and enhance the quality of care provided.
One of the primary goals of these renovations is to reduce the need for patient referrals to more distant health facilities, including the Saclepea Comprehensive Health Center, JFD Hospital in Tappita, and Ganta’s United Methodist Hospital and E&J Medical Center. In light of this, Dr. Dolo mentioned that the Nimba County Health Team has proposed the inclusion of a mini-operating theatre, aimed at strengthening maternal and child healthcare within the region.
This renovation effort is part of a larger, 10-year health development plan for Nimba County, which has been designed in collaboration with both national and local stakeholders. The Office of Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung is funding the construction of a new surgical building and operating theatre, which will further elevate the medical capabilities of the health center, supporting both routine and emergency surgical services.
