Remarks by Mrs. Diane Watson – Chevron?s Donation to JFK Hospital

Chevron Liberia (Monrovia)

11 July 2011

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What a pleasure it is for us to be here today.  I’m Diane Watson.  And these are my friends Misi Moshiri, Gill Fawthrop and Diane Cottrell. Thank you so much for welcoming us so warmly to JFK Hospital. This is my first trip to Liberia.  Misi, Gill and Diane have all described the enormously positive energy of Liberia’s people.  I’m absolutely delighted to experience it and feel it for myself.  This truly is an exciting time for Liberia.

Chevron is pleased and proud to be part of it. It means something special to me to be in Liberia standing in a hospital named after President John F. Kennedy. He once said something that applies so much to Chevron’s commitment here today.  He said that “children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.”  Chevron deeply shares that belief … which is why it’s such an honor to partner with JFK Hospital to support its “Under Five Pediatric Program.” We’re proud to help bring healthcare to mothers and children who need it most, so that every child born here can have the chance to live a long and full life. As you can see, we’ve brought with us some additional funds.

Through these funds, we’re delighted to support the work of Health Education and Research Through Training – or, appropriately enough, HEARTT … for short.  With HEARTT and its president, Dr. James Sirleaf, we look forward to helping bring volunteer doctors – especially OB/GYN doctors – to Liberia and JFK Hospital. To support both JFK’s volunteer doctors and its focus on maternal care, we’re also pleased to fund a new ultrasound machine – which will play a key role in the obstetric fistula project. Today, Chevron is also pleased to announce its support of Dr. Janice Cooper of the Carter Center.

The Center will train workers who will help Liberia’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare implement the country’s national mental health plan – by improving access to mental health services. We are so pleased and proud to support such important programs and such effective partners – JFK Hospital, HEARTT and the Carter Center.

Let me close with a thought from another president, Liberia’s president, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. It came during her inaugural speech.  She spoke of the brightness of Liberia’s future because of all the attributes Liberians possess.  And, she said, “We have good friends who want to work with us.”  We – and all our colleagues at Chevron — are indeed proud to stand here as friends.  And we’re proud to work with all of you to give Liberia’s greatest resource – its people … and especially its children — a greater chance at life. That is everyone’s best hope for the future. And now, to help with the ribbon cutting … let me turn to Dr. McDonald.

Thank you.

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