While people often say I’m a skeptic, I consider myself a curious realist. So, when I first learned of someone utilizing a sustainable business model for the medical field of Liberia, I couldn’t help but give him a call to verify everything I’d heard.
Anthony Kollie, Liberian nurse and entrepreneur, recently launched a fully-licensed medical clinic with his wife and five other employees. I'd heard Anthony was a successful client of LEAD, Inc., our local business affiliate with 800 members, that is committed to rebuilding the Liberian economy following 25 years of civil war that ended in 2003.
Knowing even this, I still had a few more questions to ask. And, as soon as Anthony picked up the phone, I was intrigued. Every entrepreneur matters. Anthony is one of them.
What’s your background in the medical field, and how did you decide to open this clinic?
My wife and I are both registered nurses. I graduated from school in 1989 as a licensed practical nurse and my wife graduated in 2005 as an RN. After 20 years of working in government hospitals and other private institutions, during the civil war, we didn’t have the means to secure a job for ourselves. We decided to instead market our experience by venturing into business in our hometown, Gbarnga. We started the pharmacy in 2007, but were not professionally prepared to expand it into a fully licensed clinic—not until I met LEAD.
What were the initial steps you took as a member of LEAD?
I joined LEAD in February, 2008. I started a class and, after 6 months, graduated and entered the next level of business training. It really helped me understand strengths and weaknesses to identify, and how to move forward.
Where is the medical clinic and what demographics do you serve?
Our clinic is in Gbarnga, about 4 hours northeast of Monrovia. It’s a very crowded city with about 40,000 people. On average, we serve 15 clients a day, including many children. The most prominent condition people come to us for is malaria, respiratory infection, and diarrhea. We see ourselves serving the community in a very tangible way, especially since there is no government clinic available here.
What effects have the jobs had on your staff?
For now, we have 7 on staff, including myself and my wife—two nurses, one registrar, a specialist, screener, laboratory assistant, and a technician. The opportunities we’ve created are jobs that can sustain them. And, in ways they didn’t anticipate, it’s helping them in their personal lives. Because of his work, our laboratory assistant has been motivated to proceed with more medical training. He now comes to work and is so happy to be there.
What did it take to apply for asset-building loans?
LEAD required us to build up savings to qualify for loans. Then we were able to secure a loan of 90,000 Liberian Dollars (1,500 USD), which we took in July 2009 to buy medical tools, medications, and equipment for our laboratory.
What experience have you had in business mentoring so far?
The new LEAD mentoring program is currently securing a Liberian mentor for me, Dr. Emmanuel Ekyinabah. He studied abroad, so I’d like to see how we can relate his experience there to our work here.
How has membership in a cell group affected your outlook on business?
In a cell group, you meet to discuss how to successfully operate a business. For instance, one member shared how she’s been able to reduce her facility costs. She offered that strategy in order to benefit all of us. In a cell group, every time one person goes up, everyone can rise.
What’s your goal for the future of the clinic?
Without any doubt, this business is progressing, going forward. I’ll be quick to tell you that our dream is to expand this clinic to a hospital. In the next 5 years, I have no doubt that we can become a community health center with a larger facility and the capacity for surgical interventions.
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