Monrovia, Liberia, 15th February 2016 - Liberia continues to register progress in her efforts to respond to the health status of the Liberian population through building a resilient health system. A robust Health Emergency Risk Management System has been developed through building public health capacity for prevention, preparedness, alert and response for disease outbreaks and other threats.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has overseen the revision of national guidelines for Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR), elaborated a five-year strategic plan for IDSR and International Health Regulations and designated disease surveillance officers in all 91 health districts in the country. All 15 counties have elaborated county Epidemic Preparedness and Response (EPR) plans and designated Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to promptly deal with health threats including disease outbreaks.

With support of technical partners and donors, over 1,500 front-line health workers were trained in IDSR and several cohorts of County and District Surveillance Officers have been trained in field epidemiology. The African Development Bank, Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)/USAID, and the World Bank boosted Liberia’s efforts to have a robust disease surveillance system through donation of consignment of 17 four-wheel drive vehicles, 190 motorcycles, 100 desktops, 120 laptops, 100 printers, 136 high-frequency radios, 100 desks, 600 chairs and 8 diarrheal disease kits. This consignment procured through the World Health Organization was presented to the Minister of Health, Dr. Bernice Dahn, at the MoH headquarters in Congo Town today, on 15th February 2016.

This consignment will be distributed to Surveillance and Rapid Response Teams at national, county and district levels to support intensified surveillance for Ebola, other priority diseases and conditions, including maternal deaths. The African Development Bank, OFDA and World Bank have provided generous financial support through WHO for WHO’s response to the 2014/2015 EVD outbreak as well as for implementation of Liberia’s Investment Plan for Building a Resilient Health System.

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For further information, please contact:

Dr Alex Gasasira, WHO Country Representative, Email: gasasiraa [at] who.int

tel: +231 886516803