MONROVIA – ELWA Hospital has responded to alarming allegations made by Jamesetta Kugmeh, a patient who recently gave birth at the facility and later shared a distressing account of her medical experience. In a statement released on Monday, March 17, 2025, ELWA Hospital Administrator Rev. James Freeman Garway expressed sympathy for Kugmeh and her family while assuring the public that the hospital is taking the matter seriously.
“We empathize with the patient and the family during this challenging time and understand how she feels,” Garwey said, acknowledging the concerns raised on social media. He noted that the hospital has initiated an internal review and is fully cooperating with an ongoing investigation by the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC). Garway also extended an invitation to Kugmeh’s family for a direct discussion with hospital officials, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to addressing their concerns. However, he declined to release specific details about Kugmeh’s case, citing patient confidentiality.
The hospital’s response follows widespread attention to Kugmeh’s ordeal, which she detailed in a social media post on March 15, 2025. She described her childbirth experience at ELWA Hospital as a traumatic event that resulted in severe medical complications, including kidney failure, liver damage, and the removal of her womb. Kugmeh alleged that after undergoing a cesarean section (C/S) at ELWA, she suffered severe burns on her legs and back, endured eight sessions of dialysis without producing urine, and experienced a collapsed urethra.
According to Kugmeh, her suffering began on February 24, 2025, when she visited the hospital for a routine antenatal check-up and was informed that she was overdue for delivery. Doctors recommended labor induction, which she initially resisted but later consented to. When the procedure failed, she was advised to undergo a C/S the following day, a decision she reluctantly accepted. She claims that after the surgery, her condition rapidly declined, but ELWA Hospital delayed her transfer to another facility. By the time she was moved to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK), she was in critical condition.
Now seeking urgent medical treatment abroad, Kugmeh fears that without advanced care, her life remains at risk. Her allegations have caused a larger conversation about maternal healthcare in Liberia, with many calling for greater accountability and medical reforms. Meanwhile, ELWA Hospital insists it is conducting a thorough internal review and remains committed to patient care while awaiting the LMDC’s findings.
