“Empower Nurses, Save Liberia’s Future”

TAPPITA, Nimba County, May 15, 2026 — Businessman William F. Kotee Jr. has called for increased national investment in Liberia’s health workforce, warning that persistent shortages of nurses and midwives, coupled with ongoing maternal health challenges, continue to threaten the country’s healthcare system and future development.

Kotee made the remarks during the International Nurses and Midwifery Week celebration held at the Jackson F. Doe Memorial Regional Referral Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County.

Speaking as guest speaker at the event, Kotee described nurses and midwives as the backbone of Liberia’s healthcare system and urged the government and stakeholders to prioritize improved salaries, training opportunities, staffing, and working conditions for health workers across the country.

“You are not just hospital staff. You are the backbone of Liberia’s survival system,” Kotee stated while addressing health workers gathered under the theme: “Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses and Midwives Save Lives.”

He praised Liberian nurses and midwives for their resilience through years of national health crises, including the country’s post-war recovery, the Ebola outbreak, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, healthcare institutions such as the Jackson F. Doe Memorial Regional Referral Hospital continue to play a critical role in serving residents of Nimba County, southeastern Liberia, and neighboring regions despite limited resources and workforce constraints.

Liberia continues to face significant shortages of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses and midwives, especially in rural communities where access to essential healthcare services remains limited.

Health experts have repeatedly warned that the country’s maternal mortality rate remains among the highest in the region due to inadequate access to skilled birth attendants, emergency maternal care, and weak referral systems in remote areas.

Kotee emphasized that empowering nurses and midwives would not only strengthen hospitals but also help save lives and improve national health outcomes.

“When you empower nurses and midwives, you are not just improving hospitals, you are saving entire generations,” he said.

Liberia’s healthcare sector has made gradual progress since the end of the civil conflict, with improvements in hospital rehabilitation, training programs, immunization coverage, and community healthcare services through support from international partners, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Global Fund.

However, major challenges remain, including low salaries, poor working conditions, inadequate medical supplies, workforce burnout, and the migration of healthcare professionals to other countries.

Kotee warned that failure to urgently address these issues could undermine Liberia’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage and improve healthcare delivery nationwide.

As part of the program, the businessman presented L$25,000 to nurses and midwives as a gesture of appreciation for their service and dedication to the country’s health sector.

The celebration brought together health workers, hospital administrators, and stakeholders to recognize the role nurses and midwives continue to play in Liberia’s healthcare recovery and national development.