PENNSYLVANIA, USA – The First Lady of Liberia, Madam Kartumu Y. Boakai, has called on international partners, builders, and faith leaders to join her in advancing a vision of a healthier and more resilient Liberia. Speaking on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at a high-level engagement in Pennsylvania, she expressed deep concern about the country’s high rates of maternal and child mortality, stressing that urgent action is required despite ongoing improvements in the health sector.
“The challenges are enormous, and while progress has been made, far too many mothers and children are still being lost,” Madam Boakai said. “This is why partnership is not an option; it is a necessity. I did not come tonight only to tell Liberia’s story. I came to ask you to become part of it.”
She underscored the importance of forging stronger collaborations with international institutions, particularly the Mollie Woods Hare Global Center of Excellence, noting that partnerships are vital to scaling life-saving interventions and achieving sustainable progress.
In response to her remarks, Ms. Tine Hansen-Turton, Chief Executive Officer of Woods System of Care, pledged her organization’s full support for the First Lady’s initiative. “Liberia’s story is one of resilience and determination,” Hansen-Turton said. “We are committed to walking alongside the First Lady in her mission to improve lives and create lasting change.”
Madam Boakai’s appeal comes against a backdrop of steep health challenges. According to World Bank data, Liberia’s maternal mortality ratio was estimated at 628 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, among the highest globally. UNICEF reports place Liberia’s neonatal mortality rate at 23 deaths per 1,000 live births. Meanwhile, infant mortality reached 52.6 deaths per 1,000 in 2023, per the UN-sourced FRED database.
The 2022 Liberia Population and Housing Census also shows that infant mortality had declined from 112 per 1,000 in 2008 to 63.7 per 1,000 in 2022; child mortality stood at 32.1 per 1,000; and under-five mortality reached 92.6 per 1,000 live births. Over the same period, maternal mortality showed an inconsistent trend, reaching 854 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022, with notable disparities between urban and rural areas.
At Tuesday’s event, Madam Boakai described these figures as more than statistics; they represent lives cut short. She urged global health agencies, development partners, and philanthropic actors to mobilize resources, align strategies, and support Liberia’s health system in key areas including maternal care, newborn interventions and child health.
The gathering was seen as a milestone in rallying international commitment to Liberia’s health priorities, signaling renewed hope for a stronger health system and a brighter future for mothers and children across the country.
