They’re still moving in — and they already have appointments lined up at the new health department.

Officials cut the ribbon Tuesday on the new Liberty County Health Department, a spacious facility that has plenty of room to accommodate anticipate future growth. They also honored the three doctors — Dr. Seth Borquaye, Dr. Phillip Ajayi and Dr. Wumi Oguntunmibi — who provided the land to the county on which the new health department sits.

“This is a place where we want everyone to feel welcome,” said Dr. Bonzo Reddick, the medical director of the Coastal Health District. “The reason we’re here is to serve. It’s a one-stop shop for public health.”

Liberty County Commission Chairman Donald Lovette called the new health department “a health care showcase on Oglethorpe.”

“And if we are ever Liberty County proud,” Lovette added, “we are Liberty County proud today.”

A spacious lobby and registration area, underneath an atrium, greets clients. There is room for environmental health, the WIC program, a care center and health services, including rooms for examinations, laboratories and rooms for breastfeeding mothers.

There is also classroom and meeting space and the break room kitchen can be used to teach WIC clients how to cook healthy meals for their families.

“I’m very grateful,” said Commissioner Connie Thrift, who also chairs the board of health. “It’s a long time coming. They have been waiting such a long time. We’re glad to be in this new building.”

Thrift said the health department has worked closely over the past year with health care providers, schools, community organizations and leaders to expand public health services, increase health education, and improve access to preventive health.

“These efforts have strengthened our community’s resilience,” she said.

Challenges remain, Thrift pointed out, including chronic disease, emerging health threats, mental health care access and health disparities that affect many people and families.

“In the coming months, we will focus on expanding health outreach programs, promoting healthy lifestyles and assuring every resident has access to reliable health information and services,” she said.

The health department does a lot in the community, she said, and Dr. Reddick noted that within the health department’s roles are making sure wells and drinking water are safe, children get immunizations for school, restaurants are clean and even tattoo parlors are free from harm.

There’s even a room to separate someone who may have an infectious disease, such as measles, while they are being tested so they spread what they have among the staff.

“This facility allows us to carry out the mission that we have,” he said.

Hinesville Mayor Karl Riles remarked how the growth of the community outpaced what the former health department could provide.

“I remember getting ready to go to kindergarten and getting my shots down at the health department. I remember getting ready to go to college and getting my shots at the health department,” he said. “Now, my granddaughter is 10 years old and we’re still using the old health department.”

The new health department is an example of planting the seeds for a tree that future generations will enjoy, he said.

“I thank the taxpayers for funding it and the voters for approving it,” he said.

Col. Gabe Weaver, the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield garrison commander, said the new health department building is another example of the bond between the civilian and military communities.

“This new facility is a powerful reflection of this community’s enduring commitment to health, well-being and the future of every person who lives here in Liberty County,” he said. “The relationship between the fort and Liberty County is a model of what a strong community partnership should look like. We share a mutual commitment to improving the quality of life for everyone who calls Liberty County home.

“We know military readiness starts at home and access to high quality health care builds strong families.”

When the county approached Drs. Borquaye, Ajayi and Wumi, as he is commonly called, about using their land for a new health department, it was an easy answer.

“We didn’t even think for a minute,” Dr. Borquaye said.

The Ghana native recalled first coming to Hinesville 28 years ago and thinking his stay would be short.

“I said, ‘we’ll be here for two years and we’ll be gone.’ And we are still here,” he said.

He also reached out to the Linda Ratcliffe, then with the Liberty County Health Department, about starting a free clinic. Dr. Borquaye proposed to see patients, for free, one day a week. With patients waiting on him one day, he was called to the hospital to deliver a baby.

He was gone an hour and it was raining and when he returned, the patients were still there.

“Nobody had left,” he said. “And I lost it. They don’t have anywhere to go and they are waiting for me to come.”

From that, he said, came the Diversity Health Center, which is still in operation.

The new building, which is 44,000 square feet, replaces a 33,000 square foot facility that opened in 1980. Bonds were used to finance the construction, at approximately $15.7 million, and those bonds will be paid off through special purpose local option sales tax proceeds.

“It was the citizens of Liberty County who paid that extra penny,” Thrift said.

The building it is replacing was opened when the county’s population was just under 38,000. It now stands at approximately 70,000 and is expected to eclipse 82,000 by 2060.

“In a growing community, we have to have things like this happen,” Thrift said. “We have to have a vision.”