Africa Watch

16/07/2026

16/07/2026

16/07/2026

NPHIL Interim Director General Presents Findings of Nationwide EVD Preparedness Assessment at MOI Press Briefing

The Interim Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, addressed the Government of Liberia's regular Ministry of Information press briefing today, presenting the findings and key recommendations from the recently concluded nationwide Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Preparedness Assessment Tour.

The nationwide assessment, conducted over several weeks, covered all fifteen counties and major Points of Entry (PoEs), including airports, seaports, and land border crossings.

The exercise was aimed at evaluating Liberia's readiness to prevent, detect, and respond to any potential Ebola outbreak following renewed concerns over outbreaks in parts of the African region.

16/07/2026

NPHIL INTERIM DIRECTOR GENERAL PRESENTS FINDINGS OF NATIONWIDE EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE (EVD) PREPAREDNESS ASSESSMENT TOUR

The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), under the leadership of Interim Director General Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, has concluded a comprehensive nationwide Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Preparedness Assessment Tour aimed at evaluating Liberia's readiness to detect, respond to, and contain any potential Ebola outbreak.

Addressing the media today, Monday, July 13, 2026, the NPHIL Interim Director-General said the nationwide assessment, conducted over several weeks, covered all fifteen counties and included visits to major points of entry, referral hospitals, isolation facilities, laboratories, county health teams, surveillance units, and emergency response structures.

The exercise formed part of Liberia's proactive preparedness efforts following the resurgence of Ebola cases in parts of the region. It reaffirmed the Government of Liberia's commitment to protecting the health of its citizens.

She further indicated that the objective was not to wait for an outbreak before taking action, but to ensure that every county has the capacity to detect, report, investigate, and respond rapidly to any suspected Ebola case. Preparedness saves lives, and every investment we make today strengthens Liberia's public health security.

Throughout the assessment, the NPHIL delegation engaged County Health Teams, hospital administrators, healthcare workers, laboratory personnel, local authorities, community leaders, security agencies, airport and seaport management, and development partners. The discussions focused on identifying strengths, addressing operational gaps, and strengthening coordination across all levels of the health system.

The assessment found that Liberia has made significant progress in strengthening its public health emergency preparedness since previous Ebola outbreaks. Surveillance systems are functioning across all counties, with trained surveillance officers actively monitoring and reporting priority diseases.

Rapid Response Teams have been established in every county and continue to receive refresher training to maintain operational readiness.

The assessment also confirmed that the National Public Health Emergency Operations Center remains operational and capable of coordinating emergency responses nationwide. Laboratory diagnostic capacity has improved considerably, with enhanced specimen transportation systems facilitating timely testing and confirmation of suspected cases.

Despite these gains, the assessment identified several areas requiring immediate attention. These include the need to replenish essential personal protective equipment (PPE), enhance maintenance of isolation facilities, increase simulation exercises, and provide continuous training for newly deployed healthcare workers.

Visits to border communities also underscored the importance of maintaining strong cross-border collaboration with neighboring countries to enhance surveillance, information sharing, and coordinated response efforts.

Dr. Camanor expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health, County Health Teams, healthcare workers, local government authorities, airport and port management, security institutions, traditional leaders, and international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), World Bank, and other partners whose continued support has strengthened Liberia's emergency preparedness capacity.

“We want to assure the public that Liberia currently has no Ebola outbreak, but heightened preparedness is essential due to ongoing regional public health risks”.

“We encouraged all Liberians to continue practicing good hygiene, promptly report any unusual illness to the nearest health facility, cooperate with health authorities during surveillance activities, and rely only on verified information issued by NPHIL and the Ministry of Health”.

NPHIL reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the health of the Liberian people through evidence-based surveillance, rapid detection, effective response, and strong partnerships. See less

16/07/2026

NPHIL-Supported Peace Island Disease Awareness Tournament Concludes Successfully

The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), through its Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) and Communications Division, successfully supported the conclusion of the Peace Island Disease Awareness Tournament, a community-based initiative aimed at promoting public health education, disease prevention, and healthy living among residents of Peace Island in Mintserrado County and surrounding communities.

The tournament served as an innovative platform to combine sports with public health awareness, bringing together young people, community leaders, health workers, and residents to increase awareness about the prevention of infectious diseases and the importance of maintaining healthy behaviors.

Throughout the tournament, NPHIL used the opportunity to engage community members with key public health messages on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) preparedness, Mpox prevention, Lassa fever, and other priority diseases.

Health educators emphasized the importance of regular hand hygiene, early reporting of suspected illnesses, environmental sanitation, and seeking prompt medical care when symptoms develop.

As part of the closing ceremony, NPHIL Communication Director Joseph Wiah encouraged participants to serve as public health ambassadors within their communities by sharing accurate health information and discouraging the spread of misinformation and rumors that can undermine disease prevention and response efforts.

The tournament also featured the distribution of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, including flyers and posters containing disease prevention messages.

Community members had the opportunity to interact with public health professionals, ask questions, and receive practical guidance on protecting themselves and their families from infectious diseases.
The organizers of the Peace Island Disease Awareness Tournament expressed appreciation to NPHIL for its partnership and technical support, noting that integrating public health education into sporting activities significantly increased community participation and reinforced important health messages among young people.

The successful conclusion of the tournament demonstrates NPHIL's continued commitment to working with communities, local organizations, and partners to promote disease prevention, strengthen health awareness, and build resilient communities capable of responding effectively to public health threats across Liberia. See less