Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
CPD Team Embarks on National Outreach
Licensed health care workers in Liberia are being urged to complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities, a new requirement for license renewal starting in 2025. An event in Todee District, Montserrado County in February 2024 kicked off a nationwide awareness campaign for Liberia's National CPD Guidelines.
Health practitioners pose for a picture after the CPD dissemination launch at the Montserrado CHT office in Duport.
During the awareness event, health professionals were informed of their flexibility to choose topics and formats that best suit their interests and convenience. They can earn one Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for every 10 hours of learning, with registered CPD providers offering board-approved training that awards CEUs. Pre-approved CPD formats include conferences, online courses, hospital grand rounds, research, policy development, and precepting students.
Madam Shirley S. Fahnbulleh, BRIDGE-U: Liberia Senior Coordinator for CPD and a nurse, emphasized the importance of CPD. She stated that CPD enhances healthcare providers' knowledge and skills, aligning Liberian practitioners with international standards.
“All the places we have visited have been well-attended, and healthcare providers have responded positively. This initiative is in our best interest,” Madam Fahnbulleh noted. She added, “CPD is crucial as it improves your knowledge and skills, leading to better patient care and outcomes."
Madam Fahnbulleh further explained that, over the next two to three years, all healthcare providers in Liberia will be expected to have their competencies continuously updated, resulting in improved patient outcomes.
“The goal is for Liberia to be on par with other countries in the region. Health professionals in other countries undergo similar CPD requirements for license renewal. This progress is a significant step for our country,” she said.
She further mentioned plans to extend CPD training throughout Liberia, starting with Todee and eventually reaching every part of the country. “It is about ensuring that we meet global standards and move beyond business as usual,” she added. Participants praised the CPD training for providing them with updated skills. Charles B. Karmo, Officer-In-Charge at Zingbor Community Clinic in Mount Coffee Township, remarked, “The training is valuable and will enhance our skills. It has highlighted areas where our practices were not aligned with standard procedures.
”He encouraged all health workers to embrace the CPD program as it will improve their professional development and contribute to a better Liberia.
Sabana M. Vampelt, Community Health Service Supervisor at Zannah Town Clinic in Todee District, shared her positive experience: “The training has provided me with insights I had not previously considered. It is a useful guide to keep us on track and remind us of our professional responsibilities. It challenges me to invest more time in my studies and focus on my profession.”
The dissemination training and awareness were led by the Liberia Medical and Dental Council, the Liberia Environmental Health Board, the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery, the Liberia Pharmacy Board, the Liberia National Physician Assistant Board, and the Board of Accreditation and Licensure of Medical Laboratory Technologists.
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