MONROVIA – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), in collaboration with key international and local partners, on Monday, October 6, 2025, commenced a three-day National Intra-Action Review (IAR) of Liberia’s Mpox Response at the Corina Hotel in Monrovia.
The exercise, organized with support from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC, the Ministry of Health, and Jhpiego, aims to critically assess the country’s strategies in responding to the Mpox outbreak and develop refined approaches for future public health emergencies.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, Director General of NPHIL and Chair of the Incident Management System (IMS), emphasized the importance of the review as part of Liberia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its outbreak response capacity. He said the IAR will build on previous regional engagements to critically evaluate national response efforts, examine challenges encountered, and identify successes achieved.
Dr. Nyan noted that the discussions will focus on key response pillars, including surveillance, coordination, case management, risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, and vaccination. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Liberia and development partners for their continued support in enhancing public health preparedness and response systems.
Monday’s activities featured panel discussions highlighting county-level Mpox response best practices, challenges, and prioritized actions. Participants also engaged in breakout sessions organized by response pillars to examine the state of preparedness before and during the Mpox response. These sessions were followed by pillar presentations and a daily “hotwash” to consolidate findings and recommendations.
The review is expected to conclude on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, with concrete recommendations to strengthen Liberia’s national disease response mechanisms.
This latest initiative follows NPHIL’s recent efforts to boost health security through knowledge sharing and capacity building. On September 17, 2025, the Institute held the 4th edition of the Emmet A. Dennis National Scientific Conference at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia. That three-day conference, held under the theme “Strengthening National Capacities for Preparedness and Response to Diseases and Public Health Threats,” brought together scientists, public health experts, policymakers, and international partners to exchange ideas and develop collaborative strategies for tackling public health challenges.
The ongoing Mpox IAR reflects NPHIL’s continued commitment to ensuring that Liberia remains proactive and well-prepared in the face of emerging and re-emerging public health threats.
