The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has completed the renovation and reconstruction of 14 health clinics in Grand Kru and Lofa counties that serve the basic health care needs of more than 107,000 people.

The health clinics were expected to be handed over to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare by yesterday, June 30.

"By working with the [Ministry of Health] and the County Health Teams, the ICRC supported the re-establishment of a well-functioning health system at a primary level," said Ishfaq Khan, ICRC Acting Head of Delegation.

"The community, the County Health Teams and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will now take the responsibility to ensure the sustainability of the provision of primary health care services."

In Lofa County, the ICRC supported health facilities are based in: Bondi, Duogomai, Vezela, Kpotomai Popalahun, Kamatahun, Voinjama and Lukasu, an ICRC release said.

In Grand Kru, the facilities are in: Gblebo, Garraway, Sasstown, Barclayville, Behwan and Grand Cess.

"The ICRC concentrated its efforts on reinforcing the capacity of the County Health Teams over the past two years so they could gradually manage the health services in the counties," said Sara Beneit, Health Coordinator for the ICRC.

In addition to renovating and reconstructing the facilities, the ICRC provided essential equipment including laboratory, medical supplies, and pharmaceuticals and helped the MOHSW with human resource concerns to assist the health workers assigned at the clinics.

The ICRC also provided training for medical staff including laboratory technicians and more than 280 traditional midwives, the ICRC release noted.

The ICRC and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare planned the hand over in two phases to ensure the sustainability of these health services.

The first phase transferred responsibilities to the health teams and staff employed under the Ministry of Health. Some of these responsibilities included management, supervision, monitoring, data collection and maintenance.

The second phase, done three months after the first one,

included all the financial support - drug supplies, operating costs, and payment of salaries.

"...I'm very much happy to see the ICRC handing-over the clinic of Lukasu which was dilapidated during the war ...

the people of Lukasu were able to work with the ICRC. Learning and sharing the responsibility with the ICRC staff in many technical aspect of dealing with patients and drug management. For me particularly I will extend thanks and appreciation for all their support given to us during their time of services," said the Lukasu Town Chief, Boakai Talawally, at the handing over ceremony of the health facility in late May.

Although the ICRC will be concluding its assistance programs - including health, economic security and water and habitat by the end of 2009, the ICRC delegation will stay in Liberia.

The ICRC's emphasis will be on the dissemination of international humanitarian law to the Liberian Police, the

Armed Forces of Liberia and universities; monitoring the country's continued progress, as well as continuing to support the Liberian Red Cross' activities.