Concept:

For close to twenty (20) years, Liberia has never had an Oncology center where people diagnosed with
cancer can seek medical care. JFK Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Liberia currently is without a
dedicated oncology ward. The space in the building has been allocated by management however
renovations and furnishings and equipment are needed. This is an opportunity to do a sustainable and
high impact initiative with high brand visibility. The budget request for all renovation, equipment and
furnishings is $38,785. The space will be dedicated and branded with the donor’s brand as well as
publicity.

Background

In Liberia, according to GLOBOCAN report, 3,552 new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2020, and there
were 2,603 deaths. These figures are certainly low due to the lack of proper screening and diagnosis
compounded by limited access to care in the country.

After fourteen (14) years of civil war which affected every sector of the country, Liberia has struggled in
every aspect of rebuilding, most especially the health sector. Hospitals and health centers were
destroyed, and qualified work force had to leave the country to seek residence in other countries,
leaving the country short of qualified staff. This has left the sector struggling with people dying from
diseases that are preventable.

Being the premier hospital in the country, the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFKMC) has gradually
improved services over the years. In 2019 with the presence of a resident pathologist, about 74
histological tests were conducted. This number gradually increased to 488 in 2020, 781 in 2021, and 617
in 2022. According to the Center’s unpublished data, in 2021 cervical and breast cancers accounted for
16% and 11%, respectively of all cancers diagnosed, while prostate accounted for 16% as well. In 2022,
these cancers accounted for 19.4%, 15.7% and 8.8% respectively, making them the most common
cancers diagnosed at JFK. This gradual increase in the number of cancers diagnosed can be attributed to
the increased number of biopsies done by the pathologists as a result of increased awareness and
identification of oncologic cases.

1. Opportunity Statement

For close to twenty (20) years, Liberia has not had an Oncology center where people diagnosed with
cancer can seek medical care. Even though we have a national referral hospital, the John F. Kennedy
Medical Center, cancer treatment remains a challenge. There is not only lack of equipment and

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medications to work with in this field, but also lack of enough trained professionals to work with these
patients. This has left these patients with one of two options, either travel abroad to seek care if
financially capable or die because they do not have the finances to travel abroad.

The management of cancer patients is multidisciplinary requiring the expertise of various professionals
including but not limited to medical, surgical and radiation oncologists. It also includes oncology nurses,
clinical pharmacists, clinical pathologist, social workers, and counsellors, as well as other personnel
required to effectively manage an ill person in a hospital. After the devastation of the civil war, these
experts have been lacking in Liberia.

However, there has been a small but steady and gradual improvement in the quality of healthcare
services through the training of more specialists. Currently there are three (3) well trained pathologists
in Liberia who play a very crucial role in the management of these patients. There are also three (3)
doctors trained as medical and gynecologic oncologists, who recently returned home boosting the care
of oncology patients. There is also a nurse practitioner trained in India as an oncology nurse who has
returned home as well. Collectively, these professionals have been providing care to patients in need of
them.

2. Challenges

Although there are currently three (3) oncologists currently at JFK, there are many challenges faced daily
including but not limited to:

 No designated chemotherapy space for short-term infusion

 Lack of awareness amongst patients
 Lack of awareness amongst health workers
 Insufficient oncology staff (doctors, nurses, pharmacists)
 Diagnostics (IHC, mammogram, etc)
 Lack of radiotherapy services
 Lack of affordable chemotherapeutic agents
 Poor medical records
3. Purpose
To establish an Oncology Center at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center where cancer
patients will have access to care
4. Goal
 Establish a Center of excellence for oncology in Liberia
5. Objectives

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 Establish a chemotherapy room for short-term infusion
 Increase cancer awareness amongst patients
 Increase cancer awareness amongst health workers
 Train more oncology staff (doctors, nurses, and pharmacists)
 Improve diagnostics capabilities (Immunohistochemistry, mammography, etc)
 Ensure availability of affordable chemotherapeutic agents
 Develop a hospital-based cancer registry and proper information reporting system
 Conduct cancer related research
6. Beneficiaries
The targeted beneficiaries are those patients who will need the following services:
 Cancer patients diagnosed within JFK
 Cancer patients referred from other facilities
7. Staffing
The following staff will be required to effectively run the oncology unit:
 doctors (4 oncologists, 2 medical officers, rotating residents)
 clinical pharmacists (2)
 nurses (8)
 social worker (1)
 record clerk (1)
 Fiscal (1)
 housekeeper (1)

8. Site

The designated site for the Oncology Center is the old laboratory (JFKMC). It will consist of the
following:

