Monrovia– Dr. Maxo Luma, Executive Director of Partners in Health (PIH) Liberia, has assured Liberians that the organization, now marking a decade of operation in the country, remains committed to delivering quality healthcare, particularly in underserved areas like southeastern Liberia, despite significant challenges.
By: J.H. Webster Clayeh [email protected]
Dr. Luma made this commitment during PIH’s 10-year anniversary celebration, where he reflected on the organization’s journey of serving hard-to-reach communities. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve encountered many obstacles—including impassable roads, supply shortages, and system shocks like COVID-19. Yet, our commitment to our patients and communities has only strengthened,” he said.
PIH was invited to Liberia at the peak of the Ebola crisis in 2014 by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Dr. Luma noted that Ebola’s devastation was not solely due to the virus but was compounded by an already fragile healthcare system. Following WHO’s declaration of Liberia as Ebola-free in 2016, PIH chose to stay and help the Liberian government rebuild and strengthen the healthcare system, especially in remote regions.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years,” Dr. Luma remarked. “We’re proud to reflect on this journey with the Government of Liberia, celebrate our achievements together, and look forward to the path ahead. This partnership has shown the power of patience and resilience.”
Supporting National Healthcare Initiatives
In 2017, PIH partnered with the Liberian government to develop the National Essential Package of Health Services, a vital step towards universal health coverage. The organization also worked with the National TB Program to update and fund the National TB Strategic Plan, introducing shorter, all-oral TB regimens and social support for improved patient outcomes.
The organization has also supported the Liberian Board of Nursing and Midwifery by revising the curriculum for community-based registered nurse midwives to enhance training standards. Additionally, PIH has contributed to developing the Mental Health Policy and renovated the doctor’s on-call room at the E.S. Grant Mental Health Hospital.
“We also supported the national community health program, ensuring that community health workers are trained, deployed, and compensated across Liberia,” said Dr. Luma.
Transforming Healthcare in Maryland County
In Maryland County, PIH has transformed Pleebo Health Center into a “health village,” complete with a new maternity ward, emergency room, lab, and pharmacy. “We achieved near-complete COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Maryland and earned a 3-star SLIPTA rating for the JJ Dossen Hospital lab,” he noted. The hospital has also become the only county facility in southeastern Liberia to offer fully functional core surgical services.
Dr. Luma added that PIH has worked with academic institutions like Harvard University, the University of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mother Pattern College of Health Sciences, and Tubman University to build local healthcare capacity. “JJ Dossen is now accredited to host the family medicine program for five years, training a new generation of providers in person-centered care, social medicine, and social justice advocacy,” he said.
WHO Recognizes PIH’s Impact
Dr. Clement Lugala Peter, WHO’s representative in Liberia, praised PIH’s work over the past decade. “Your commitment to leaving no one behind is admirable, and I’ve witnessed the profound impact of your work in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals,” Dr. Peter said. He highlighted PIH’s role in demonstrating the importance of health as a human right and the interconnectedness brought to light by crises like Ebola and COVID-19.
Dr. Peter concluded, “Everyone, regardless of where they are, can contribute to the collective effort for survival. PIH embodies this principle in Liberia.”