Nimba District 3 Representative Joseph N. Somwarbi, says ArcelorMittal Liberia’s contribution of USD $ 80,000 towards renovating the Zolowee Public School and the G. W. Harley Hospital in Sanniquellie, is essential to the human capital development of Nimba County.
He said the contributions ArcelorMittal Liberia is making to health and education will have a longstanding impact on the affected communities.
The Nimba County lawmaker called for more direct engagements between the company and the mine-affected communities.
Hon. Somwarbi was speaking recently when representatives of ArcelorMittal Liberia announced the financial support to the renovation of the Zolowee School and the reconstruction of the entire roof and other arears of the G. W. Harley Hospital in Sanniquellie.
At an event in Sanniquelle recently, G.W. Hospital and Nimba County health authorities commended ArcelorMittal Liberia for the support and appealed for such intervention in other areas of needs for the hospital.
Dr. Siedoh Freeman, Medical Director of the GW Harley Hospital, acknowledged past contributions of AML to health facility, pointing out the $250,000 contribution for the relocation of the hospital was one of the major contributions the administration cannot forget.
He said the support from AML will benefit Liberia because it will improve patient care at the facility.
“When the roof is leaking and the electrical system is poor, health workers and patients suffer the consequences, but now with the plan to renovate the roof and restore the electrical appliances, we are grateful to ArcelorMittal for the grant.”
Also speaking, Dr. Netty N. Joe, County Health Officer of Nimba County Health Team, lauded AML for the grant and appealed for the company’s continued support to the health facility.
Earlier in the day, ArcelorMittal Liberia made another donation of USD $35,000 to the people of Zolowee Town in Nimba County for the renovation of the Zolowee Public school.
Elders and residents of the Town welcomed AML’s direct engagement with them in promoting development in their community, while emphasizing that such an approach is helping to strengthen relations with the company.
The residents said they are now feeling the impact of the company because what belongs to them is coming directly without passing through other channels.
Peter Z. Dolo, an elder of Zolowee stated: “We have been crying because what should come to us has been passing through other people and cannot reach us. But we are happy today that ArcelorMittal is coming to us directly and we hope this approach will continue.”
Nimba County Assistant Superintendent for Development, Railey G. Myers, commended ArcelorMittal Liberia for the contribution and noted that the approach taken by the company to directly invest in the communities with development packages was the best.
“If this was the way you started from the beginning, all of the misconceptions people have today would not come out. Thank you very much for the donations. We hope that the young people, as you can see, will learn to use constructive engagement to approach issues rather than violence. Remember that constructive engagement brings fruitful results than violence,” Superintendent Myers said.
