Willie N. Tokpah
IPNEWS: Passionate Public Health professional, currently Chairing the Department of Public Health at the University of Liberia, Forkpah Pewee, and has been recognized by the AUP Graduate Public Health Alumni Association in the Philippines.
Mr. Pewee who continues to offer public health knowledge throughout the country, has been named to the graduate public health alumni board as its International Public Information Officer, a position which demonstrates him as the first international graduate to serve in such a capacity in the association.
“This is the level of exclusive trust a lot of people from the local and international spaces continue to bestow upon me.” the Chairman noted
The communication noted that while Pewee was studying at the institution, he demonstrated excellently, leaving a mark that recognizes Liberian’s incredible work and eagerness to achieve outstanding knowledge.
Pewee himself sees the appointment as a surprise but notes that it stands from his devotion to seeing an improved public health sector in Liberia.
“If not due to the years of dedicated quality service to humanity and the special grace of God, I wouldn’t be receiving such recognition,” he told FrontPageAfrica.
“I am grateful to my alma mater, Adventist University of the Philippines, for this recognition to serve my fellow graduates of the public health department on the international stage.
People go to school to SOLVE PROBLEMS.”
Since his return from the Philippines following his graduate studies, Pewee has been contributing to several public health education in Liberia, both in schools and forum discussions.
Recently, he wrote a public health book with title ‘Health Science for Elementary Schools in Liberia.” This book has been officially approved by the Center of Excellence for Curriculum and Textbook Research at the Ministry of Education to be taught as a supplementary health science textbook for 5th and 6th graders across the country.
During the induction of the Joseph Nyuma Boakai administration, Mr. Pewee, in
support of the President’s Annual Address to the nation, recommended the full utilization of the FOAP Concept of Vicious Circle of Health, a concept in the field of public health, which was developed by him.
The acronym FOAP is Field Observation for Accurate Practicum, which is the Field Observation for Accurate Practicum Concept of Vicious Circle of Ill-health.
According to Mr. Pewee, the phenomenological approach to the FOAP Concept has been researched and published, which has four distinct stages that, when effectively utilized, can have a greater impact on safeguarding community dwellers from unhealthy environmental practices in Liberian communities.
Pewee pressed that while sanitation facilities in actual terms, look at constructing toilets or public lavatories to progressively deal with the issue of open defecation, however, from the public health perspective, sanitation has to do with healthy measures that aim at keeping the streets and homes free of dirt and pathogens by properly disposing wastes or garbage, properly cleaning the streets and homes, and preventing open defecation.
Recently, Pewee led a delegation of Public Health students from the State-run University of Liberia, on a medical mission at Nyanvolah Village, bordering Margibi and Bong Counties.
The mission focused on health education and awareness for villagers in more than three surrounding towns and villages, as well as conducting screenings for blood pressure, and eye health, and providing education on sexually transmitted diseases and malaria. Additionally, the students provided education on the negative impact of teenage pregnancy as well as some essential medical supplies.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pewee has lauded the AUP Graduate School Public Health Department in the Philippines for the opportunity offered to him to serve and promised to do his best in promoting public health across the world.
