Joseph Kerkula

Director of Family Health at Ministry of Health

Dr Kerkula is a medical doctor with five years (1999- 2002) of experience working in a rural hospital delivering Comprehensive Obstetrics and New-born Care services.

He later obtained a postgraduate diploma in ophthalmology with specific emphasis on sight restoration surgeries in children and adults. After six years of work as ophthalmic surgeon, he enrolled at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and obtained Masters of Science Degree in Public Health for Eye Care (2008/2009).

In 2011, he was seconded by the Ministry of Health to serve in the capacity of Public Health Officer in Grand Bassa County- one of the fifteen counties in Liberia. He served in this capacity until the outbreak of the Ebola crisis in 2014 when he was tasked with the overall responsibility of ensuring that essential package of health services is implemented in line with the Ministry of Health policies, guidelines, and Protocols.

In November 2014 after successfully handling the Ebola crisis in Grand Bassa County, he was promoted to the level of Director of Family Health at the Ministry of Health with key responsibility of ensuring the implementation of the reproductive, maternal, Newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) Investment Case for Liberia.

Joseph is married with four children and feels extremely fulfilled when involved in work that restores hope to vulnerable population, especially meeting the health care needs of women and children.

Joseph was awarded the Foundation Fellowship of the Liberia Postgraduate College of Surgeons and serves as a member of the Liberia Medical and Dental