Monrovia – The Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM) has begun a five – day Mid – Term Review of its 2012 – 2017 Strategic Plan at Musu Spot in Oldest Congo Town, Montserrado County.
The draft strategic plan was developed following the active participation of wide ranged stakeholders from civil society organizations, the Health Ministry and Deans of Universities and training institutions including hospitals.
Other participants in the review are from the Liberian Nursing and Midwifery Associations; representatives of the nursing and midwifery students, Rebuilding Basic Health Service (RBHS), the World Health Organization (WHO), UNFPA and LBNM Secretariat Staff.
The revision will focus on the organization set – up of the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery, the organizational culture and climate, the organizational structure and rationale.
The participants at the mid – term review will look at the strategic planning process, Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal (PESTEL) and Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis taking into consideration PESTEL external and SWOT analysis internal audit.
Among other areas is the strategic framework covering LBNM’s vision, mission and core value, guiding principles as well as key results, strategic goals, objectives and activities as well as monitoring and evaluation framework.
The plan further prioritizes six strategic goals which are service delivery, human resource, information, finance, infrastructure and equipment and leadership and governance.
The review of the LBNM 2012 – 2017 strategic plan which opened Monday, August 1 will end Friday, August 5.
Speaking Monday at the opening of the review, the Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Professor Sebalda Leshabar, said the role of nursing in the health sector of Liberia is very essential.
Professor Leshabar: “As such the revision of the strategic plan of the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery must be given key attention by its members”.
Dr. Leshabar who is also the key facilitator of the mid – term review cautioned the participants to take keen interest in the strategic plan as they go through the five days of deliberation.
She told them to be involved in all aspects of Board and to continue to collaborate with their partners and specifically with members of the National Legislature to ensure the strategic plan is workable in the country.
Speaking briefly, LBNM’s Board Chairperson Ms. Cecelia A. Morris said the plan is to ensure continual improvement of service to the public, in anticipation of future public needs and evaluation of performance.
“It is also intended to create an environment that will allow professional and career development so that nurses and midwives are able to use their skills to enhance the patient experience while working with their partners in health and social care, among others”, Madam Morris indicated.
For her part, the Chief Nursing Officer of Liberia, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Musu Washington who proxy for Health Minister, Dr. Bernice Dahn pledged the Ministry’s continuous support in working with the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM) to improve the professional and ethical skills of nurses across the country.
The mid – term review of the LBNM is being held in partnership with USAID – Liberia, Collaborative Support for Health(CHS) Initiative and is attended by participants from the health sector and civil society organizations, among others.
USAID – Liberia Collaborative Support for Health aim is to work in strengthening health system in Liberia.
The LBNM was established in 1949 under the nurse Practice Act of 1948. The Board began actual activities from 1952 when it started licensing practical nurses and midwives who were admitted to the Board as auxiliary members.
In 1958 the Liberian Council of Midwives was established to assist with the implementation of the Board’s functions.
The functions included registering nurses in Liberia, granting accreditation to all nursing and midwifery training programs, testing and licensing new graduates from nursing and midwifery programs, and renewing nursing/midwifery licenses. Up to date, LBNM has accredited seventeen nursing and midwifery schools.
With this, the Board roles are among other things to advocate with government and national authorities for the promulgation of appropriate regulations for human resources for health development and utilization to ensure gender equity in all health training programs and ensuring conducive working and learning environment at all health training institutions.
It is also mandated that the Board ensures the availability of qualified staff and instructors, advocate for the rights of health workers mainly nurses and midwives that are respected and protected, as well as to ensure that qualified nurses and midwives are produce and available for service delivery.
