MONROVIA – With just seven years since the first Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) core capacities, all is set for the second JEE on September 4, 2023, in Monrovia.

By Edwin G. Genoway, edwin.genoway@frontpageafricaonline.com

The peer review process, scheduled to be held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, will run until September 8, with numerous countries participating in this occasion.

Speaking on behalf of Liberia’s Health Minister, Dr. Wilhemina S. Jallah, at a news conference held at the National Public Health Institute (NPHIL), Dr. Julius S.M. Gilayeneh, Deputy Director-General for Technical Services at NPHIL, emphasized that the evaluation is a significant endeavor showcasing Liberia’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of people within and outside its borders.

He explained that the JEE is a comprehensive assessment of the country’s readiness to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies, in line with the International Health Regulations (2005).

“Liberia conducted its first JEE in 2016, resulting in an overall readiness score of 46%. This pivotal assessment led to the formulation of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) for 2018 – 2023, designed to address identified gaps and recommendations from the 2016 JEE,” the NPHIL official stated.

According to him, since the first JEE in 2016, Liberia has made substantial progress in strengthening its health systems and emergency response capabilities, as evidenced by its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have diligently worked to address recommendations from the initial evaluation, bolstering our ability to effectively manage health crises. Our dedicated healthcare workers and other professionals, stakeholders, and partners have been instrumental in achieving these milestones.”

He also disclosed that the upcoming 2023 JEE will offer a comprehensive evaluation of Liberia’s current status by pinpointing evolving gaps and opportunities.

In her remarks, Dr. Musu Duworko, Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Liberia, stated that these evaluations are vital voluntary external assessments of a nation’s capabilities in preventing, detecting, and responding to public health threats and situations in accordance with the guidelines set out in the IHR.

She noted that the IHR constitutes a binding agreement signed by 196 countries, committing themselves to enhance their capacities to prepare for, prevent, identify, and report potential public health emergencies on a global scale.

Dr. Duworko recalled that since 2005, all WHO member states have ratified the IHR, demonstrating their commitment to developing and maintaining core competencies to effectively manage epidemic and pandemic-related health threats while minimizing disruptions to international travel and trade.

“Liberia’s initial JEE, carried out between September 5th and 9th, 2016, laid the foundation for subsequent evaluations. Although the second JEE was originally scheduled for the end of 2021, it had to be postponed due to the limitations imposed by COVID-19-related travel and gathering restrictions. We are pleased to announce that the second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) is now slated for September 4th to 8th, 2023. This crucial exercise is a collaborative effort between the Liberian government, bolstered by the partnership support of the World Bank’s REDISSE project and the World Health Organization (WHO),” she added.