-Strategizes a six-year transformative plan
Founded in 1972, the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital (JFK) is Liberia’s largest referral hospital. Still, sadly- it remains constrained by dozens of challenges, even though some major strides have been made over the last few years.
Located in the capital city, Monrovia, JFK has a clear vision to serve as Liberia’s premier medical Facility in building a Strong, Viable, and Healthy Nation. Unfortunately, there is still a lot more that needs to be done in terms of improvement but these lapses are not being ignored as one of their own, Mrs. Dama Yekeson-Koffa has embraced the courage to tackle these challenges through a well-structured approach, if she’s allowed to head the institution at-least for the next six years.
Mrs. Dama Yekeson-Koffa has crafted a comprehensive six-year plan that endeavors to provide substantive remedies to old age problems of the facility and ensure that it meets advanced medical standards. This is embraced by the hope that she is appointed by President Boakai as the next Executive Director of the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital (JFK), a post that’s unarguably the only means of ensuring that any vision of such is actualized.
On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, Mrs. Dama Yekeson-Koffa’s name was read during the Liberian Senate session, as the appointed Executive Director of the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital (JFK), among several other appointments including Ms. Sadatu L.M Reeves, Deputy Inspector General for Training & Manpower Development, Liberia National Police (LNP), Ms. Charlene Taylor, Assistant Minister for Afro-Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ms. Patience B. Randall, Registrar General, Liberian Business Registry (LBR) and several other males.
Mrs. Dama Yekeson-Koffa, an experienced Liberian health practitioner, serves as the Deputy CEO/Administrator of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital. Ahead of her ascendency to the post, Mrs. Dama Yekeson-Koffa seems ready to execute the necessary tasks that are embedded in its ToR and even more, as she has smartly composed a comprehensive six-year plan, that intends to ensure total transformation at the institution.
The transformative plan
With over 50 years of experience/service, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital data from the institution shows that it attends to 57,000 patients annually. With what she considers a Blueprint for Elevating the JFK Medical Center to a Center of Excellence in Quality and Sustainable Healthcare Delivery, Mrs. Dama Yekeson-Koffa’s goal for the next six years will focus on challenges the institution is confronted with, to allow the Medical Center to achieve financial, medical and operational sustainability aimed at assisting in minimizing the stress imposed on the national budget to support operational activities.
It provides: “Thus, JFKMC will focus on harnessing its domestic revenue potentials to support the restoration of the Medical Center to its pre-war status by making critical investment decisions to spur growth clinically and operationally. This goal is to ensure sustainability to be service efficient, providing affordable health care to all people in Liberia, regardless of socio-economic status.”
According to her, this roadmap of a restored JFK Medical Center is designed to meet several short and medium-term objectives in the context of the tenure of the Presidency.
For the Short-term Objectives: (Day One/1 year) of the First-Second Quarter & FY 2024, she will focus on Financial Medical and Operational Sustainability.
To achieve Financial, Medical, and Operational Sustainability, she assures that the following will be fully implemented in the first quarter of FY 2024. She’s also committed to executing the Board’s Resolution to Operate a 24/7 Banking Service.
Under Key Deliverables, Dama’s plan endeavors to remodel two spaces to serve as Banking Implants to allow for 24/7 Banking Services at the Medical Center, United Bank for Africa (UBA), ensure 24/7 teller implants/Cash Centers established and fully operational, UBA established as the Primary Bank of the Medical Center for the collection of the following fees: Drugs/Medical Supplies; Laboratory Services; Imaging Services; Surgery; and Admission/Registration, and Medical Certificate/Report.
Others include an electronic banking platform, including the deployment of ATMs of both USD and LRD on the premises of the Medical Center as well as a Point-of-Sale Device (POS) available, execute the Board’s Resolution to access Institutional Loan for US$3.5million to support investment decisions in core service delivery centers aimed at optimizing and expanding clinical and operational services, thus achieving medical excellence, economic viability and sustainability at the Medical Center.
The plan details that the acquisition of the Loan will allow the Medical Center to invest in the following, leading to expansion of clinical services and exponential increase in revenue to support operational activities: Equipping of nine Operating Theaters, Purchase of drugs, medical and laboratory consumables, thus eliminating stock-out, ensuring growth in revenue and sustainability, Furnishing and Equipping of the VIP/Private Unit to ensure JFK Medical Center is the ‘Hospital of First Choice’ for high level paying clientele seeking quality medical care services in an opulent and aesthetically pleasing environment, Renovation of the JFK Memorial Hospital Second Floor East Wing to expand surgical services, significantly reduce waiting time for elective surgery , Purchase of specialty medical equipment and industrial machines, HMIS deployment in Memorial Hospital OPD, Lab and Pharmacy, minimizes paper-based transactions, creating a seamless flow in patient services, Campus Wide CCTV Coverage and interdepartmental communication system, etc.
