Liberia has officially launched a revised Registered Midwifery Curriculum aimed at strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare, with authorities and international partners describing the initiative as a major step toward reducing the country’s high maternal and infant mortality rates.
The launch, attended by government officials, development partners, health professionals, and members of the media, highlighted the country’s commitment to improving the quality of nursing and midwifery education and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.
The updated curriculum, developed under a health project implemented by Expertise France and financed through French support, aligns Liberia’s midwifery training with international standards. Also, it is designed to strengthen clinical and practical competencies, ensuring graduates are better prepared to respond to the evolving health needs of the population.
Speaking at the event, the Liberia Board for Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM) Chairperson Humphrey Gibbs Loweal said the new curriculum represents more than the unveiling of a document, but a national commitment to improving maternal and newborn care across Liberia.
According to him, the launch marks the beginning of a new chapter in advancing quality care, strengthening professional practice, and improving health outcomes for women and children across our nation.
LBNM Registrar Cecelia Kpangbala-Flomo explained that the revised curriculum was developed following a nationwide assessment of existing gaps in midwifery education and aligns with international standards to ensure Liberian midwives meet global professional benchmarks.
Madam Flomo noted that the previous curriculum had become outdated and lacked key components such as mental health, midwifery informatics, entrepreneurship, humanitarian emergency response, and stronger practical clinical training.
“We found too much theory and not enough practice. A midwife who cannot perform cannot save lives,” she said. Also speaking, French Ambassador to Liberia H.E Isabelle Le Guellec reaffirmed France’s commitment to Liberia’s health sector through both political engagement and operational support.
She highlighted ongoing interventions, including youth mental health studies, drug addiction prevention programs in schools across Montserrado and Grand Bassa, and support for maternal and neonatal health projects.
According to her, France is also backing the “We Are All Patients” initiative, which seeks to improve communication and understanding between healthcare workers and patients, as well as the “Better Health Outcomes for Liberians” program focused on improving healthcare delivery nationwide.
Madam Guellec praised the Liberia Board of Nursing and Midwifery for leading the curriculum revision process, describing it as “Liberian prepared, Liberian owned, and Liberian implemented” with technical support from international partners. The Project Manager for Expertise France, Bijay Bharati, said the initiative was designed to ensure Liberia fully owns the curriculum while international partners provided funding and technical support.
“We did not hold the pen. Liberia held the pen. This curriculum belongs to every midwifery school, every student, every midwife, and every mother in every county,” he said. He disclosed that the curriculum will be printed in May 2026 and distributed to all 10 midwifery institutions, with implementation beginning immediately for new student intakes.
French Development Agency (FDA) Country Representative Eliot Sotty praised the Ministry of Health and the Board for Nursing and Midwifery for their leadership, stressing that the project fits into France’s broader support for Liberia’s health and education sectors. He said beyond curriculum reform, the intervention includes training of trainers, simulation lab support, and institutional strengthening to ensure long-term sustainability.
