MONROVIA – In a statement released on his official Facebook page on Saturday, September 14, 2024, the Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, expressed deep gratitude for the collaborative efforts in Liberia’s ongoing battle against infectious disease outbreaks. He acknowledged the valuable contributions made by partner institutions and counties, particularly in the well-attended Incident Management System (IMS) meetings hosted at NPHIL.
“The NPHIL is exceedingly grateful to all partner-institutions and counties for their unwavering support,” Dr. Nyan wrote. “Their contributions in resources and strategic planning have been instrumental in shaping Liberia’s response to the MPOX outbreak, as well as other health threats such as Lassa fever and measles.”
Dr. Nyan emphasized the importance of collaborative planning and the sharing of resources, which have been key in strengthening the nation’s public health infrastructure. He also commended the Liberian government for its recent budgetary allocation toward outbreak response efforts, specifically in the fight against MPOX.
On Friday, September 13, 2024, Dr. Nyan highlighted the successful completion of a one-week emergency management training for NPHIL and military field epidemiologists, representing all 15 counties in Liberia. This training, aimed at enhancing Liberia’s capacity to respond to outbreaks like MPOX, was organized by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in partnership with NPHIL.
“The training was an essential component of our preparedness efforts as we continue to respond to MPOX in Liberia,” Dr. Nyan stated. He expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) for sponsoring the training program.
As the country remains on alert for health threats, Dr. Nyan’s leadership at NPHIL has been vital in ensuring that Liberia stays ahead of potential outbreaks through strategic planning, capacity building, and coordinated action. The efforts of NPHIL and its partners reflect a collective commitment to safeguarding public health in Liberia.