Monrovia, Liberia–The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has made a strong appeal to the Liberian government for increased budgetary support to bolster its operations and enhance national response to disease outbreaks.
Appearing before the Plenary of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, NPHIL Director General Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan emphasized the urgent need for strengthened financial backing.
According to Dr. Nyan, increased funding will significantly improve Liberia’s capacity for vaccine research, development, and disease diagnosis.
Dr. Nyan also provided an update on the current status of the Mpox virus outbreak in the country.
While commending the government and health workers for their efforts in containing the virus, he stressed the importance of collaborative action to prevent further spread.
“Liberia has so far recorded four active cases of Mpox and, thankfully, zero deaths,” Dr. Nyan told lawmakers.
According to him, this is in stark contrast to neighboring Sierra Leone, which has reported over 1,900 active cases and 13 deaths.
He warned, however, that the low infection rate in Liberia should not lead to complacency, while urging the public to remain vigilant, adhere to all preventative guidelines, and take the Mpox vaccine seriously.
“The fight against Mpox requires not only medical resources but also a united national front,” Dr. Nyan added.
The call from NPHIL comes amid heightened global concerns over emerging infectious diseases, and as Liberia seeks to strengthen its public health infrastructure in the wake of the current mpox outbreaks.
