MONROVIA: The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa, has told graduates of the Tubman National Institute of Medical Art (TNIMA) that their “job is more important and appealing, and it borders on humans’ lives.
Speaking recently at the graduation ceremony of the TNIMA, held at the acclaimed Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo town, near Monrovia, Deputy Speaker Koffa has told the graduates to exhibit high degree of professionalism and passion in their medical career because the entire country depends on the health sector for survival.
Deputy Speaker Koffa pointed out that amid huge challenges the country faces in the healthcare sector, the passion and professionalism of health workers will create the resilience needed in the sector.
The Deputy Speaker made these remarks at the weekend when he delivered the Keynote at the 65th graduation convocation of the TNIMA.
A total of 228 students from different specialized medical fields graduated and are now placed on the job market to dispense quality healthcare services in their respective areas of discipline.
“The passion that you bring will create the resilience in the health sector. You must perform where you are assigned as though the entire sector depends on you. This is the kind of passion that we need in the health sector. As healthcare practitioners, you must be able to keep patients’ confidentiality. If you don’t have the passion, you are in the wrong place of this profession,” said Deputy Speaker Koffa.
“It is the passion and demonstration that will make the difference and when that is done, no one will go to Ghana to seek medical treatment because there will be trust in our health system,” he added.
At the same time, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Dr. Jerry Brown, admonished graduates to consider their graduation process as the beginning of their academic sojourn, so as to be willing to learn more.
According to him, their desire to forge ahead should be premiere while at the same time executing their duty with high degree of professionalism.
“This should not be the end. Be different and stand tall as a different set of health workers. Be passionate and let patients’ care to be your foremost priority. JFK stands ready to work with you,” Dr. Brown cautioned the graduates.
Since the ascendancy of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led administration and the subsequent appointment of the current team at the JFK, Dr. Brown bragged that there have been several different improvements at the TNIMA, adding that there are more good things to come.
“Since our ascendancy, we have moved to increase students’ enrollment at TNIMA. We currently have close to 700 students from the initial 100 students’ enrollment. This is our mark and our desire to contribute to health care development. We are doing so because without the development of manpower, we will not have a resilient health sector that we so desire,” the JFK Hospital boss asserted.
“As part of our plan, we will work towards ensuring a degree program at TNIMA. There are so many institutions that came after us that are offering degree and so we cannot be just confined to a mere diplomat program when we have better learning and practical facilities,” Brown emphasized.
Also gracing the occasion was Madam Sarah G.B. Kollie, Administrator of the TNIMA who lauded the Government of Liberia under the stewardship of President George Manneh Weah for its tireless efforts in supporting the TNIMA amid competing priorities.
Madam Kollie explained that the Weah-led government through the JFK Medical Center and other partners has significantly contributed to running of the TNIMA, even though she pointed out more things are needed to meet up with statutory obligations.
With the support provided the TNIMA and the high quality teachings at the institution, the TNIMA administrator is hopeful that the new graduates will contribute significantly in addressing the health needs of the country, especially in rural Liberia.
In his valedictory remark, Student Emmanuel T. Tokpah vowed to the graduates’ professional commitment to the provision and delivery of good healthcare services to the nation.
“You can depend on us for professional healthcare delivery. With self-discipline, and commitment, our dedication is to celebrate today. Liberia needs a high and quality manpower to serve especially in the rural parts, though not leaving out the urban sector, we are ready to serve,” Student Tokpah indicated.
“To my fellow graduates, let’s always remember to respond responsively to your responsibility. Let’s not bury our time at TNIMA and the time wasted on us at TNIMA. We are capable enough to make the necessary changes needed in the health sector. Do not always wait for opportunity, use the knowledge acquired to create more opportunities,” Valedictorian Tokpah told fellow graduates.
“I feel proud and excited. On behalf of the class, I give God the glory and thank our parents for the support. I also thank the instructional and administrative staff for giving us quality education that we can depend on for the future,” the dux among other things added.