By Christian Appleton
Harper, Maryland County – September 22, 2025—In a major step toward improving healthcare delivery in rural Liberia, the Ministry of Health’s Nursing and Midwifery Division, supported by the World Bank, has successfully completed the second phase of its nationwide in-service training for healthcare workers.
The intensive eight-day training, held from September 15 to 24 at Tubman University in Harper, brought together 20 frontline healthcare professionals—including nurses, midwives, and physician assistants—from Maryland, Sinoe, and Grand Kru Counties.
The program focused on enhancing critical care skills and customer service in the health sector—two areas the Ministry identified as essential for improving patient outcomes and restoring public confidence in the health system. Facilitated by health experts Boiyan P. Kpadeh and Eric Baggeur, the sessions covered key topics such as emergency response, emotional intelligence, patient communication, and interpersonal dynamics in clinical settings.
Strengthening Patient-Centered Care
Wesseh Koiblee, Clinical and Hospital Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, stated that the training is part of a broader effort to cultivate more compassionate, patient-centered healthcare professionals.
“This training was meant to prepare our health workers to provide better patient-centered care,” Koiblee said during the closing ceremony. “It marks the beginning of a nationwide rollout aimed at strengthening Liberia’s healthcare system from the ground up.”
Sofia Thomas, Deputy Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, emphasized the need for ongoing professional development, particularly for practitioners serving remote communities.
“To be more professional in the work, it requires this kind of in-service training,” she stated. “This gives our health practitioners the tools, the confidence, and the support they need to save lives and restore trust in our health system.”
Maryland County Health Officer, Dr. Siedoh Freeman, specifically praised the initiative’s focus on maternal and newborn care.
“When nurses and midwives are better trained, it means more mothers go home with their babies alive and healthy,” Dr. Freeman said. “That is the true measure of progress in the health system.”
A “Transformative” Experience for Participants
Participants described the training as transformative. Davidetta Karmbor Collins, a clinician at JJ Dossen Hospital, noted the experience reshaped her understanding of patient care.
“It reminded us that critical care is not only about emergencies but about how we treat patients with respect and compassion every single day.”
Christopher Nyumnnah, Officer-in-Charge at Barclayville Health Center in Grand Kru, highlighted the often-overlooked importance of customer service in clinical care.
“The sessions on emotional management and interpersonal relationships gave us practical skills to improve how we interact with patients and families,” he said.
Charles Jarsor, Director for Nurses and Midwifery at JJ Dossen Hospital, spoke of the long-term benefits: “I am leaving this training more confident and better prepared to handle both critical cases and patient concerns. It has changed the way we see our roles as caregivers.”
With strong backing from the World Bank, the Ministry of Health plans to continue the in-service training across other counties in the coming months. The ultimate goal is to build a nationwide network of highly skilled, compassionate healthcare workers capable of meeting the country’s evolving health challenges. Officials and participants agree that this initiative is not just about improving skills—it’s about saving lives and transforming healthcare from the inside out.