 A reception area
 A ten (10) bed capacity chemotherapy infusion room
 Bathrooms for staff and patients
 A chemotherapy mixing room
 A staff break room/ locker room
 An office space for the Oncology coordinator (OC)
 A conference room
9. Services

The following services will be provided:

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  Outpatient consultation
 Outpatient chemotherapy infusion (in-patients in various departments)
 Tumor board meetings
 Telemedicine
 Training of staff
 Research
10. Plan
 Recruit/Train expertise in oncology care (doctors, nurses, clinical pharmacists)
 Renovation of designated space at the JFKMC for the Oncology Center
 Procurement of chemotherapeutic agents
 Develop SOPs, guidelines and policies which will be used to effectively operate the unit
 Network with potential partners and donors
11. Funding

The Center will be operated based on the provision of donor support for the first 3-5 years. During
this period, finances will be generated from fees charged patients for all services being offered. At
the end of this period, money raised will be used to maintain the department.

Also, patients will continue to be charged for services provided as this will be used for the
continuous provision of medications and maintenance of equipment and everything that is
necessary for the upkeep of the department.

It will be the duty of the Oncology Coordinator (OC) to submit a monthly clinical and financial report
on the status of the department, to the Chief Medical Officer of the JFKMC and the various donors
for the sake of accountability.

12. Operations

The OC will be a medical oncologist, who will oversee the daily operations of the department. All
staff, clinicians and supporting staff, will report to the OC who will in turn report to JFK’s
administration monthly (Figure 1)

Staff meetings will be held twice a month to consolidate the records and all necessary information
required for the smooth operations of the department. This information will be used by the OC for
monthly report to hospital’s administration.

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 Oncology
Coordinator

Oncologists

Clinical Nurses and

Medical officers
pharmacists supporting staff

Figure 1. Oncology Center Organogram

Summarized Proposed Budget of Oncology Department

I. RENOVATION

Qt Unit Amt.
No. Item Description y Unit Rate (USD)

1.00 CARPENTRY WORK

1.01 Supply YALE cylinder lock 2 nos. $65.00 $130.00

1.02 Supply ⅛ inch thick plywood 8 shts $8.50 $68.00

1.03 Supply ½ inch thick plywood 1 shts $25.00 $25.00

1.04 Supply ¼ inch thick plywood 2 shts $15.00 $30.00

1.05 Supply 2" × 2" × 14' - 0" timber 12 pcs. $4.00 $48.00

1.06 Supply smooth ceiling strip for plywood ceiling 1 blds $10.00 $10.00

1.07 Supply 1 inch wire nail at 50pks per carton 0.5 ctn $15.00 $7.50

1.08 Supply 1½ inch wire nail at 50pks per carton 0.5 ctn $15.00 $7.50

1.09 Supply 3 inch wire nail at 50pks per carton 0.5 ctn $15.00 $7.50

$
SUBTOTAL 333.50

2.00 PLUMBING WORK

2.01 Supply white water closet with side flush 1 no. $90.00 $90.00

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2.02 Supply press release face basin faucet 2 no. $55.00 $110.00

