Monrovia – The first woman Chairperson of Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC), Dr. Linda Birch, has vowed to work with her colleagues to transform the council as she embarks on a two-year term.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
The LMDC is the parent body of all health practitioners in Liberia.
In her inaugural address on Friday, March 23, at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Dr. Birch underscored her leadership’s three-year strategic plan is aimed at transforming the LMDC and building public trust.
“The new officers installed today will carry out a three-year strategic plan of action which consists of the following, to develop an effective and efficient registry that is responsive to the changing needs of the public and medical profession, to create a supportive learning and working environment for good and professional practices, to maintain the confidence of the people, we serve in the profession by timely responding to their concerns, to enhance and improve patients’ safety and to develop a sustainable high performing organization,” she outlined.
She pointed out that establishing the qualifications of licensed medical professionals and assessing their backgrounds and legitimacy will be one focus of her leadership.
She also assured major stakeholders of the health sector and the public that stringent measures will be put in place before awarding licenses and accreditation to health professionals and institutions for operations in Liberia to ensure patients are giving the highest level of care.
“We will embark on these strategies by carrying out vigorous scrutiny of health professionals before licensure.”
“Physicians and healthcare workers have been undergoing the credentialing process as far back as 1000 BC.”
“And we see no reason why it must not continue to be the benchmark of practicing medicine,” she said.
The LMDC new boss, amidst loud applause from the audience called on her colleagues for support in overhauling the LMDC in line with the public health laws of Liberia and other international statues.
“If we are to carry on total reform in the LMDC, we expect all hands to be on deck. We should not be cowards.”
“We must speak out when there is wrong. This will mean making amendments of our bylaws and constitution.”
“There is a need for upgrading and improving the database of all health professionals to know their locations and activities and their needs as they go about performing their duties,” the LMDC boss noted.
She lamented that it was unthinkable to have a renowned institution without a website and promised to reach out to donors and partners to create a website for the Council.
The installation ceremony brought together major stakeholders in the health sector including Liberia’s new Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Peter Coleman, and the House of Representatives’ Health Committee’s Chairman, Rep. Saah Joseph.
Delivering the keynote remarks, Rep. Joseph pledged the 54th Legislature’s support to the Council and called on its members to be vigilant in discharging their duties.
Drs. Coleman and Jallah, in separate remarks pledged their commitments in working with the council to improve the health system of Liberia.
Meanwhile, other officials inducted include Mr. David Sumo, Vice Chairman, Dr. Kpedeh Koiboi, Chaplain, Dr. Jerry F. Brown, Surgeon, Acting Director and General Administrator of JFK, Dr. Z. Sherman Adams, Dean of A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine, Dr. Issiaka Adams, Dentist, Dr. Louise Marpleh Kpoto of the Liberia Medical and Dental Association, Humphry Lowell of the Nursery and Midwifery Board, Alonso Bayoh of the PA and Allied Health Board and Mr. William Jallah of the Complementary Medicine Board all serving as members.