MONROVIA, June 22 (LINA) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the University of Liberia (UL) College of Health Sciences has launched the Center For Learning and Innovation (CTLI) in Liberia.
Speaking on Tuesday in Congo Town at the College of Medicine campus, the Chargé d’Affaires, Joel F. Maybury, said it is a privilege and mission to promote lifelong learning and research in partnership with neighboring institutions and colleagues.
According to him, The CTLI and all related programs will be very transformational for the faculty and students, noting that the Center will serve as a hub for collaborative training and innovation with the larger community, including clinicians, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.
He emphasized that they are proud to be associated with the training of the future generations of Liberia’s health workforce, which include the clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and even future faculty members, “who will keep us all safe and healthy to work in the country.”
Maybury cited the opening of the CTLI is a momentous occasion, which builds on years of progress at the College of Health Sciences, and ushering in a new era for high quality and professional health education.
« It will interest you to note that 50 years ago, we started with just the A. M. Dogliotti College of Medicine, but today, in spite of the challenges faced over the years, we have a busy campus with four schools, including the School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, and School of Nursing and Midwifery, as well as strengthened administrative systems, » he asserted.
For his part, the President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Julius Sawolo Nelson, stated that they celebrate what great countries can achieve together and that “today is an especially proud moment as we stand at the intersection of several different partnerships between the United States and Liberia.
The UL president noted that the project is working to strengthen medical education both at the undergraduate and residency levels, and there is the resilient and responsive health systems initiative, funded by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, and administered by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.
« This initiative supports classroom and clinical training for physicians, nurses, midwives, and health managers, and now, Bringing Research to Impact for Development, Global Engagement, and Utilization (BRIDGE-U), also funded by USAID, is building these initiatives to enrich faculty development and student-learning across the College of Health Sciences, » he narrated.
He explained that “the projects are models of innovation and impact, demonstrating the tremendous change we can achieve through partnership and collaboration.”
The UL official stated that the U.S. university and other partners are working side-by-side with the University of Liberia and Tubman University, just as they at the Embassy work side-by-side with the Ministry of Health to reimagine medical education in Liberia.
« The launch of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Innovation is yet another great achievement that marks our long-standing partnership which will serve as a gateway to modern health education technology for the next generation of essential health workers – doctors, nurses, administrators, and faculty,” Dr. Nelson added.
He stressed that the U.S. government is proud of the many ways in which their assistance improves health outcomes for the Liberian people as well as strengthening the health workforce, which is a priority for every country.
