Africa-Press – Liberia. The Executive Secretary and Registrar of the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM), Cecelia Flomo, has strongly condemned what she described as the “long-standing stereotypes” surrounding nurses in Liberia. She emphasized that nurses should no longer be seen as auxiliary staff but as nation-builders, economic contributors, and frontline defenders of public health.
Delivering the keynote address at this year’s International Nurses Day celebration, held under the global theme “Our Nurses. Our Future: The Economic Power of Care,” Flomo warned that chronic underinvestment in the nursing profession—ranging from inadequate infrastructure and poor working conditions to stagnant career growth and insufficient pay—is weakening Liberia’s national healthcare system.
“Our healthcare system cannot function without nurses and midwives,” she said. “From hospitals to remote clinics, your hands heal, and your judgment saves lives every day.”
Flomo also criticized the tendency of health sector leadership to downplay or ignore nurses’ concerns, particularly regarding the lack of essential supplies and unsafe working conditions.
“When a nurse says there are no medicines, they are not complaining—they are advocating for better outcomes,” she noted.
She called on government officials, development partners, and civil society organizations to end the systemic marginalization of nurses and begin recognizing them as critical drivers of Liberia’s national developm “Supporting nurses is not an act of charity—it is a deliberate and strategic economic investment in Liberia’s sustainable development and societal resilience,” she said. “The formula is simple: better support for nurses means stronger communities, a healthier economy, and real progress toward our national development goals.”
Urging urgent reforms, Flomo called on both public and private sector actors to invest in safer workplaces, continuous professional development, and clear career pathways that allow nurses to advance into leadership and policy-making roles.
Quoting nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, Flomo reminded health professionals that nursing is an art rooted in devotion, skill, and ethics. She encouraged nurses to conduct themselves in ways that demonstrate they are not a burden to the nation but one of its greatest assets.
Her remarks come amid mounting pressure on Liberia’s already strained healthcare system, which continues to face infectious disease outbreaks, workforce shortages, and fragile infrastructure.
“A nurse who saves a life today could be enabling the rise of a future minister, teacher, or entrepreneur,” she added. “That is the economic power of care.”
Also speaking at the event, Benjamin O. Suamey, President of the Liberian Nurses Association, lauded the nation’s nurses for their resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to care. He described them as “the backbone of Liberia’s healthcare system.”
“Your unwavering commitment to providing quality healthcare does not go unnoticed,” Suamey said. “You are making a real difference in the lives of Liberians, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”
He encouraged nurses to remain steadfast in their calling and assured them of the association’s continued support and national appreciation.
“I wish you all continued success and fulfillment in your nursing careers,” he concluded.
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