As the institution operates on a mission to provide tertiary medical care to the people of Liberia through comprehensive health care services, standard medical training & research, Dama’s plan will also target operationalizing the Health Management Information System (HMIS) by the Procurement, Customization and Installation of Software to support Financial Management, Supply Chain and Service Delivery functions across the Medical Center, beginning with piloting at the Maternity Hospital, GOL/JFKMC (Fee for Service. Operationalization of a Priority Care Clinic to attract high-profile clientele, serving as an additional source of revenue to support clinical and operational activities, maximizing Efficiency out of Professional and Clinical Services across departments.
Moreover, Dama’s transformative plan for JFK is also committed to increasing OPD Services, operating clinics in all service areas up to three to five days a week, improving the Oversight of Specialists and Consultants across clinical functions, ensuring that all departments provide a detailed plan of activities that will communicate their targeted goals per annum, implement preventative maintenance strategy to avoid frequent breakdown of medical equipment and mechanical machines through the formulation of SOPs and Work Plan/Schedule, and ensure all JFKMC staff (full-time, part-time, seconded, volunteers) provide accountability to the Medical Center by fulfilling their work schedules.
For Governance, it seeks to ensure adherence to Administrative Policies for Effective Institutional Management, ensure passage of at least 14 Additional Policies, and develop additional policies/SOPs across all specialties including Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Ob/Gyn, Anesthesia, Radiology, Ophthalmology, etc, implementation of Policies across all functions, and improve oversight of Internal Audit Agency and Compliance & Risk Management Department.
It also considers the need for the supply of Generator to commission and operationalize/deploy the Oxygen Plant, MOH/World Bank/WHO (Urgent), Renewable Energy (Solar Panel System) for Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (Feasibility Study completed, currently at the Procurement stage), USAID, renovation and Equipping of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Liberian-Japanese Friendship Maternity Hospital, Latter Day Saints Charities, GOL/JFKMC, repair of Elevator No. 3, GOL/JFKMC/Wu Changchun, restoration of the 350KVA Generator to support the 550KVA completion of rewinding of 25HP, 10HP and 5HP surface Pumps to serve as critical stock assuring unhindered water supply to the Medical Center and adjacent facilities, and borehole to support Ground Water for Maternity Hospital.
Others include renewal of Contracts for foreign & local contractors and consultants, hiring of additional nurses and nurse aides for deployment to the VIP Suite, Oncology Unit, E. S. Grant ER, ENT Unit, and Maternity Hospital, and to optimize nursing services at the Medical Center, engage NIPRO for the procuring of Dialysis consumables and reactivating/repair of two dialysis machines, engage partners for the resetting/upgrade of the software of the EEG machine at E. S. Grant, follow up the accreditation of the various training departments to ensure continuity, perationalize the DNA Machine, procurement of Histochemistry Machine for the Pathology Laboratory and the construction of Public Washroom Facilities for clientele, family members and visitors.
Under her plans for the 3rd – 4th Quarters FY 2024, Mrs. DamaYekeson-Koffa intends to ensure the formulation of strategy and development of a blueprint to increase Research activities at the Medical Center, expansion of JFK Memorial Hospital Out-Patient Department, renovation, Furnishing, and Equipping of the JFK Memorial Hospital PEDS Ward, East Wing, renovation, Furnishing and Equipping of the JFK Memorial Hospital 2ndFloor East Wing, adding additional beds to expand surgical services, reroofing or Complete Rehabilitation of the Roof of the Liberian Japanese Friendship Maternity Hospital, including replacement of damaged Acoustic Ceiling with PVC, and reinforcement of the Parapet around the perimeter of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital to repair seeping of rainwater from the roof into the Operating Theaters, Executive Suite and down to other floors, causing dampness of the wall and undermining the architecture of the building.
It also considers the need for procurement of Digital X-ray and Mammography machines to replace the damaged and obsolete Analog X-ray machine and to significantly improve diagnostic capacity and decrease diversion of services from the JFKMC, construction of a Reinforced Concrete Ground Reservoir for the Maternity Hospital, replacing damaged prefabricated reservoir and construction of borehole fully automated to support the water system at Maternity Hospital, purchase of specialty medical equipment and industrial machines (industrial washing machines, dryers, stoves, and Ironing system, Lawn Mower, etc.) and 800kva Generator for secondary power source, HMIS deployment: Memorial Hospital OPD, Lab, Pharmacy and Medical Records, Campus-wide CCTV coverage, Inter-department Communication System and CCTV coverage to critical sections of the Medical Center and Renewable Energy (Solar Power) for NICU.
