Published: August 6, 2025
- Twenty public health students from the University of Liberia have begun a clerkship at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), gaining real-world experience amid the country's ongoing response to the Mpox outbreak.
The students, from the Department of Public Health, are being introduced to the inner workings of Liberia's public health infrastructure, including emergency response, disease surveillance, data collection, and laboratory diagnostics. The clerkship is part of NPHIL's flagship internship program designed to link academic training with field practice.
During the orientation, held in the main conference room at NPHIL, Director of the Division of Training Roseline George walked the students through the institute's mandate and operational scope. She outlined the importance of professional readiness in tackling public health threats across Liberia.
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Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, M.D., Director-General of NPHIL, welcomed the students and encouraged them to approach their clerkship with discipline and a commitment to national service.
"Strive for excellence, patriotism, and professional integrity," Dr. Nyan told the students. "This is an opportunity not just to learn but to contribute meaningfully to Liberia's public health system."
The clerkship comes at a critical time, as health authorities respond to confirmed cases of Mpox in parts of the country. Students are expected to observe and participate in various aspects of the national response, including community-level case detection, outbreak data tracking, and laboratory-based diagnostics.
Representing the University of Liberia, Mrs. Wahblo-Setton, coordinator of the public health students, thanked NPHIL for opening its doors to young professionals. She also called for deeper collaboration between the university and public health authorities.
"This experience will bridge the gap between theory and practice," Mrs. Wahblo-Setton said. "We appreciate NPHIL's commitment to shaping the next generation of public health leaders."
Dr. Nyan noted that NPHIL's internship initiative aims to build a pipeline of skilled health professionals equipped to lead in times of crisis. He stressed the importance of embedding future health leaders in real-time public health operations.
The NPHIL internship program is expected to run for several weeks, with students rotating through various departments to gain exposure to epidemiology, surveillance, laboratory science, and health systems management.
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