Published: April 8, 2026
GBARNGA, Bong County – Operations at C.B. Dunbar Hospital in Gbarnga are under intense pressure following a disruption of services at Phebe Hospital in Suakoko District, which has triggered a sharp increase in patient inflow.
The situation, which began earlier this week, has more than doubled the number of patients seeking medical attention at C.B. Dunbar, overwhelming the already stretched government-run facility.
Under normal circumstances, hospital staff say patient queues, particularly at the laboratory and pharmacy, are manageable and often cleared by midday. However, that pattern has drastically changed since Monday.
A visit by our reporter to the hospital on Tuesday revealed a dire scene: dozens of patients still lined up well into the afternoon, with more continuing to arrive. Wards were filled, leaving many patients seated on benches or standing as they awaited treatment.
Patients wait outside due to lack of space in waiting halls
Medical personnel, disclosed that they have been working nonstop.
“We have not rested since yesterday,” one healthcare worker told reporters, highlighting the growing strain on the hospital’s limited workforce.
C.B. Dunbar Hospital, which already struggles with limited capacity, is now being forced to absorb patients beyond its designated catchment area. The Ministry of Health recently increased the hospital’s coverage population from 60,000 to 65,000, citing improvements in service delivery—a move that had already sparked calls for expansion, including the construction of an annex.
Despite these challenges, the hospital has in recent months introduced additional services and installed new equipment aimed at improving healthcare delivery. However, the current surge is testing the limits of those improvements.
Patients redirected from Phebe Hospital say they had no choice but to seek treatment at C.B. Dunbar due to the disruption.
“We went to Phebe, but there were no services,” Gormah Flomo explained. “We had to come here, and we are grateful they are still helping us despite the crowd.”
Protest Escalates to Full Shutdown
The crisis at Phebe Hospital took a dramatic turn on Tuesday, April 7, when aggrieved workers held another meeting and unanimously agreed to stay away from their duties, leaving the health facility completely shut down.
The action follows an earlier partial disruption of services announced on Monday, as workers protested unpaid salaries for staff who were reinstated after suspension by the Civil Service Agency.
In addition to salary concerns, the workers are demanding that the hospital’s Medical Director and Human Resource Officer, both recently transferred, immediately comply with their reassignment and stop interfering in the hospital’s operations.
The workers had earlier issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government, warning that failure to address their concerns would lead to a full shutdown.
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