For the Medium Term (Year 2-3), Mrs. Dama’scomprehensive plan takes into consideration the expansion of Medical Emergency Care Services and Unit, and human Capacity Development: Add five faculties (Residency Programs) and two nursing programs- Faculty of Radiology (Curriculum developed), Faculty of Nurse Anesthesia program (Curriculum developed), Faculty of Infectious Disease and Faculty of Cardiology, Faculty of Nephrology, Nurse Anesthetist and Scrub Nursing Programs (TNIMA, Curriculum developed) Human Capacity Development: Specialized training for 12 Doctors and 12 nurses (2 Radiologists; 2 Dentists; 1 Dermatologist, 1 ENT surgeon, 1 Gastroenterologist, 1 OBGYN (Fertility), etc.; Nurses (2 Medical Emergency; 2 Pediatrics; 2 Trauma/Orthopedic; etc.
It emphasizes procurement of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, upgrading of TNIMA to Bachelor’s degree level, Renewable Energy (Solar Power) for critical care sections of the Medical Center, ICU, Operating Theaters, Laboratory, etc. and renovation, furnishing, and equipping of TNIMA Dormitory and establishment of an academic building thus freeing up space currently occupied at Memorial Hospital, creating additional bed space.
For the Long Term (Years 4-6), Dama’s plan will focus on sourcing grants and donations from the international community to support a plethora of programs across the Medical Center, including the construction, Furnishing, and Equipping of a fifty-bed Isolation Unit for infectious diseases (Cholera, Lassa Fever, EBOLA, COVID, etc.), Construction, Furnishing and Equipping of a Level Six Hospital, expansion of the existing JFK Memorial Hospital, Construction, Furnishing and Equipping of a Fit-for-purpose Mental Health and Rehabilitation Facility, and the construction, Furnishing and Equipping of a Twin Hospital (Mother & Child) connected to the existing structure and renovation of the existing building/hospital. (Government of Japan, JICA in collaboration with the Medical Center completed a survey and Proposal).
In achieving these noble objectives, Mrs. Yekeson-Koffa’s plan details that the Medical Center will work in partnership with the Government of Liberia and other foreign partners to achieve its mission of building a strong, viable, and healthy nation, assuring quality and sustainable healthcare delivery.
“This vision will allow the Medical Center to achieve financial, clinical, and operational sustainability. It will elevate the Medical Center to a Center of Excellence in Quality and Sustainable Healthcare Delivery, alleviating the plethora of challenges undermining the growth and development of the Medical Center, thus allowing it to be service efficient and reliant to all seeking care.”
Work and education
Mrs. Dama Yekeson-Koffa serves as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Administration at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, a position she has held for over five years. She served the John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Essex MD (Anesthesia Provider, CRNA) from May 2014 to 2017. Mrs. Yekeson also worked at KEY ANESTHESIA CLINICAL ROTATIONS (2011-2013) University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore MD Primary Site (June 2012- Nov. 2012) (July 2013).
She worked at the University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, MD March 2006 to 2011 in cardiac Surgery Intensive Care (Senior Staff Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse), Recovery of complex post-cardiac surgery patients requiring hemodynamic monitoring, Vasoactive drip titration management, Multi-discipline team approach to ventilator wean post-open-heart surgery with goal of successful extubation utilizing ACLS protocols, Nursing management post ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation for bridge/destination therapy (VAD super-user – resource and training), IABP insertion assistance and management in cardiogenic shock patients, Continuous Renal Replacement therapy (CVVH) management, Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patient nursing management in patients experiencing respiratory failure as bridge to recovery or lung transplantation, and Primary resource charge RN and preceptor.
Moreover, she earned a Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from, University of Maryland, School of Nursing; August 2011- December 2013 Baltimore, MD, Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors Magna Cum Laude, University of North Carolina- UNC-CH; August 2000- May 2002 Chapel Hill, NC, Bachelor of Science with Honors Major- Premedical Science; Minor- Biochemistry Summa Cum Laude, Saint Paul’s College; January 1992-May 1995 Lawrenceville, VA and other valuable achievements.
With over 96 appointments so far, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has appointed more than 70 men and 26 women.
With hundreds of appointments that are still underway, Women’s rights campaigners are still hopeful of more women appointments from the President.
