By: Ben TC Brooks
River Gee County Correspondent,
River Gee County ~ In a strategic effort to strengthen healthcare delivery at the community level, a two-day capacity-building training was held focused on the effective implementation of the Community Revolving Drug Fund and Cost-Sharing Scheme, a vital component of Liberia’s health financing landscape.
The CRDF serve as a innovative mechanisms to ensure a sustained availability, accessibility and affordability of essential medicines at all public health facilities across country.
The program to also operate on a self-sustaining model where revenues generated from drug sales would be reinvested to replenish stock, thereby reducing reliance on external funding sources such as government allocations or donor contributions.
According to the CRDF policy, drugs would be sold at an affordable, cost-recovery prices, and at the same time patients to pay a minimum fees of LD$500.00 for spending a night at any of the public facility’s with the primary aim of enhancing access to quality healthcare services for underserved populations.
The Community Revolving Drug Fund and Cost Sharing Scheme says the approach is intended to promote financial sustainability, decentralizes healthcare management, and fosters active community participation.
By empowering local health facilities to maintain their medicine supplies and manage financial resources effectively, the scheme will dynamically strengthens the overall health system of the nation.
Speaking at the opening of the two days event, River Gee County Health Officer, Dr. Pauline Weah Mehdeh has emphasized the importance of implementing the the CRDF policy’s especially portion that provides waivers.
She explained that, according to CRDF policy guidelines, individuals who are extremely poor, particularly indigent inmates should be granted waivers from payment under the CRDF health policy due to their inability to earn a living.
Dr. Mehdeh added that, under the CRDF Module 3, cost sharing, specifically section 3.1, HIV and TB care, mental health services, family planning, routine immunizations, NTDs, and doctor’s office consultations are exemptions to payment under the CRDF policies.
She urged her Officers-in-Charge, health administrators, District Health Officers, Dispensers, and laboratory technicians to fully implement the policies as outlined, with the goal of improving the health system within River Gee County.
The training was specifically designed to equip frontline health officers, local county authorities, civil society organizations with the essential skills and knowledge required for the efficient management and full implementation of the cost sharing scheme as part of its broader strategy to strengthen community health systems across River Gee and beyond.
The training initiative aligns with national health priorities to decentralize healthcare delivery, promote sustainability, and foster community ownership of health programs.
Representing primary healthcare delivery, Officer in Charge (OIC) Miss. Getrude Wesseh of the Tuobo Gbaweliken Clinic expressed gratitude to the County Health Administration for organizing the two-day capacity-building training. She committed to implementing the MOH Community Revolving Drug Fund and Cost Sharing Scheme at her facility.
“Upon our return to our respective health facilities, we will convene catchment community meetings to explain the new CRDF policies, helping our people understand and begin implementation. Liberia’s health system can return to its best if we all support this noble initiative, provided we, Liberians, are willing to do so,” said OIC Getrude Wesseh.
Speaking on behalf of secondary healthcare facilities in River Gee County, Henry Teh, Administrator of Gbeapo Comprehensive Health Center, pledged full implementation of the CRDF at all secondary healthcare facilities across the county.
Additionally, District Health Officers, representing their colleagues, praised the Ministry of Health and the County Health Team, led by Dr. Pauline Weah Mehdeh, for the knowledge imparted during the training. They assured that they would closely monitor their OICs to ensure the successful and full implementation of the CRDF throughout River Gee County.
They however, called for full support from the County Health Administration to Improve the Health system in River Gee County.
At the end of the two days capacity building tranining, Eric Senh Chea, the River Gee County Community Health Department Director, has revealed that the implementation of CRDF policy would commence soon in the county.
He assured that startup drugs would be soon distributed for full-scale implementation to support health initiatives within the county.
Chea emphasized the importance of responsible management of the resources that would be received from the Ministry of Health.
He urged Officers-In-Charge OICs administrators, and District Health Officers (DHOs) to effectively oversee and utilize these resources to enhance the overall health system and ensure the well-being of the residents of River Gee County.
The two-day sessions held from September 5-6, 2025 was hosted at the River Gee County Health Team conference hall and brought together the County Local Authority, District Commissioners, OICs, health administrators, DHOs, Community Health Assistants, Medical Doctors, Civil Society Organizations, the Media among others.
As success of the two training underscores the importance of professional implementation, there would be follow-up assessments and refresher for health workers and administrators, to ensure that the knowledge gained translates into tangible improvement, ultimately leading to a healthier and more resilient communities in River Gee.
