The Joanna Vonleh Medical Center (JVMC), is named in honor of founder Gabriel M. Vonleh’s, mother. Creation of FHE Inc. is inspired by a son’s love for his mother. Its formation is motivated by a personal experience which occurred in September of 2012 when Mrs. Vonleh suffered a massive stroke that left her paralyzed and unable to speak. Prior to the stroke, she was misdiagnosed and sent home wit
h the prognosis of a non-threatening common headache. Hours later, she experienced the massive stroke. In the western world, technologies exist to quickly and accurately diagnose a stroke and employ the appropriate clinical measures to treat the situation; this unfortunately is not the case in most African nations. Vonleh was later flown to Boston, Massachusetts for advance medical treatment. The story ended well, she was treated at one of the most prestigious medical institution in the United States. Vonleh was one of the fortunate individual who had means to leave the country for advance treatment. She has since recovered from her paralysis but has not fully regained her speech. The Vonleh family’s experience was not typical however, there aremany families in Liberia and other African countries who experience the loss of their loved ones to basic illnesses that are easily detected and treatable in western countries.
It is upon this backdrop that our founder Gabriel Vonleh and his spouse, Carine Vonleh, decided to create the Foundation for Healthcare Equity (FHE) Inc. The basic philosophy of FHE is that everybody should have access to preventive medical/primary care within a reasonable distance from where they reside. Life and death should not be determined by one’s racial, social or economic status. FHE’s primary goal is to raise funds and provide the necessary expertise to construct medical centers in communities in Liberia, West Africa and surrounding nations. The JVMC will work with community members and local organizations to build medical centers throughout West Africa.
The Joanna Vonleh Medical Center will be located in Robertsfield, Margibi County, Liberia West Africa. The medical center will provide primary care services in the areas of pediatrics, adult medicine, OBGYN as well as a birthing pavilion. The center will have 20 exam rooms and 4 birthing rooms. There will be housing for medical staff and other visiting clinicians from around the world. There will be designated space within the center for community meeting and educational endeavors. Contributors who donate $10,000.00 or more to the construction of the medical center, will have their names prominently displayed on a commemorative wall within the medical center in recognition of their philanthropic generosity.
In addition to the medical center, there will be two residential quarters with a total of 5 bedrooms dedicated to accommodate and host clinicians, doctors and other professionals who visit the Joanna Vonleh Health Center. These facilities will provide visiting volunteers and clinicians their own bathrooms and private kitchen areas.