2.03 Supply flexible tube 2 nos. $4.00 $8.00

2.04 Supply angle valve 2 nos. $5.00 $10.00

SUBTOTAL $218.00

3.00 TILING WORK

3.01 Supply 60cm × 60cm ceramic floor tile (Spanish brand) 10

ctn $24.00 $2,400.00
at 4pcs/ctn. 0

3.02 Supply 50kg ordinary gray cement 20 bags $11.00 $220.00

3.03 Supply 10kg tile adhesive 12 bags $9.50 $114.00

3.04 Supply 2.5mm pvc tile spacer 2 pks. $3.00 $6.00

3.05 Supply 10kg tile grout 5 bags $19.00 $95.00

SUBTOTAL $2,835.00

4.00 DOOR WORK

4.01 Supply 3' - 0" × 7' - 0" panel door ( 9 panel design) 1 pc. $55.00 $55.00

4.02 Supply 6' - 0" × 7' - 0" panel door ( 9 panel design) 1 pc. $150.00 $150.00

4.03 Supply panel door lock 2 pc. $25.00 $50.00

4.04 Supply panel door hinge 9 pcs. $2.50 $22.50

$
SUBTOTAL 277.50

5.00 HVAC & FIRE FIGHTING WORK

5.01 Supply 24,000 BTU air conditioner for pool office

(GIBSON/WESTPOINT) with bracket and accessories
complete 1 pc. $860.00 $860.00

5.02 Supply 18,000 BTU air conditioner for server room

(GIBSON/WESTPOINT) with bracket and accessories
complete 1 pcs. $76.00 $76.00

5.03 Supply battery-operated smoke & fire detector 2 pcs. $27.50 $55.00

5.04 Supply 10kg dry chemical type, wall-mounted, Class C

fire extinguisher 2 pcs. $110.00 $220.00

$
SUBTOTAL 1,211.00

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6.00 PAINTING WORK

6.01 Supply white water paint (Britone brand) 5 bkt $30.00 $150.00

6.02 Supply off white oil paint 2 bks. $85.00 $170.00

6.03 Supply silver oil paint 3 gals. $18.00 $54.00

6.04 Supply wall putty 5 bags $15.00 $75.00

6.05 Supply thinner 3 gals. $10.00 $30.00

6.06 Supply large paint roller 6 nos. $3.50 $21.00

6.07 Supply small paint roller 3 nos. $3.00 $9.00

6.08 Supply 2 inch brush 2 nos. $2.50 $5.00

6.09 Supply anti rust for all metal work 1 gals. $18.00 $18.00

6.10 Supply assorted sand paper 1 dz $12.00 $12.00

6.11 Supply scrapper 2 nos. $6.00 $12.00

SUBTOTAL $556.00

           

7.00 ELECTRICAL WORK

7.01 Supply double receptacle surface type 2 pcs. $3.00 $6.00

7.02 Supply cable channel 8 pcs. $5.00 $40.00

7.03 Supply No. 10 electrical wire (single) for receptacles

[AWG] 2 rolls $65.00 $130.00

7.04 Supply No. 12 electrical wire (single) for light [AWG] 2 rolls $40.00 $80.00

7.05 Supply electrical tape 33+ 5 rolls $10.00 $50.00

7.06 Supply 24 watts square LED surface ceiling light 24 pcs. $40.00 $960.00

SUBTOTAL $1,266.00

8.00 MASONRY WORK

8.01 bags
Supply ordinary gray cement for masonry work 1 . $9.00 $9.00

8.02 Supply smooth sand for masonry work 1 c.y. $15.00 $15.00

8.03 Supply 6 inch masonry block 10 pcs. $1.00 $10.00

SUBTOTAL $

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 34.00

9.00 METAL WORK        

9.01 Supply 5/8 inch square bar 30 nos. $10.00 $300.00

9.02 Supply 9 inch TOTAL brand cutting disc 2 nos. $5.00 $10.00

9.03 Supply 9 inch TOTAL brand grinding disc 2 nos. $6.00 $12.00

9.04 Supply welding rod 2 pks. $5.00 $10.00

SUBTOTAL $332.00

           

SUMMARY SHEET

1.00 CEILING WORK       $333.50

2.00 ALUMINUM CURTAIN WALL WORK       $218.00

3.00 TILING WORK       $2,835.00

4.00 DOOR WORK       $277.50

5.00 HVAC WORK       $1,211.00

6.00 PAINTING WORK       $556.00

7.00 ELECTRICAL WORK       $1,266.00

8.00 MASONRY WORK       $34.00

9.00 METAL WORK       $332.00

TOTAL MATERIAL COST $7,063.00

II. Furniture

No. Quantity Unit Unit Price $ Total Price

1 Reclining Chairs 10 Pcs $750.00 / pc $7,500.00

2 TV 65 inches 3 Pcs $750.00

$2,250.00
3 DSTV Dual View 1 Package Access $129.00 $129.00
Decoder Family $154.00 $154.00
Compass $147.00 $147.00
Compass+ $150.00 $150.00
Premium $182.00 $182.00

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4 Internet Modem 1 Pc $69.00
$69.00
5 Conference Table 1 Set $975.00 $975.00
with 10 Chairs
6 Couch for waiting 1 Pc 575.00 $575.00
room
7 Office Desk 3 Pcs $150.00 $450.00

8 Office Chair 3 Pcs $150.00 $450.00

9 Micro Wave 1 Pc $175.00 $175.00

10 Refrigerator For 1 Pc $975.00 $975.00

Drugs
11 Office Size Freezer 2 Pcs $225.00 $450.00

12 Water Disperser 4 Pcs $175.00 $700.00

13 A/C $385.00 for $385.00

9000BTU $475.00
$475.00 for $625.00
12000BTU
$625.00 for
18000BTU
14 Laptop 2 Pcs $975.00 i3 $1,950.00

15 Projector 1 Set $900.00 Epson $900.00

16 Wheel Chair 6 Pcs $190.00/ adult $1,140.00

Adult/Peds. 3 each
17 Cabinets 4 Drawers 4 Pcs 190.00 $760.00
18 Scrub Suit 1 Dozen Dozen $13.00 / suit
$156.00
Sub-Total $21,722.00

III. Medical Equipment

1. Immunohistochemistry 1 Pc $10,000.00 $10,000.00

Machine

Subtotal $10.000.00

Grand Total $38,785.00