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From Kokpar Wohwoh, Physician Assistant
Pennsylvania, USA
Ministry of Health
Republic of Liberia
Dear Honorable Minister of Health,
Open Letter: Enhancing Nursing Education to Address Maternal and Child Mortality
Liberia is grappling with distressingly high maternal and child mortality rates. The statistics are alarming: 742 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and approximately 11,000 children under five lost annually.
As a concerned stakeholder, I urge the Ministry of Health to reassess and strengthen the nursing education system.
To effectively address these pressing health challenges, I recommend that the Ministry:
- Review and update the curriculum of nursing schools to ensure relevance and adequacy.
- Enhance practicum and instructional components to provide hands-on experience and skills development.
- Assess and optimize administrative staffing to support quality education and training.
- Intensify monitoring and supervision at the facility level.
- Standardize the nursing and midwife board exams.
- Implement compulsory examinations for nurses and midwives who have practiced for 10 years.
By taking these steps, we can better equip nursing graduates to provide high-quality care, ultimately reducing maternal and child mortality rates and improving health outcomes in Liberia.
Sincerely,
Kokpar Wohwoh
Physician Assistant
Pennsylvania, USA