As Liberia recovers from a 15 years civil war that destroyed every fabric of society including the health sector, the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) has graduated 176 persons from several disciplines of the medical profession.

The TNIMA Administration graduated nurses from four areas of medical studies. Seventy seven persons graduated from the school of Professional Nursing, 46 persons from the School of Midwifery, 30from it’s School of Physician Assistant, and the school of Environmental Health capped 23 as graduates.

The 54th graduation of the TNIMA saw huge attendance at the University of Liberia (UL) Stage, where government officials and their International partners were also present.

Education Minister Dr. Joseph Korto said it is about time that the Management of the TNIMA to recommend for a BSC program in order to help with the development of the human resource beyond what they are doing.
Minister Korto was responding to request being made by the administrators of TNIMA to offer a higher degree programs instead of the Associate degree course that has been in the making for years.

The Education Minister said the request was a welcoming one but it was necessary for a former request to be made in addressing the situation. He furthered that if accepted, he would advocate for such program to be run in collaboration with the University of Liberia that does not have a nursing program.

He referenced that there are only three higher learning institutions in Liberia that are offering higher level degrees in health programs in the country, naming them as the Mother Pattern Schools of Health Sciences (Monrovia), the Cutting ton University (Bong County) and the newly accredited institution in Maryland, the Williams V. S. Tubman College of Medical Services.

He said the number of the higher learning institutions in country that is emerging from war is very small and is about time that every stakeholders start to work in solving the building of the human resource. He made it clear that the three schools cannot address the medical staff needs of the country’s growing population, now approaching four millions.

He said the graduation of the 176 professional persons by TNIMA, is laudable initiative by the Ministry of Health, the John F. Kennedy Hospital and the Administration of the TNIMA.

The Mission Director of USAID Pamela White who served as the Guest Speaker, challenged Liberians to make strive in helping with the rebuilding process of their country. She said it was about time that the graduates go beyond borders in extending their professional services to rural Liberia.

Madam White added her voice to the constant saying that ‘Monrovia is not Liberia’ and is about time for more attention to be paid to the suffering people of rural areas. She then seriously challenged the newly gradates to strive in every aspect to help solve the problems that the country is faced with.

The Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) was established in 1945 through the joint effort and cooperation of the Liberia National Public Health Services now the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the United States Mission in Liberia.

In 1945, two existing programs for the training of nurses merged. Professional nursing and practical nursing were taught during that time by the TNIMA. In 1964, the Physician Assistance Program for Development of Health was established at the institution to help people in the rural areas with health services.

 culled from:The Informer