Monrovia – Ambassador Michael McCarthy, the new United States Ambassador accredited to Monrovia has stressed that the United States government is willing to support the health sector of Liberia. He, at the same time, handed over 430 textbooks to the nursing and midwifery institutions in the country.
The US Ambassador to Liberia made the remark over the weekend at the head office on the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery on Carey Street.
The event brought together several health practitioners from different health institutions across the country.
On Friday, January 22, 2021, President George M. Weah, received the credentials of U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia Ambassador McCarthy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The event at the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery on Carey makes the US Ambassador first public appearance since presenting a letter of credence to the Liberian leader.
Ambassador McCarthy said the US Government through its implementing partners is supporting internal medicine residency training, infectious disease sub-specialty training including family medicine residency training, board support for nursing and midwifery and support to the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM).
All of these, the US Ambassador said happened after a senior official from the Headquarters of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) visited Liberia two years ago to assess the impact of PEPFAR investments in the health sector.
“Today, we celebrate one aspect of this board support. I cannot imagine studying nursing and midwifery and not having current textbooks, and not having enough high quality resources for learning. With these 430 textbooks, your country now stands to gain from training nurses and midwives because of this modest investment,” Ambassador McCarthy said.
“PEPFAR is also making a big investment in National HIV Response in Liberia. US agencies like USAID, CDC, and HRSA administer this support and provided oversight and technical assistance, but the work is performed by their partners,” he said.
The issue about rural training for medical residents and nursing and midwifery students, and support to the medical school, the Ambassador added will boost the health sector.
He named Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as major partners in strengthening Liberia’s health sector.
“These partners are well-known to LBNM. I want to end by thanking all of you present today, particularly the Chair, members of the Board, and the Registrar of LBNM. We are simply carrying out actions in support of your bold vision and leadership,” Ambassador McCarthy furthers.
At the event the US Ambassador was gowned by the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery for his country continues toward the improvement of the health sector.
Also a letter of gratitude to the US Ambassador was read out at the event by the Executive Secretary of LBNM Madam Cecelia C. Kpanbala-Flomo.
Madam Flomo reading the letter praised the US Government for its efforts to improve the quality of learning in the health institutions. She says the turning over of 430 current textbooks to nursing and midwifery institutions in the country will boost the quality of learning.
“Mr. Ambassador, the Nursing and Midwifery profession; we remain grateful. We continue to be grateful to the American people for the numerous supports to the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery and the entire health system of Liberia,” Madam Flomo stated.
She added: “LBNM looks forward to continuing collaboration and the critical support that will allow us to accomplish a very sustainable system at the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery.”
The full transition from paper-based licensure exam to a digital system of exam administration and the completion of the construction and furnishing of the LBNM Headquarter Madam Flomo says are keys on their agenda.