By Togba-Nah Tipoteh Professor of Economics Emeritus University of Liberia
Generally, when someone dies, there is the expression that the person has passed away. But this Tribute is unusual in that it speaks of someone who never passes away. He never passes away because his work never passes away. He never passes away means that he is always seen helping someone to get into a better health situation.
Well, the respected Medical Doctor Joseph Njor has died but he has not passed away. He is a Nigerian but spent almost half a century teaching people in Liberia how to heal and many of them have become healers. Read his book and you will find out how he performed his healing. His Principal Mentee, Medical Doctor Philip Ireland has offered to read this Tribute at the Funeral of his Mentor Dr. Njor. Every medical doctor is not a healer. Some medical doctors are just interested in showing up but not practicing healing. In the practice of healing, there is only good medicine. In the practice of healing, there is no country medicine and kwee (western).
One Liberian footballer broke his leg playing football and within three months he was back playing football for the Liberian Lone Star, the National Football Team. The footballer was healed by a good Kpelle speaking medical doctor who was illiterate but had good sense. But here is one Medical Doctor who performed surgery of two persons and is not othered by the fact that they are not healer. Certainly, the footballer was healed by a healer and that is how he got back on the football field to continue playing well.
The Medical Doctor Njor had good sense. This good sense has been placed in his book on his experience in Liberia, especially at the President John Fitzerald Kennedy Memorial Medical Center (JFKMMC) in Monrovia, Liberia. So, the Medical Doctor Njor has died but he has only passed but he has not passed away. As his Legacy lives on, he passes by to teach people how to stop bad health and prevent bad health situations.
For those of us who trust healers, we must continue to raise awareness about the importance of healing. It is only through such awareness raising that persons with good records can become healers, meaning having the practice of making people get into better health situations.