Monrovia –The Political Leader of the People’s Action Party (PAP), Senator Saah Joseph, has raised alarm over the increase in death cases at various public and private health centers across the country.
By Obediah Johnson
Senator Joseph, who is the former Chairman of the Liberian Senate Committee on Health, is representing the people of Montserrado County in the 55th National Legislature.
According to him, many Liberians and others are losing their lives to kidney failure.
He claimed that the only dialysis machine stationed at the John F. Kennedy Center is overwhelmed to provide treatment for the barrage of cases.
Senator Joseph made these assertions during a regular session in the Chambers of the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
He said as a result of numerous kidney complications being experienced by Liberians and other foreign nationals, the government should put in place measures to protect the health of its citizens.
He pointed out that Liberians are reluctant to seek medical attention for kidney complications due to the exorbitant fee being charged for dialysis services.
“I placed a communication on the floor about the special needs fund. The death cases at the hospitals are increasing on a daily basis. The dialysis machine that the government purchased is overwhelmed. I was shocked when I went there. To use the dialysis machine is US$300 per lab which means, you need about three labs per week. If you are doing US$900 a week, what becomes of someone who cannot afford it? If you go there now you will notice that people are giving up.”
Senator Joseph blamed numerous kidney complications of Liberians to the intake of contaminated and sub-standard foods being sold on the Liberian market.
He stressed that it is now time food-regulating agencies of Liberia take stance to safeguard the lives of the citizenry.
He noted that frozen foods being imported to Liberia must meet the standards of other countries.
“We are expecting the Ministry of Commerce task force to do their job and focus on some of these things. We are appealing to this body for special needs funds for some of our citizens who cannot afford the cost of medical bills.”
Senator Joseph stressed that the government should be able to provide some level of assistance to its citizens who cannot afford medical bills when they are ill and admitted at various public health facilities.
On eviction
He expressed disappointment over the failure of the government to notify the authorities of the county prior to its plan to demolish homes and businesses in the county.
He maintained that it does not augur well for the government to make its citizens homeless, especially during the rainy season period.
Senator Joseph made specific reference to citizens residing in the Prefab Community in districts 10 and 17, Montserrado County.
He observed that though some of those citizens are squatting on lands belonging to the government, they occupied those areas during the civil wars in Liberia.
“Montserrado County, we are not happy. There are no consultations or decisions that have been made in the county, especially regarding the activities of the Ministry of Public Works that affect almost half of the county. Some of these people have been living there since 1990. As a government, it will be good that some arrangements are made.”
Senator Joseph underscored the need for the government to relocate those expected to be affected to another area or provide compensation to them.
“There are areas where the government has thousands of acres of land in rural Montserrado County. Government could give them some of those lands to resettle them. But to just break those houses down, asking them to leave-it is a difficult thing for the people of Montserrado County in districts 17, 10, 6 and other districts.”
He added that the forceful eviction of citizens by the government remains a serious issue affecting residents of the county.
Speaking further, Senator Joseph used the occasion to announce ongoing works by the government to provide electricity to households and businesses operating in Bentol and other surrounding communities.
