Monrovia, Liberia – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has admitted fifteen newly recruited Laboratory, Research, and Diagnostic young Scientists to the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) to work as technical workers.
The appointment of fifteen young scientists will improve and strengthen laboratory and research diagnostic capabilities, minimize results reporting time, and strengthen Outbreak Preparedness and Response activities, among other things.
Speaking on Friday, January 17, 2025 at NPHIL in Paynesville, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, stated that in just four months, the institution recruited and added fifteen more scientists to the institution’s existing five, bringing the total number of technical personnel at the NRL to twenty.
According to him, the newly recruited scientists, who specialize in research, laboratory, and diagnostic science, come from a variety of medical scientific backgrounds both within and outside of Liberia. Dr. Chris stated that Liberia has the capacity to handle public health emergencies and refuted the perception that the country lacked skilled professionals.
He claimed that many young Liberians have went overseas to study medicine in China, India, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The head of NPHIL noted that the professionals offer untapped potential for strengthening the country’s health sector.
During the induction ceremony, the young scientists pledged to improve Liberia’s public health system and prepare for crises.
The National Reference Laboratory (NRL) was founded in 2005 with just two lab technologies doing lab analysis at the John F. Kennedy Hospital, which was known as the Central Public Health Lab, according to Fahn Taweh, the NRL’s director.
“The leadership made the right decision in 2008 to expand the lab’s workforce because there were only two employees and we were only testing for three perimeters at that time,” he stated.
Additionally, Director Taweh stated that the lab started full functioning in 2008 when the management brought in four more scientists and laboratory technology, bringing the total to six. He explained that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Liberia and the rest of the globe recognized the necessity for a standardized system that would do all the analyses required for national public health interventions.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
