{"id":14629,"date":"2021-03-04T08:42:31","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T08:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/?p=14629"},"modified":"2021-03-04T08:42:31","modified_gmt":"2021-03-04T08:42:31","slug":"doe-cries-for-increased-support-to-health-education-in-commencement-addressas-ul-wraps-up-101st-meni-nina-convocation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/doe-cries-for-increased-support-to-health-education-in-commencement-addressas-ul-wraps-up-101st-meni-nina-convocation\/","title":{"rendered":"Doe Cries for Increased Support to Health, Education in Commencement Address:As UL Wraps-up 101st \u201cMeni Nina\u201d Convocation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liberian Neurosurgeon and commencement Speaker at the University of Liberia (UL) 101st Joint – Convocation, Md. Alvin Nah-Doe, has said budgetary allocation for the health sector must be increased in order to ensure that patients have access to quality healthcare.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne fundamental basis for improving the health system through innovation begins with increasing budgetary allocation for the sector. As the saying goes \u2026 Health is wealth and I will add by extension that a quality health system begets a wealthy nation,\u201d Dr. Doe said Monday, March 3, 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

Delivering the commencement speech at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville for the final of UL\u2019s four college-based convocations for the 101st \u201cMeni Nina\u201d Class of 2020, Dr. Doe said \u201cAn improved health system is a public good [that] reduces the loss of productive time and also reduces the health burden on the country.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Doe asserted that one of the most important ways to improve health in least developed\u00a0 or low – income countries like Liberia is by educating citizens through investment in education. \u201cEducating people enables them to obtain safer jobs, increased health literacy, take preventive healthcare measures, avoid riskier health behaviors and demand better – quality health services,\u201d he added. The surgeon pointed out that improving the nation\u2019s health literacy is critical to creating a system of care based on wellness and prevention–which he considered the foundation of any public health system.<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking specifically about his profession, as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Doe explained that the burden of neurosurgical illness on Liberia\u2019s population is enormous and he then proffered suggestions he thinks would remedy the situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cTrain more neurosurgeons and the entire neurosurgical team as well as other specialized doctors, nurses and professionals in other fields of medicine, pharmacy and health care,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Doe also recommended improvement of the emergency and other services as well as ensuring the availability of a functioning MRI [Magnetic Resonance Imaging] at national referral facilities. He pleaded with the government to transform the neurosurgical subunit into a full unit. \u201cSecure equipment and consumables which will enhance our performance,\u201d Dr. Doe appealed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding personal hygiene practices, he said \u201cPoor personal hygiene can result in increased risk of infection and illness, consequently creating many social problems.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe should engage in good hygiene practices that keep us safe from many diseases and help us take care of our health appropriately,\u201d said Dr. Doe.<\/span><\/p>\n

He added that there are some behaviors, like urinating or defecating in public, which are very bad and more often \u201cwe don\u2019t see them as unacceptable and unlawful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Visitor<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Making remarks at the 101st UL joint – convocation, the President of the Republic of Liberia and Visitor of the University of Liberia, Dr. George Manneh Weah, said the most outstanding thing that grabbed his attention was the fact that UL\u2019s oldest college, the Liberia College has for the first time graduating more females than males.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have been informed that 235 of the total number of graduates from [this college] are females, while 203 are males,\u201d President Weah said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>He described it as an outstanding achievement and it is sufficient evidence that UL is making progress in reducing the disparity between males and females in the education sector.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Visitor of UL thanked the President of the University of Liberia and his team for achieving this historic milestone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0He said the female-leaning gender composition of the 101st UL graduating class is \u201cheart – warming\u201d for him as \u201cLiberia\u2019s Feminist – in – Chief.\u201d The President extended heartfelt congratulations to all 3,312 graduates for their commitment and dedication.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Visitor recommitted that his government will play its part to ensure that some of the boundaries that prevent female enrollment into institutions of higher learning are identified and removed.\u201c…This is why in the first year in office, we introduced the tuition free policy for all public universities and colleges. This policy is now being debated at the National Legislature in order to transition into law,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>President Nelson: a bold new beginning<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Earlier in his message to the 101st \u201cMeni Nina\u201d class of 2020, the President of the University of Liberia, Rev. Dr. Julius J. S. Nelson, Jr., said \u201cToday, we are producing 3,312 graduands at this 101st Commencement Convocation,\u201d thanking God who has given the victory.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cJust\u00a0 a few months ago, we made history by conducting UL\u2019s first E-Learning program that ended the second semester of Academic 2019\/2020, which has allowed us to gather here today under normal circumstances,\u201d Dr. Nelson said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>According to him, the 101st class is proud to be considered the university’s first class to experience the E- Learning program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding the university\u2019s effort to reduce dependency on the national government, Dr. Nelson noted that UL has identified various investment initiatives that have the potential of generating revenue to augment the government’s subsidy under the Lux Investment Corporation. \u201cWe are currently sourcing funding for these projects and have estimated the start – up cost at US$3 Million,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

He also announced that through various partnerships\/scholarships, the university has a total of 11 faculty members who have returned from studies with 10 masters\u2019 degrees and one doctorate degree, this year in various disciplines. \u201cTwo are females and nine are males. We also have a total of twelve (12) faculty members who left this past year for studies including seven (7) Ph.Ds. and five (5) Masters,\u201d Dr. Nelson continued.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Vals<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

For his part, Dorbor Blama, Valedictorian of the Undergraduate Colleges, on behalf of his colleagues, indicated that they were overjoyed and extended gratitude to the university administration for their hard work that made the day a success.<\/span><\/p>\n

Addressing his fellow graduates, Dorbor said the only thing that will help them to achieve their goals is self – confidence, reminding them to always exhibit positive attitude and self – confidence in their future endeavors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also speaking, Samuel Kaybu Hinneh, Sr., Valedictorian for the Graduate and Professional Schools, urged his fellow graduates to go out and make Liberia first again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cGo out and provide first class services to the business and financial institutions in Africa and the world,\u201d he said to the business students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cGo out, our medical doctors and restore quality in our health sector,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Liberian Neurosurgeon and commencement Speaker at the University of Liberia (UL) 101st Joint – Convocation, Md. Alvin Nah-Doe, has said budgetary allocation for the health sector must be increased in order to ensure that patients have access to quality healthcare. \u201cOne fundamental basis for improving […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"iawp_total_views":8,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-101st-graduation-convocation"],"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Thomas Karyah","author_link":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/author\/474d7bd78c00a655\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14629\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ul.edu.lr\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}