Monrovia, 15th April 2019:   Liberia joined the rest of the world to celebrate World Health Day 2019 under the theme “Universal Health Coverage” everyone, everywhere, every time.  A special event to highlight the World Health Day was organized on 5th and 8th April at the Health Ministry and the One United Nations House in Monrovia.
Speaking during the outdoor program at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, Minister of Health recounted the works and sacrifices made by healthcare workers in ensuring everyone, everywhere have access to health services every time amid the challenges. The Honorable Minister named the ongoing Community Health Assistants Program as one of the mediums being used to step up Universal Health Coverage in Liberia. She thanked all partners for their support to the Community Health Assistants Program which she said has contributed to the improvements in the health indicators.  The Honorable Minister called on all stakeholders to work together more collaboratively to ensure individuals and communities receive the health services they deserve.

The WHO Representative (a.i.) Dr Mesfin G. Zbelo on behalf of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, pointed out that WHO in its 2018 flagship publication “State of Health in the WHO African Region” provides a cross-cutting analysis of the health status, services and systems of individual African countries in the context of Universal Health Coverage and other health-related Sustainable Development Goal targets.  He said the theme for this year’s World Health Day focuses on equity and solidarity and appealed for greater collective efforts of everyone to moving towards Universal Health Coverage. 

Other partners present at the World Health Day commemoration included representatives’ from UNICEF, JHPIEGO, UNFPA, Embassy of Ireland, Partners in Health, as well as representatives from local NGOs and the media. Climaxing the World Health Day commemoration at the Ministry of Health, the partners joined hands and formed a solidarity chain as a symbol of their commitment to working collaboratively towards Universal Health Coverage.

Other activities to mark the World Health Day included a wellness checked in the lobby of the One UN House, screening of World Health Day messages on the information screens at the Ministry of Health and WHO office and the posting of banners and posters. A total of 179 persons were screened (Blood Pressure); 57 females and 122 males.