(Monrovia, Liberia, October 22, 2025) — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has lauded the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) for turning over a newly constructed Solar Field and Oxygen delivery system in Greenville, Sinoe County, Southeastern Liberia. The project is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery across the southeastern region of Liberia.
The SCCM is a leading international nonprofit organization devoted to advancing excellence and consistency in the practice of critical care medicine. With a membership exceeding 17,000 professionals from over 100 countries, the Society includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and pharmacists working to improve the care of critically ill and injured patients.
Speaking during the dedication ceremony, the Minister of Health, Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto, praised the SCCM for its continued support to the revitalization of Liberia’s health system. She described the initiative as a major contribution toward national healthcare transformation and sustainability.
“We want to thank the organization for selecting Liberia for the implementation of this important project,” Dr. Kpoto said. “The Liberian government and people are deeply grateful for this remarkable gesture that will directly impact lives.”
As a symbol of appreciation, Minister Kpoto gowned officials of the SCCM in locally made traditional Liberian attire, reflecting the government’s cultural gratitude and recognition of their humanitarian service.
Turning over the facilities, Dr. Jose L. Pascal, President of the SCCM, emphasized that strengthening healthcare delivery in rural regions is critical to achieving universal health coverage.
He reaffirmed SCCM’s commitment to supporting Africa’s medical infrastructure through innovation and partnerships.
Also speaking, Dr. John Sampson, an executive of SCCM and President of the Institute for Global Perioperative Care (IGPC), reflected on his experiences in Liberia during the 1990s when hospitals struggled to access medical oxygen. He said those experiences inspired his desire to support sustainable healthcare initiatives in the country.
“Oxygen is key to saving lives at health facilities. Ensuring its availability will help reduce mortality rates, especially among patients in critical condition,” Dr. Sampson emphasized.
In separate remarks, partner institutions and dignitaries at the ceremony pledged continued collaboration to ensure the sustainability of the solar field and oxygen plant. They also commended the Ministry of Health for its leadership in facilitating effective partnerships.
The newly commissioned facility is expected to significantly enhance healthcare infrastructure by providing reliable power and a consistent oxygen supply to hospitals and clinics across southeastern Liberia. The project also aligns with government efforts to decentralize healthcare and improve emergency response systems in rural areas under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
The project forms part of the Africa Infrastructure Relief Support (AIRS) initiative, a joint effort of SCCM, IGPC, and the Johns Hopkins Global Alliance of Perioperative Professionals (JH-GAPP). The program focuses on addressing the chronic shortage of medical oxygen across West Africa through sustainable, solar-powered generation systems.
In Liberia, the first phase was successfully executed at F.J. Grant Memorial Hospital in Greenville. The facility now benefits from a 24-hour solar power supply and a Vacuum Swing Adsorption (VSA) oxygen plant that generates medical-grade oxygen distributed to all clinical areas through a modern piping system.
The project also features lithium-iron phosphate batteries, an integrated drainage system, and remote monitoring technology for plant supervision. Biomedical technicians were trained both online and through hands-on sessions in solar energy and oxygen system maintenance to ensure long-term sustainability.
This groundbreaking initiative mirrors the actualization of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s vision for a resilient and decentralized health system. The F.J. Grant project serves as a model for future solar-powered oxygen facilities expected at hospitals including Tellewoyan and JFK Medical Center.
Meanwhile, the dedication ceremony also included the signing of a Liberia Handover Agreement, formalizing the transfer of ownership and maintenance responsibility of the project to the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health.
Under the agreement, the government pledged to ensure the plant’s security, maintain a steady supply chain for its operation, and provide ongoing training for biomedical technicians. It also agreed to manage the Starlink satellite-based remote monitoring system, which enables 24/7 tracking of oxygen purity, flow, and power levels.
In recognition of the significance of the project, all parties, the Ministry of Health, SCCM, and IGPC, expressed satisfaction with its successful completion and reaffirmed their shared goal of strengthening critical care delivery in Liberia and across Africa.