By: Geeplay Ezekiel Geeplay |Montserrado County Correspondent
Sinoe County, Greenville City, Thursday, March 12, 2025 –In a powerful speech delivered in Sinoe County during the second convocation of the Sinoe Community College, Dr. Tolbert Nyenswah, former Director of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia and former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health, underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of Liberia’s healthcare training system.
Dr. Nyenswah emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and local institutions in strengthening the country’s medical workforce while reducing reliance on foreign healthcare workers.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Sinoe County, Dr. Nyenswah highlighted the critical role of healthcare training in developing a workforce capable of addressing Liberia’s growing medical and nursing needs. He called for a unified approach to healthcare training that would involve careful planning, curriculum development, the recruitment of qualified educators, and ensuring sufficient resources for the program’s sustainability.
“Successful healthcare training is not just about offering courses,” Nyenswah stated. “It requires a coordinated effort to create a solid foundation for the future of healthcare in Liberia.”
Dr. Nyenswah stressed that a well-designed curriculum is key to developing healthcare professionals capable of tackling Liberia’s unique health challenges. “Curriculum development is the foundation of all training,” he said. “It’s essential that these programs equip healthcare workers with the skills needed to address our country’s pressing health issues.”
The former deputy minister also pointed out that the inclusion of qualified and experienced faculty members is crucial for ensuring that the programs meet high professional standards. “The role of educators and experienced practitioners cannot be overstated,” he emphasized.
Dr. Nyenswah also highlighted the importance of having the necessary infrastructure, resources, and strategic planning to make healthcare training programs effective. He noted that without proper planning and resources, even the best curricula and faculty could not achieve their full potential. “Planning for the expansion of healthcare training must consider the capacity of both public and private institutions to meet the growing demand for skilled workers,” he stated.
Dr. Nyenswah’s address also called for increased collaboration among various stakeholders, including the Ministries of Health and Education. He emphasized that building a cohesive healthcare workforce requires a unified approach. Partnerships with universities, such as Rangiora and Tournament University, as well as specialized military institutions offering healthcare courses, could play a significant role in expanding training opportunities. “By utilizing existing institutions that already offer relevant programs, we can significantly reduce costs while expanding access to specialized healthcare training,” he noted. “Military institutions, for example, already offer specialized healthcare courses that could be leveraged to develop Liberia’s healthcare workforce.”
Dr. Nyenswah’s speech focused on identifying institutions that excel at producing specialized healthcare professionals. He highlighted the potential of community colleges and universities like Granular, which has demonstrated success in producing trained midwives.
By strengthening these institutions and expanding their programs, Liberia could better meet national demand and reduce its reliance on foreign healthcare workers.
“By focusing on institutions that have proven success in producing specialized professionals, such as midwives and nurses, we can ensure a steady supply of skilled workers who will address the nation’s specific health needs,” he explained.
Dr. Nyenswah emphasized that improving Liberia’s healthcare system requires a coordinated national effort. Strengthening local institutions, ensuring that training programs are responsive to both national and local health needs, and investing in healthcare professionals’ training are crucial to creating a sustainable healthcare system.
“Quality healthcare providers are the backbone of a healthy society,” he concluded. “Without a well-trained workforce, the healthcare system will always struggle. It’s time for us to invest in training the next generation of healthcare workers who will provide quality care to our people.”
Dr. Nyenswah’s call to action, delivered with passion and urgency, highlights the importance of strategic planning, collaboration, and resource allocation in building a robust healthcare workforce for Liberia’s future.
His message resonates beyond Sinoe County and calls for action at all levels of government and society to build a healthcare system capable of meeting the growing needs of the country’s population.
Edited: Jesefu Morris Keita| Editor-In-Chief
