Monrovia – The International Health Regulation (IHR) and National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) self-assessment and implementation review has ended with a call for the managers of the country health sector to not be complacent despite the progress made.
The review meeting was held from August 13-16, 2019 at the Golden Gate Hotel, in Paynesville City, Montserrado County.
The meeting was intended to document Liberia’s progress since the conduct of the Joint External Evaluation of the International Health Regulation (IHR) in 2016 and prioritize NAPHS for 2020.
The National Action Plan for Health Security is a plan developed through a consultative and multi-sectoral engagement with involvement of International Partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC), USAID, for the Government of Liberia to comprehensively address the threats to public health security in Liberia.
During the four-day deliberations, participants reviewed Liberia’s National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) implementation progress and challenges, conducted a midterm self-assessment scorecard and used the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) 2.0 indicators identify key Benchmark actions to implement in 2020 based on existing capacity levels and map key actions to available and anticipated resources.
With support from partners, Liberia supports IHR in its commitment to ensuring harmonious implementation of the Regional Disease Surveillance System Enhancement (RIDESSE) Project and also in furthering the ideals of One Health.
In his closing remarks, the Country Director of the United States Center for Disease Control and prevention Desmond Williams commended the participants for dedicating their time in reviewing the NAPHS which he said is cardinal to the development of the country’s health sector. He then called on the Government of Liberia and health partners to collaborate in addressing the challenges and gaps in the sector.
At the same time, the Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Mark Doryen admonished the Liberian Media to project the good image of the country especially the gains that are being made.
“The various sectors of our country has made some meaningful gains which the Liberia Media which needs to elevate,” he asserted. Dr. Christopher T. Lee, Senior Technical Advisor of Resolve to Save Lives, sponsor of the meeting.
Dr. Lee thanked the NPHIL, especially its Director General Tolbert Nyenswah for his cooperation and leadership in managing Liberia public Health program.