KBNF Featured on “Inside JFK” Radio Show in Liberia

On Monday, Feb. 23, 2026 KBNF was invited as guests on the “Inside JFK” Radio hour on ELBC Radio 99.9 FM, a national radio station in Liberia. KBNF President and Founder Marj Ratel and KBNF Board Member Dr. Ben Kolee, Liberia’s Chief Pathologist represented KBNF to talk about our medical mission.

This current medical mission is the largest KBNF has ever conducted, with 34 team members from five countries, namely the US, Canada, Sweden, Finland and Sierra Leone.

“We anticipate performing 50 neurosurgical procedures,” Marj said. This is a lofty goal, but the need is so great. Dr. Alvin Nah Doe screened over 550 cases for surgery beforehand.

Marj was also asked to share how KBNF started our work in Liberia.

In 2011, Marj received a phone call from Dr. Estrada Bernard, a neurosurgeon in Anchorage, Alaska and the nephew of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, president of Liberia at the time. He asked if Marj would come to Liberia to assess whether we could get neurosurgery started in Liberia. Several months later, Marj and a 15-member team from five different nations, conducted an exploratory mission as guests of the president.

At the end of the mission, during a meal. Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf turned to Marj and asked, “Will you help start neurosurgery in Liberia”

“We will,” Marj responded, “but you’re not ready yet.”

In 2014, Liberia got its first CT scanner. That was a huge breakthrough, finally making neurosurgery possible. KBNF traveled to the Jackson F. Doe Memorial Hospital in Tappita, where the CT scanner was, to conduct the first major neurosurgery procedures in Liberia. It was a milestone event.

Around the same time, Ebola hit. Liberia, a country in crisis, needed beds. The KBNF team couldn’t return at that time, but we served in other ways.

KBNF collected around 1,000 hospital beds and began shipping regular container loads of beds and medical supplies to Liberia. So, in addition to neurosurgery, we began supporting the country's healthcare infrastructure.

In 2017, Marj met Dr. Alvin Nah Doe, who at the time was training to become a neurosurgeon in Senegal. He wasn’t planning on returning to Liberia, however.

Marj made him a promise: “Dr. Nah Doe, if you come back, KBNF will build neurosurgery with you.”

“And that is what we are doing,” Marj shared.

“KBNF has been a lifesaver for Liberia, “ said Dr. Ben Kolee. “They’re going the extra mile to make sure the plight of Liberians is alleviated. We really cherish KBNF for what you do, not just in Liberia, but across West Africa.”

KBNF also operates a warehouse in Liberia to help distribute medical consumables and equipment.