To improve Liberia’s Health Security, WHO recommits Support to Government’s Effort

On the opening of Liberia’s second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommitted its support to programs that compliment government’s effort that aim to strengthen the country’s health system. 

The second JEE, which comes barely seven years after the first process in 2016, is being held at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town and is bringing together scores of local and international stakeholders in the health sector.

Speaking at the opening of the five-day assessment of the country’s health system on Monday, September 4, 2023, WHO Country Representative to Liberia, Dr. Peter Clement, said the world’s health governing body remains committed to support the government in strengthening its overall health agenda. 

Dr. Clement indicated that support to the country’s health agenda will in turn boost its health security in responding to any threat or heath emergency in the future. 

“We remain committed to support the government in strengthening its agenda to improve health security in responding to any threat that the country faces. We are talking about the big agenda including the issues of climate change. We are making our commitment to work with you. Be active during this week as you go through the process,” he stated. 

The WHO Country Representative pointed out the JEE is of great significance to the country as it provides critical information that can improve other structures of its health system.

“This will tell us where we have been, where we are now and where we are going. It will help us in identifying our strength and afford opportunities to improve the health sector.” 

“The Covid-19 was a reminder that we need to do things by ourselves. All countries help to fight covid by themselves without relying squarely on external support. This assessment of the country’s health sector will help it improve in areas where there are gaps and will also broaden its response system. This is meant to improve health security. The country has made tremendous progress but we need to face the challenges ahead,” he added. 

National Public Health Institute of (NPHIL) Deputy Director General for Technical Services, Dr. Julius S.M. Gilayeneh, pointed out that the evaluation is a significant endeavor that underscores Liberia’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of people within and out of the borders. 

“The significance of this cannot be overemphasized. This is a platform to assess our health security, especially doing so on the heel of the proliferation of diseases.” 

Dr. Gilayeneh maintained that the JEE is one of the four components of the comprehensive assessment of the country’s readiness to prevent, detect and respond to public health emergencies in line with the International Health Regulations (2005). 

“It will help us identify the most critical gaps and our strength in our health sector and build response to diseases’ threats. Past assessments have given us the idea of where we are. Our collaborative engagement will help us improve our sector,” the NPHIL Deputy Director General told the gathering. 

Assistant Minister Anthony Barclay of the Ministry of Agriculture lauded partners including WHO, World Bank among others for their numerous contributions to Liberia’s health sector, especially in the areas of zoonotic diseases. 

As a means of controlling or combating zoonotic diseases, he explained that the Ministry of Agriculture has put in place program for animal disease surveillance. 

“By this, a multi-sectorial approach is critical because a disease does not respect boundary. The JEE will give us a clearer picture of what has been done and give us a strategy that will better our response,” Barclay asserted. 

In brief remarks as she declared the JEE opened, the Deputy Minister of Administration (DMA) at the Ministry of Health, Norwu Howard acknowledged the tremendous progress made in the health sector; however, she lamented that the inability to keep citizens conscious has been a major challenge. 

She then lauded the efforts of all stakeholders for the role in ensuring the successful commencement of the JEE.