GOAL Inducts New Leadership …As Pres. Paygar Vows to Make It Vibrant

The General Ophthalmic Association of Liberia (GOAL for short) now has a new leadership following the induction of officers elect at the New Georgia United Methodist Church, New Georgia Estate in the Township of Gardnersville, Montserrado County.

Those officers inducted on Sunday, May 19 were; C. Allison Paygar, Snr. President, Dr. Catherin Gaisie, Vice President, Gideon B. Tenty, Secretary General, Romeo G. Taryor, Assistant Secretary General,  Dr. Chinyere Christian Ajuzie, Financial Chairperson, Mrs. Iris Z. Miller, Treasurer and Ms. Matee Y. Morris, Chaplain.

This leadership, according to the constitution and by-law of the General Ophthalmic Association of Liberia (GOAL) will administer the affairs of the institution for the next two years, which time election will be conducted.

The General Ophthalmic Association of Liberia (GOAL) is the only national ophthalmic organization with the aim is to represent the interest of national and sub-regional ophthalmic bodies across sub-Saharan Africa.

It is a platform for ophthalmic personnel in the Diaspora to contribute to the agenda of improving eye healthcare in Liberia.

In his inaugural speech, President C. Allison Paygar, Snr. vowed to work closely with other officials of the General Ophthalmic Association of Liberia (GOAL) including the entire membership to make the organization vibrant.

“This has not been easy and will not be easy, it will require our collective efforts to make things happen because we have to understand there will be challenges as we strive to build a vibrant organization”, Mr. Paygar emphasized.

He said one of the ways, GOAL can become a Vibrant and well-functioning organization to meet the eye healthcare need of the people will largely on its members’ commitment to execute best practices on how to address the challenges of the profession in order to meet the Vision 2020 – The Right To Sight objectives.   

Besides, Mr. Paygar, Snr. indicated that GOAL as a registered organization and recognized by other bodies across the sub-region, his leadership will work to maintain relationship with both local government and regional bodies.

The President of GOAL also announced the setting up of four sub cardinal committees to enhance the accomplishment of the organization’s objectives for the next two years of his leadership.

One of the committees is Education, chaired by Surgeon Robert F. Dolo, to help ophthalmic personnel and allied eye healthcare providers to acquire and to maintain the clinical, surgical and practical knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to make eye care accessible and affordable.

The committee on Eye Care Delivery focus is to work with the Health Ministry National Program to focus on clinical guidelines and models of ophthalmic practice, as well as courses and other program to help ophthalmic personnel implement the guidelines and models to meet the eye care needs of the public, which will be supervised by Dr. Unity Honey Dokie - Fahn.

Another committee is Organization and Membership Development, headed by Dr. Niranjan Pehere is to stimulate and support the development of strong, self-sustaining national, sub-regional and national ophthalmic societies and help provide valuable benefits and support to individual members.

The third committee is Advocacy and External Relations will be directed by Dr. Joseph Kerkulah, to develop and maintain strong relationships and collaboration with international and regional ophthalmologic organizations, NGOs and industry in order to generate greater support for and capacity is provide eye care in Africa.

While the last, the committee on Investment, which is oversighted by Surgeon Catherine Gargu priority is to ensure that GOAL do not only depend on due from members but to develop a strategy plan for the next five years.

Mr. Paygar, Snr. said moreover, for the next two years, his administration will elevate maintaining stronger and vibrant association with good governance system, coordination and integration and collaboration, human resource development, advocacy as well as monitoring and evaluation.

Earlier, Montserrado County District Three Representative, Sumo Kollie Mulbah and Sinoe County District Two Representative, Samson Q. Wiah, serving as induction officer and chief launcher respectively, urged GOAL leadership to see themselves as servants of the Association’s members.

Representatives Mulbah and Wiah cautioned them to be transparent and accountable in steering the affairs of the by bringing eye care providers on par with their colleagues around the world.

They pledged their unwavering support to the work of the  General Ophthalmic Association of Liberia (GOAL) to ensure people in Liberia have proper eye care health services to be accessible and affordable.ss

Current Member

The General Ophthalmic Association of Liberia (GOAL) now has about 11 Ophthalmologists, 3 Optometrist, 14 Cataract Surgeons, 43 Ophthalmic Nurses, 17 Optometrist Technicians, 16 Vision Technicians, 5 Opticians and 12 Ophthalmic Medical Assistants totaling 112.