Seventeen Liberian Fellows of the West African College of Nursing (WACN) have successfully participated in the week-long 14^th Biennial General Conference of the College in Abuja, Nigeria.  The meeting also included the 23^rd Scientific Session and 37th Council Meeting of the College, which ran from the 1^st to the 7^th of July. 

A press release from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja says the theme of the combined meetings was “Emerging Health Emergencies: Community and Health Workforce Responsibilities in the Sub-region.”

Bidding farewell to the Liberian Ambassador to Nigeria, Professor Al-Hassan Conteh, in Abuja on Saturday, the nurses expressed their gratitude to the Ambassador and staff for receiving them at the Embassy.  Speaking on behalf of the group, WACN’s Liberian Chair, Mr. Joseph Gono, lauded the Ambassador for the reception in their honor, the release adds.  He praised his colleagues for the organized and competent manner in which they participated in all the College’s deliberations.

Also making remarks, Mrs. Elizabeth Sele Mulbah, past President of the WACN, and current Vice President of the Governance Commission of Liberia, applauded the Ambassador and said this was the first time a Liberian Mission was hosting them after their biennial meeting.  She commended the Government of Liberia and other sponsors for supporting WACN’s activities in Liberia.

Delivering the Vote of Thanks, Mr. Garrison Thomas, Secretary General of the Organization of Liberian Communities in Nigeria (OLICON) expressed appreciation to the Ambassador for the reception, and introduced the OLICON members who attended the program to the Nurses.

Responding, Ambassador Conteh extolled the Fellows for their vanguard role in providing health care in Liberia. He expressed confidence that the issues discussed at the meetings, including the values, leadership and partnership required to respond to health emergencies, would benefit Liberians and the people of West Africa.  He assured the Fellows that the Embassy’s doors would always be open to follow up and support Liberia’s work with the WACN.

The WACN was launched in Banjul, The Gambia in 1981.  It promotes nursing education,   standard, health care, and research in West Africa.  Its Fellows are from Nigeria, Liberia, Gambia, Ghana, and Sierra-Leone and Benin. The WACN’s goals include supporting national strategic health plans and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Health.  Sierra Leone will host its 2019 General Biennial Conference.