The Director General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), Dr Melchior Athanase J. C. Aïssi, undertook a field visit to the ECOWAS-financed health centre on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, in Bo Waterside, a strategic border locality between Liberia and Sierra Leone. The visit formed part of his official mission to Liberia.
The visit brought together a range of national and regional stakeholders, including Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Health, senior officials from the Ministry of Health, the Acting ECOWAS Resident Representative, the national team responsible for health infrastructure, and the construction firm overseeing the works.
During the visit, the Director General conducted an on-site inspection of the facilities to assess the progress of ongoing works and engaged directly with the technical teams present.
Located at a major cross-border transit point, the health centre is expected to serve as a regional reference facility, providing services to populations across several ECOWAS Member States.
Drawing on his previous observations, Dr Aïssi highlighted the high level of cross-border utilisation of health services in the area, noting that the centre is already receiving patients of diverse nationalities. He underscored the importance of ensuring that the facility fully reflects ECOWAS’s commitment to regional integration and equitable access to quality healthcare.
While commending the progress achieved in the structural phase of construction, the Director-General emphasised the critical importance of finishing works, noting that this final stage will determine the overall standard and functionality of the facility. He called for meticulous attention to detail and high-quality finishes to ensure that the centre meets the standards of a modern regional health facility.
Liberia’s Deputy Minister of Health informed the Director General and his delegation that the Ministry of Health has sought and obtained the support of the Ministry of Defence for the construction of a perimeter fence around the site.
The Ministry also expressed the need for additional support from WAHO to construct an extra block to accommodate pregnant women residing far from the facility, enabling them to stay nearby ahead of delivery and thereby improving access to maternal health services.
Upon completion, the health centre will include a triage unit, a fully equipped maternal and child health service with surgical capacity, an incinerator, a laboratory, and an outpatient department, among other essential services. The facility is also designed to be energy self-sufficient, with the installation of a high-capacity solar power system complemented by a backup generator.
This visit forms part of a series of high-level engagements in Liberia, conducted with the support of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, who places particular importance on this flagship project for regional health integration. It reflects a continued commitment to strengthening collaboration with national authorities and advancing ECOWAS’ regional health agenda.
