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The Liberia Renaissance Foundation, Inc., has contributed US$2,000.00 and US$1,000 respectively to the Chemotherapy Unit at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia and the Jesus Christ’s Children Ministry International (JECCMI), of White Plains, a press release said yesterday.
The LRF Inc. is a non-profit U.S. corporation, established in 2007 by Dr. Dawn Cooper Barnes, spouse of Liberian Ambassador, M. Nathaniel Barnes, to raise awareness in the United States of the need and opportunities in Liberia.
The LNF has supported JECCMI since 2002 through the Aurora Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization incorporated in Liberia in 2001 by Ambassador and Mrs. Barnes to find and apply resources to help Liberians.
The decision to make the donation to the JFK Medical Center, the release said, was prompted by Ambassador and Dr. Barnes meeting with Dr. Ann Marie Beddoe of Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, and her generosity in establishing the Cervical Cancer Unit in the Women’s Clinic at the JFK.
Dr. Beddoe visited Liberia as a volunteer and was struck by the prevalence of cervical cancer among the women she treated.
(L-R)LRF founder, Dr.Barnes, Dr.Green, Dr. Jallah, Ms. Kulula, at JFK Medical Center
With proper screening and early diagnosis, this type of cancer can be successfully treated, the release said.
Dr. Beddoe encouraged Dr. Dawn Cooper Barnes and Liberia Renaissance Foundation board member, Dr. Lisa Cooper Green, to meet with Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, who runs the OB-GYN Department at John F. Kennedy Medical Center, when they visited Liberia during the first week in March.
As daughters of the late Dr. Henry Nehemiah Cooper, the first Chief Medical Officer of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center who was also a cancer surgeon, Dr. Barnes and Dr. Cooper Green wanted to carry on their father’s legacy, the release said.
Dr. Lisa Cooper Green, Professor of Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.) and the recipient of a prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Award in 2007, was impressed with both Dr. Beddoe and Dr. Jallah.
She committed herself to provide assistance through the Liberia Renaissance Foundation, Inc. in fundraising efforts to support the treatment and prevention of cancer in Liberia.
According to Dr. Jallah, the grant will be used to purchase chemotherapy-related medications and supplies.
In remarks, Dr. Jallah expressed appreciation to the Liberia Renaissance Foundation for its contribution, stating, “The donation will provide us with enough medication to provide treatment to our patients for nine months.”
Contributing Mrs. Martha Kpawolokpala, Executive Director of JECCMI said, “Our ministry is soliciting monthly assistance to meet the demands of teachers who are threatening to seek for higher compensation than what we are presently offering due to financial constraints.”
She acknowledged the support of Aurora Foundation and expressed appreciation to Liberia Renaissance Foundation for supporting the “future leaders of our country.”
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