Liberia News

‘Nine more hospitals in Liberia ready to strengthen IPC using Alcohol Based Handrub ’

Liberia, July 2015 - The Ministry of Health in Liberia in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Corporation in January 2015 initiated a pilot project to produce Alcohol Based Handrub (ABHR) for Infection Prevention and Control measures in ten hospitals. This project was conceived as a result of a joint collaboration between WHO Collaboration Center on Patient Safety Infection Control and Improved Practices and the University of Geneva Hospital, Faculty of Medicine.

Monrovia 22 June, 2016: Ministry of Health Liberia launched the World Blood donor Day on 21stJune under the theme “Blood connects us all” and a slogan ‘save a life donate blood’. This theme highlights the dimension of sharing and the connection between blood donors and patients. Access to safe blood and blood products is in line with the Investment plan to building a resilient health system.

Liberia, 9 June 2016 – Today the World Health Organization (WHO) declares the end of the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia. This announcement comes 42 days (two 21-day incubation cycles of the virus) after the last confirmed Ebola patient in Liberia tested negative for the disease for the second time. Liberia now enters a 90-day period of heightened surveillance to ensure that any new cases are identified quickly and contained before spreading.

Monrovia, 24 May 2016 - The 2ndAnnual Celebration of Medical Laboratory Professionals’ week was successfully celebrated in Monrovia, Liberia 27- 28th April, 2016 under the theme “Think locally – link globally”. Events marking the celebration included panel discussions; concurrent workshops examining different thematic areas and exhibitions. This conference brought together local and international scientists to learn, network and discuss solutions that create basic building blocks in Liberia Laboratory system.

Monrovia 9th March 2017: The Ministry of Health of Liberia is making progress in mental health care in the face of considerable challenges. To address the severe shortage of mental health clinicians and social workers, the Ministry of Health with support from the Carter Center, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Partners in Health (PIH), United Nations Agency for International Development (USAID), and the World Health Organization (WHO), undertook training of front-line health workers to care for people with mental illness.

Monrovia 28th January, 2017 - Sinoe County is the second least densely populated county in Liberia with a population of 102,391. The County has one hospital and 34 clinics with a total of two Medical Doctors, 18 Physician Assistants and 67 Nurses. 41% of the population of the county live more than 5km away from any health facility. Some communities are hard to reach or inaccessible due to heavy forest cover and rivers which include Japuken community which has no health facility.

Monrovia, 8th December, 2016 - The Ministry of Health, Liberia in collaboration with its partners and with the support of the World Health Organization today, launched the National Policy and Strategic Plan on Health Promotion (2016-2021).  The overall goal is to strengthen health promotion implementation at the National, County and Community levels.

10 May 2017

On 25 April 2017, the Ministry of Health of Liberia notified WHO and partners of a cluster of sudden deaths of unknown aetiology in Sinoe County. The event began on 23 April 2017 when an 11-year-old child was admitted to hospital presenting with diarrhoea, vomiting and mental confusion after attending a funeral on 22 April 2017.

As of 9 May 2017, a total of 31 cases including 13 deaths have been reported.

Monrovia 2nd December, 2016 -  Liberia commemorated World AIDs Day on 1st December 2016. This day is set aside by the United Nations General Assembly to reaffirm commitment to the control of HIV/AIDS, express solidarity for those living with HIV/AIDS and remember those who have been lost over the years. The national commemoration was held in Ganta City, Nimba County under the global theme of “Hands up for HIV Prevention” and national slogan “End AIDS in Liberia: leaving No One Behind”.

Monrovia 10th April, 2017:  Depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability affecting over 300 million people, representing 4% of the global population. The Ministry of Health of Liberia estimates that over 1.5 million Liberians live with depression, but most are not aware, and therefore do not seek appropriate care.