Boakai, IAEA Launch First-Ever Cancer Treatment Facility With Radiotherapy Center Groundbreaking

Monrovia-President Joseph Nyuma Boakai over the weekend led a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Liberia’s first standalone Radiotherapy Center, a critical facility aimed at combating the country’s growing cancer burden, marking a historic first for the nation’s healthcare system.

Held at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) compound in Sinkor, Monrovia, the high-profile event marked the official launch of a project that promises to transform cancer diagnosis and treatment in Liberia.

The facility is being constructed with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under its Rays of Hope initiative, a global program designed to expand access to lifesaving radiotherapy services in underserved nations.

President Boakai, who turned the symbolic first soil alongside IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, hailed the occasion as a defining moment in Liberia’s health sector advancement.

“Today, we are not just laying the foundation for a building, we are laying the foundation for a healthier Liberia,” Boakai declared.

“This Radiotherapy Center is a promise fulfilled and a powerful demonstration of our administration’s commitment to providing quality, accessible healthcare to all Liberians.”

The project comes at a time when cancer rates are rising in Liberia, with cervical, breast, liver, and prostate cancers accounting for more than 70 percent of new diagnoses.

With no local access to radiotherapy, many patients are currently forced to seek expensive and often inaccessible treatment abroad.

Health Minister Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, who delivered the project overview, described the center as a landmark achievement in the government’s national health strategy.

“Cancer is a growing public health crisis in Liberia.

This center will change the narrative,” Dr. Kpoto said.

“It will provide not only lifesaving radiotherapy services but also serve as a hub for research, training, and specialized healthcare development. It is a game changer.”

She extended gratitude to the IAEA for its technical and financial support and lauded President Boakai for making healthcare a central pillar of his administration’s development agenda.

The JFK Medical Center’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Linda A. Birch, echoed those sentiments, describing the new facility as a milestone in Liberia’s national health recovery.

“This Radiotherapy Center will improve outcomes for cancer patients and reduce the burden of treatment on families,” Dr. Birch said.

“It is a long-awaited investment in the lives of our people.”

Once completed, the Radiotherapy Center is expected to play a transformative role in the country’s fight against cancer, reduce mortality rates, and restore hope to thousands of families long left without access to proper care.

The event, attended by senior government officials, international partners, and members of the health community, marked the beginning of what many described as a new era in specialized medical services in Liberia.