By Joshua Dimondstein

Curran Hospital in ZorZor, Liberia, began life in 1924 as a bush hospital but quickly expanded into a full hospital, with 125 beds and the capacity to provide Public Health Service for the whole district. During the Liberian Civil War of 1989-2003 the hospital was twice destroyed during horrific fighting between the LURD rebels and government soldiers. Anything of value was looted and hauled away, including the roof. Only the outer walls, riddled with mortar shell holes, were left standing.

Curran began to limp back into operation in 2004, using one of the roofless rooms as an outpatient clinic during the dry season. Basic medical services were provided to nearby villages out of the back of a Land Rover, using Curran as a base.

Volunteers from Pennsylvania and Pakistan in the UN Peacekeeping Force began re-roofing the building in the winter of 2005 and hope to finish by next winter. Ninety-one donated hospital beds have been shipped to Curran. To support the expansion and reopening of the Curran hospital, Village Relief has already sent 100 long-lasting treated mosquito nets to protect patients using the hospital beds.

We also intend to send a large shipment of much needed medicines and medical supplies for the rebuilt hospital.

Thanks to your support of this benefit, The Village Relief Foundation will be able to procure and ship these medicines and supplies.