Executive Mansion,Monrovia
On the 4oth anniversary of the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine of the University of Liberia (UL), the Liberian Government has renewed its commitment to the full restoration of the institution by providing necessary support. Addressing students and alumni of the institution, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf welcomed assistance provided the institution by friendly countries and other international partners, but maintained that the long-term solution of the country’s health care delivery services lies in the training of more Liberian doctors to effectively carry out their national responsibility.To achieve this goal, President Johnson Sirleaf, officially referred to as ‘Visitor to the University’, said UL’s administration must draw up a plan of action that will address the curriculum and other academic and administrative matters. Such measures, the President hoped, could double the output of the medical school if successfully implemented. She described as unacceptable the low number of doctors graduating from the University and assured the University that Government will exert all efforts to attract more assistance based on a plan drawn out by the administration.
Liberia’s partners, the President said, have already begun responding to the institution’s needs, but stressed that a comprehensive plan is needed to mobilize the necessary resources for the college. Some progress, the President acknowledged, has been made in the revitalization of the college, but she admitted that much needs to be done despite progress. The President spoke of the scarcity of resources in the face of competing priorities, and stressed the need to build a sustained medical program to increase the number of trained and qualified Liberian medical doctors.
The President lauded the administration and staff of the Dogliotti for staying the course under the most difficult circumstances, and assured the University family and medical students that the college will continue to remain a priority in Government’s development programs.
The President of the University, Dr. Emmet Dennis, lauded the Liberian leader for Government’s continued support to the institution. Dr. Dennis cited the 60 percent increment in the salary for instructors and the renovation of Dogliotti College as well as an allocation of the more than USD$600,000 by the National Oil Company of Liberia, as concrete manifestation of the Government’s desire to improve UL, particularly the medical college. Dr. Dennis assured the President that the University’s administration will continue to work with Government to ensure that progress made is enhanced and sustained.
In an anniversary lecture, the chairman of the Liberian Medical Board, Dr. Robert Kpoto, lamented the flight of several of the country’s doctors during the country’s civil conflict. It is a catastrophe, the Liberian orthopedic surgeon said, that Liberia continues to lose doctors to other countries, urging Government to invest more in health care and medicine, which he described as a pillar of national development.
In a welcome statement, the President of the Alumni Association of the College, Dr. Rose Jallah-Macauley, pointed out the 273 men and women graduates of the College, who make up a large proportion of doctors of various specialties and general practice in the region. Dr. Jallah-Macauley called on the alumni to join those making efforts to address the many challenges the medical college faces.
Thursday’s program, held at the auditorium of the University of Liberia, was part of programs marking the 40th anniversary of the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine. It brought together former graduates of the medical school, including former heads and deans of the school as well as former heads of the alumni association.
Agreement for the establishment of the medical school was signed in 1966 between the Liberian Government and the A. M. Dogliotti Foundation, backed by the Government of Italy, during the administration of Liberia’s 18th President, William V.S. Tubman. The college has since graduated 273 doctors. 71 percent of graduates of the college are Liberians.
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I am a graduate of the cuttington university with a
Bsc. degree in biology and with the strong hope of
becoming a medical doctor. But it seem to be that my dream is
dying slowly because of the less capacity of only medical
college in this country. but still with this dream, i am
kindly asking the government of liberia through the president to
provide more space thao will acomomdite more student
inorder to achieved their dream future.
thanks for your understanding.
Very much interested in getting touch with an administrator of A.M.Dogliotti College of Medicine of the University of Liberia.
James
I am a former student of AM.Doglotti College of Medicine now in general practice in the republic of Uganda. I am proud to be the product of that University.
I just read your comment about the A.M. Dogliotti Medical College in Liberia. Can you please communicate with me and share a little more information with me?
I have just graduated from the University of Minnesota’s School of Nursing with a BSN. I have been thinking about coming back to Liberia to go to medical school. However, I am greatly discouraged by the lack of respect Present Liberian educated healthcare professionals get in the international healthcare areans. It will benefit the country, if the educational sector can be revampt to be on par with other learning institutions around the world. It will also help with credibility if corruption can be eradicated from liberian schools so that teachers will not be able to sell grades to students and student will not be able to buy grades.
A.M.Dogliotti College of Medicine is a forming institution,dynamic in potential,and will rank among the wordbest if possibly a case-based lecture is introduced into the curriculum, and two,partnership through an exchange program (for the best 2 students) with top medical schools in the US,Canada and/or the Caribbean should be established to promote competition and foster inspiration among the students.
I was overtaken by emotions the moment I read that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf graced the occasion commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine of the University of Liberia. I was especially pleased to note that her government still regards the medical school as a national asset and that everything will be done to sustain it and bring it to world standard.
It does not seem to me that 30 years have since gone by when in 1978 as the president of the Liberian Medical Students Association (LMSA)I gave the oration during the 10th anniversary celebration of the medical school in the college auditorium. The occasion was equally graced at that time by the late Liberian president, Dr. William R. Tolbert. In his speech during the celebration president Tolbert assured the the medical school his government’s continued support. He provided funds for the immediate construction of a new 4-storey dormitory for female medical students at the college.
we are thankful to the government of Liberia for her continue supports toward the medical school over the years. However, for the past 3 years since the completion of the renovation works on the campus of the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine our campus has been in darkness, despite the President’s instruction to L.E.C management to come and reconnect the various buildings. Also the university authority is deciding to introduce payment of fees in to the government “free medical education” program. We see this as a complete contradiction of the government efforts and ask for the chief executive intervention.
Cellcom is a great company and we appreciate her many contributions towards the health sectors of Liberia, including the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine family. the internet service provided us is serving its purpose and the students and teaching staff as well as administration are enjoying a free wireless internet service.
Bravo Cellcom
We are very much thankful to the government and president of Liberia for her many supports towards the medical college over the years, renovating our building, providing laboratory and library equipment and materials, constructing a new building for visiting professors and continuing the “Free Medical Education” for Liberian Students as declared in the 1960s by president Tubman.
However, Since the completion of the renovation works in 2010, our campus has been in perpetual darkness with LEC management refusing to reconnect the various building, except two buildings, despite the president of Liberia instruction to LEC management to provide light for the campus. The equipments, Chemicals and other materials are being damaged and destroyed and the students wounder around in search of light to read, due to the lack of electricity: there is not even a single street light to lighten the campus; the students are vulnerable to various form of criminal activities.
Also, the university authority has decided to introduce the payment of fees into the government “Free Medical Education” program beginning this semester. We see this decision as a complete contradiction of the government effort to improve the health care delivery system of Liberia thereby making health available for all, including those in the most remote places of our country.
Besides, this act has the propensity to discourage young people from becoming Medical Doctors in the country as many of our parents cannot afford to pay fees.
I am a junior student of the Cuttington University majoring Biology and Chemistry as minor.I have the dream of becoming a Medical Doctor to help strengthen the health sector of my beloved country Liberia.I which that our medical school can be out to stander to produce more good doctors in our country and help many others fall fail their dreams.