Biography: J. Blecho Nah, MSc
The history of rural development in Liberia presents additional avenues of appreciation for the contributions of Liberians of all backgrounds who have helped to improve standards of living for wider segments of the population in the country. So, why not initiate this blog with some biographical data. The following article on the country's first citizen to become a public health expert (MSc level) comes from the "Society News" column of the Liberian Age newspaper from 18 August 1958 (p. 7).
"Mr. Nah Takes High Degree in Public Health"
The arrival on Sunday August 10 of Mr. J. Blecho Nah MSc (in Public Health and Sanitation) swelled Liberia's hopes for the eradication of malaria and other tropical diseases, Mr. Nah is the first Liberian to hold the degree of Master of Sanitary Science and Public Health.
Leaving Liberia in August 1957 for the US Nah entered the University of Oklahoma where he graduated in August 1958. He was admitted a member of the American Public Health Association. holder of a certificate in medical entomology member of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and the American Society of Tropical Medicine.
Nursing Training
Born in Sangwin, Sinoe County, Nah received his elementary education at the Nana Kru Methodist Mission School, Sinoe County and his High School education in the College of West Africa from where he graduated in 1939. He then took a three year course in professional nursing at the American Lutheran Mission, Millsburg.
Leaving the Lutheran Mission, he worked with Dr. D. V. Veatch, then in charge of sleeping sickness and malaria control in the Western Province. He was sent to Freetown by Dr. Veatch for a year's course in biological studies and chemistry in the Prince of Wales School, from where he returned to Dr. Veatch in 1943.
Foreign Studies
Nah left for the United States in 1944 and entered Friends University Wichita Kansas from where he obtained the Bachelor degree in medical science in 1947. He then entered Fisk University Nashville Tennesee [sic] for post graduate work in biological science and chemistry. Deciding to dive deeper into medical science Nah entered Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio as a special student in medical science from where he went to the University of Iowa Ames Iowa for a year's study in Microbiology and the University of Minnesota for three moth's special study in medical bacteriology and before returning to Liberia in 1951.
Upon arrival in Liberia he was assigned toTrypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) Control Service in the Western Province. In 1954 he was transferred to the National Public compound to undertake the general management of the joint U. S. Liberian Public Health programme. From this post he left for the U.S. in 1957 to win the golden fleece.
"Mr. Nah Takes High Degree in Public Health"
The arrival on Sunday August 10 of Mr. J. Blecho Nah MSc (in Public Health and Sanitation) swelled Liberia's hopes for the eradication of malaria and other tropical diseases, Mr. Nah is the first Liberian to hold the degree of Master of Sanitary Science and Public Health.
Leaving Liberia in August 1957 for the US Nah entered the University of Oklahoma where he graduated in August 1958. He was admitted a member of the American Public Health Association. holder of a certificate in medical entomology member of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and the American Society of Tropical Medicine.
Nursing Training
Born in Sangwin, Sinoe County, Nah received his elementary education at the Nana Kru Methodist Mission School, Sinoe County and his High School education in the College of West Africa from where he graduated in 1939. He then took a three year course in professional nursing at the American Lutheran Mission, Millsburg.
Leaving the Lutheran Mission, he worked with Dr. D. V. Veatch, then in charge of sleeping sickness and malaria control in the Western Province. He was sent to Freetown by Dr. Veatch for a year's course in biological studies and chemistry in the Prince of Wales School, from where he returned to Dr. Veatch in 1943.
Foreign Studies
Nah left for the United States in 1944 and entered Friends University Wichita Kansas from where he obtained the Bachelor degree in medical science in 1947. He then entered Fisk University Nashville Tennesee [sic] for post graduate work in biological science and chemistry. Deciding to dive deeper into medical science Nah entered Western Reserve University Cleveland Ohio as a special student in medical science from where he went to the University of Iowa Ames Iowa for a year's study in Microbiology and the University of Minnesota for three moth's special study in medical bacteriology and before returning to Liberia in 1951.
Upon arrival in Liberia he was assigned toTrypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) Control Service in the Western Province. In 1954 he was transferred to the National Public compound to undertake the general management of the joint U. S. Liberian Public Health programme. From this post he left for the U.S. in 1957 to win the golden fleece.
Additional relevant sources include:
The Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 5 August 1944, p. 8 (http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Pittsburgh%20PA%20Courier/Pittsburgh%20PA%20Courier%201944/Pittsburgh%20PA%20Courier%201944%20-%200532.pdf)
Battle Creek Enquirer from Battle Creek, Michigan, 4 June 1960, p. 8.
Kommentare
Kommentar veröffentlichen