MONROVIA – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), under the leadership of Director-General Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, M.D., is intensifying efforts to combat the ongoing Mpox outbreak in Liberia. During a meeting held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Dr. Nyan and his team engaged Mr. Eric J. Buller, Chief Executive Officer of ELWA Hospital, and his team to discuss the current public health landscape and strategies for responding to Mpox.
Dr. Nyan provided an update on the Mpox situation, commending ELWA Hospital for its pivotal role in Liberia’s past health crises, including the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks. He highlighted the country’s preparedness, citing the recent training of nine additional field epidemiologists through Liberia’s Field Epidemiology Training Program (LETP), sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET).
These newly trained field epidemiologists will enhance NPHIL’s capabilities in disease surveillance, detection, and response, crucial in Liberia’s efforts to manage public health emergencies. Since 2017, NPHIL has consistently built its workforce to monitor outbreaks and conduct necessary interventions, and the additional epidemiologists will be instrumental in this mission.
The establishment of the Mpox Incidence Management System several weeks ago marks a critical step in mobilizing resources and coordinating the nationwide response. Sporadic cases of Mpox have emerged in different parts of the country, and NPHIL is working swiftly to contain the outbreak.
In response, Mr. Buller reaffirmed ELWA Hospital’s commitment to supporting NPHIL during the Mpox outbreak, pledging the hospital’s resources and readiness to collaborate on public health initiatives. Both teams emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to ensure the health and safety of Liberians in the face of emerging diseases.
This partnership stresses the ongoing collaboration between NPHIL and key health institutions in Liberia, working together to bolster the country’s capacity to respond to public health challenges effectively.
