Published: February 17, 2026
GBARNGA — C.B. Dunbar Comprehensive Hospital in Bong County is set to begin diagnostic imaging services next week following the installation of a new X-ray machine — the first fully functional public radiology unit available in the county.
Hospital administrators say the development will allow patients to receive immediate diagnostic care locally rather than traveling to Monrovia or neighboring counties for basic imaging.
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“For too long, our people have had to leave the county just to confirm a diagnosis,” said Hospital Administrator Enoch Morris. “This will allow treatment decisions to be made faster.”
Until now, patients requiring imaging for fractures, respiratory illness and other conditions were routinely referred outside Bong County. Residents often traveled hours by road, incurring transportation, accommodation and medical costs before treatment could begin.
Local health workers say the delay sometimes affected clinical outcomes because doctors could not confirm conditions immediately.
“When diagnosis is delayed, treatment is delayed,” a clinician at the facility said. “Now we can act much earlier.”
Residents expressed similar expectations. Wilson Nornee, a nursing student in Gbarnga, said the service could increase confidence in local healthcare.
“Many people preferred facilities outside the county,” he said. “Now they will come here for treatment.”
Bong County is one of Liberia’s most populous regions and hosts a major referral hospital, yet basic imaging services had remained unavailable in the public system.
Healthcare workers say the absence of diagnostic equipment forced facilities to rely primarily on clinical examination while awaiting referral confirmation from urban centers.
The situation reflects a broader pattern in Liberia’s health system, where specialized equipment and trained personnel remain concentrated in Monrovia and a few regional hubs.
Patients traveling for imaging often faced multiple costs beyond treatment, including transport and temporary lodging. Health advocates say such barriers frequently discourage timely care, particularly for low-income households.
Public health practitioners note that diagnostic tools such as X-ray imaging are essential for managing trauma cases, infectious diseases and certain maternal complications.
The installation has prompted renewed discussion among local stakeholders about investment priorities in county-level facilities.
Officials have long emphasized decentralizing healthcare services, but county hospitals continue to depend heavily on donor support and periodic equipment procurement rather than consistent capital investment.
The Ministry of Health has not publicly commented on whether similar diagnostic upgrades are planned for other counties.
Hospital administrators say preparations include training staff and establishing maintenance procedures to keep the machine operational.
Maintaining diagnostic services will require reliable electricity, trained technicians and routine servicing — factors that have historically affected medical equipment in rural facilities.
“We are committed to taking care of what has been provided,” Morris said.
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