MONROVIA – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) successfully concluded the 4th Emmet A. Dennis National Scientific Conference on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. The three-day event, which commenced on Wednesday, September 17, brought together scientists, public health professionals, policymakers, and international partners to discuss strategies for strengthening national capacities to prepare for and respond to diseases and public health threats.
The conference was sponsored by several organizations, including the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Prevail, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), and the Ministry of Agriculture. The theme of the conference, “Strengthening National Capacities for Preparedness and Response to Diseases and Public Health Threats,” emphasized the importance of scientific collaboration and innovation in enhancing health security.
Notable speakers at the conference included Dr. Bernice T. Dahn, Vice President for Health Sciences at the University of Liberia; Dr. Nebiyu Dereje Abebe, Head of the Division of Knowledge Management and Policy Translation at Africa CDC in Ethiopia; Dr. Olushayo Olu, WHO Representative in Liberia; and Dr. Bright Adu, Senior Research Fellow at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Their presentations highlighted the critical role of scientific research and evidence-based practices in addressing public health challenges.
During the conference, Dr. Dougbeh C. Nyan, Director-General of NPHIL, expressed his satisfaction with the event’s success and extended gratitude to the speakers and participants. He emphasized that the conference served as a platform where science, medicine, public health, and social science converged to advance Liberia’s health agenda.
NPHIL is responding to multiple outbreaks, including Monkeypox (Mpox), Lassa fever, and Measles outbreaks.
Around May this year, the NPHIL responded to a suspected H5N1 Bird Flu announced by the Ministry of Agriculture Vet Lab and the US-CDC. NPHIL tested the specimens which turned out to be negative. NPHIL announced the negative results and stated that there was no H5N1 outbreak in Liberia.
In the last two weeks, the WHO-Liberia and Ministry of Health memo signed by Minister Louise Kpoto announced a suspected Ebola case of a dead body brought to Liberia from a ship in international waters.
NPHIL responded again with its molecular test which determined that the suspected Ebola specimens were negative and the MoH Memo was a false alarm. Those put under quarantine by the Ministry of Health were immediately released.
Dr. Nyan also highlighted significant advancements made by NPHIL, including the establishment of a state-of-the-art diagnostic and research laboratory equipped with advanced gene sequencing technology. This facility enables Liberian scientists to detect and identify pathogens with precision and speed. “Our young team of scientists, trained in just six months, was able to use this technology to identify circulating pathogens in Liberia. This demonstrates Africa’s enormous potential in science and technology if given the right support,” he remarked.
Emphasizing the importance of scientific integrity, Dr. Nyan warned against the dangers of politicizing public health. “When politics interferes with science, science degrades,” he cautioned. He further assured the public that recent rumors of viral hemorrhagic fever in the country were disproven through extensive testing. “We did not detect Marburg, we did not detect Lassa, and we did not detect any viral hemorrhagic fever. Our results were independently verified abroad and came back negative. That is how science works,” he explained.
Dr. Nyan concluded by reaffirming NPHIL’s commitment to professionalism and transparency in all operations. He also lauded President Joseph Boakai’s leadership, describing him as a strong supporter of integrity and honesty in public institutions. “Under my guidance, the National Public Health Institute will not be used for the commercialization of outbreaks. We will not give results that are not based on evidence,” he asserted.
The successful conclusion of the 4th Emmet A. Dennis National Scientific Conference marks an important milestone in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its public health systems and enhance its capacity to respond to emerging health threats. Through continued collaboration and investment in scientific research and innovation, Liberia aims to build a resilient health infrastructure capable of safeguarding the well-being of its population.
