“Duty honors country” is one of my favorite phrases whenever I write or speak about public service or service to country. This phrase essentially emphasizes the significance of service to country and the call to serve in a noble and dignified way whenever the privilege of serving your county, in any capacity, is given to you.
By: Moncio Robert Wilmot Kpadeh-Sage, contributing writer
We are only a few people amongst millions who are called to public service, hence, it is important to seize such rare chance as a glorious opportunity to serve with a deep sense of patriotism, good conscience, loyalty to duty, and the undying urge to serve with distinction and honorability. We must assume public office with firm determination, righteous clarity, and uncompromising principles to make a record difference for the good of our country and never let our country and people down.
Here, we are admonished to avoid the tempting trippings of power and authority, and stay focused, councious, and deliberate about serving our country to the best of our abilities, so that when tomorrow comes and the reckoning question is asked, what did you do when your served in that position? You will have a positive record to show and many will stand in queue to testify on your behalf. When I taught political science and governance at the University of Liberia and the African Methodist Episcopal University of Liberia few years ago, I hammered into the heads of my students that good and productive governance thrives on the back of the quality, effective, and efficient services of those that serve in government …from heads of ministries and agencies to the lower ranks of personnel within every given public institution.
Today, I am deeply pleased and proud to see Dr Victor Kaizer demonstrates exemplary leadership at the Jackson F. Doe Regional Hospital located in Tappita, Nimba county. In twelve months, Dr. Kaizer has profoundly transformed what was nearly a dysfunctional regional medical center wallowing in a state of dystopia to now a modern functional medical facility serving the health needs of the people of Nimba, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, Sinoe, Grand Bassa counties and other parts of that region. Jackson F. Doe Regional Hospital has now become a medical center of excellence that is saving lives and putting smiles on the faces of thousands of hopeless and despair patients.
Before he assumed the role as Chief Executive Officer or CEO following the appointment of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr, Jackson F. Doe languished in perpetual crisis of lack of drugs, inadequate medical equipment, no food for admitted patients in the hospital, appalling electricity and water supplies, and a bad state of sanitation that engulfed the entire medical facility.
But Dr. Kaizer, a dutiful public servant, mustered the courage and tenacity, defied the odds, and daringly took on the challenge to fix the litany of problems that beset the J.F. Doe regional hospital and made a magnificent difference that could possibly earn a page in history books. Twelve months on, we see an extraordinary and liberating transformation at the J.F. Doe regional hospital.
Drugs are in sufficient supply. The hospital is empowered with modern and functional equipment. Patients that could hardly have proper breakfast now have a three-square meal to include breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a daily basis, and all hot and fresh meals. Electricity is stable with every aspect of the hospital beaming with shining lights thereby enhancing safety and security. Pipe born Water is flowing through the pipes once again.
The overall sanitation state of the entire medical facility has significantly improved and medical staff are now working in a clean and safe sanitary environment, something that enhances workers’ confidence. The buildings are all beautifully painted and sparkling offering a glimmer of hope and confidence to illing people walking through its doors, that J.F. Doe is ready for business and it is home from home for both patients and medical staff.
Then last Thursday, for the first time in its existence, a medical oxygen plant constructed by the government and global health partners was inaugurated at the J.F. Doe hospital. The plant is a big boost to the entire healthcare system of that region as it will potentially supply medical oxygen to hospital in the surrounding counties, to address the needs of patients in critical health conditions.
The transformation of J.F.Doe to what seems, arguably, the BEST public healthcare center currently in Liberia can be attributed to hard work, determination, courage, faith, and deep sense of patriotism. Dr. Kaizer works eighteen hours and rest for only four hours a day.
He never stops engaging partners around the world for drugs, equipment, and other essentials for the upkeep of Jackson F. Doe. He is forward thinking and progressive in his dealings. When he visits foreign countries, he seeks potential partners for JFD.
He recently played host to over twenty medical doctors from the State of Michigan, U.S. who have forged partnership with JFD for training of its doctors, nurses, and enhancing the capacity of the hospital to perform complicated medical surgeries amongst other things.
This is laudable! Additionally, Dr. Kaizer is managing the meager resources of the hospital very effectively and efficiently, hence, he is able to have sufficient drugs, ensure proper feeding for patients care, maintain constant flow of electricity and water, pay salaries on time amongst other things pivotal to keeping the doors of the hospital open to public.
This is the productive leadership we need in every public institution. We must go into public portfolios with a purpose to make a big difference, not for the sake of the fame of the jobs, and neither to commit theft, graft, malfeasance, and other forms of aberrations and debauchery as we see happening in some public entities. SAD! When we are given the opportunity to serve our country, may we serve with the greatest honor of our lifetime.
Victor, it has been long since I have penned a long piece like this especially a tribute in honor of anyone. I scrabble this tribute out off deep appreciation and admiration for the incredible piece of work you are doing at J.F. Doe. As a little brother and someone I mentored into politics, I couldn’t be more prouder.
Thank you for making all of us proud by your outstanding service at JFD, but importantly, thank you for not letting the President, our dear father, down. I also thank you for not letting the great people of Nimba county down.
The people are happy once again that they can find hope and take faith in their hospital. Your community engagement and networking with the people of Tappitta and surrounding towns reveal the quality and character of leader you are. And thank you for proving the critics, skeptics, pessimists, and cynics downright wrong! The global health partners of Liberia are also pleased with your extolling performance at JFD. I entreat you to keep blazing the trail in no small way, and continue to make J.F. Doe Regional Hospital GREAT AGAIN!
And in ending, I could only say I am proud to call you my countryman and fellow Patriot in service to our homeland and people. One Love, small brother
