Published: August 21, 2025
MONROVIA — First Lady Kartumu Yarta Boakai has launched more than 75 fully funded scholarships to train Liberian health workers in critical medical specializations, part of a broader push to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
At an interactive forum Tuesday at the A.M. Kyne Collegiate Resource Center of William V.S. Tubman High School in Sinkor, the first lady met with more than 100 health practitioners to outline the program’s scope, eligibility requirements, and application process.
Global Partnership for Training
The scholarships are provided through a partnership between the Merck Foundation, the Office of the First Lady, and the Ministry of Health. Training programs, ranging from three months to one year, will be delivered online and on campus at universities in the United Kingdom and India.
Applicants must be Liberian health professionals with recognized academic credentials and secure formal recommendations from the Office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Health. Final selections will be confirmed once candidates receive admission offers from the host universities.
Specializations for Doctors
Doctors may apply for advanced training in several high-demand fields, including:
Oncology: medical, pediatric, gynecological, surgical, and radiation oncology.
Other specialties: breast surgery, pain and palliative medicine, pathology, interventional radiology, head and neck surgery, reproductive medicine and embryology, pediatric cardiology, endocrinology, neurosurgery, rheumatology, geriatrics, infectious diseases, stroke medicine, family medicine, cardiology, pediatrics, women’s health, urology, gastroenterology, and spine surgery.
Programs for Nurses and Technicians
Scholarship opportunities also extend to nurses and medical technicians. Programs include oncology nursing, laboratory science, radiation technology, oncology research, and cytoscreener training.
The application process opened immediately after the forum, with candidates asked to submit updated resumes to the Office of the First Lady.
Continuing a Tradition of Advocacy
While the Office of the First Lady is not an official government ministry, it has long championed national priorities through partnerships with local institutions and international organizations. Past first ladies focused on maternal health, girls’ education, and women’s empowerment.
Under Kartumu Yarta Boakai, the office has emphasized healthcare capacity building — ensuring Liberian doctors, nurses, and technicians have access to world-class training that can be applied directly at home.
“This scholarship program continues the legacy of bridging global opportunities with Liberia’s development needs,” an official from the office said.
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