Liberia: Weah Hails Health workers’ Heroism

By Claudius T. Greene Jr.

President George Weah has lauded health workers in the country, especially those at the community level, for the crucial roles they have and continue to play in bettering the country’s health sector.

Weah noted that the role of health practitioners is integral to ensuring a swift, better, and quality health sector, which his government is striving to achieve. He underscored the importance of the medical profession and reaffirmed the government’s commitments to improving and expanding access to quality healthcare delivery across the country.

The Liberian leader made these remarks, virtually, when he addressed the 3rd International Community Health Worker (CHW) Symposium in Monrovia. The weekend event brought together seven hundred delegates from forty-six countries.

In his virtual speech, Weah acknowledged the challenges facing the country's health sector, particularly in terms of access to basic healthcare in rural areas. He, at the same time, beseeched health workers to do more in keeping the citizenry healthy.

The President said his administration has made tremendous progress over the years in disease prevention and minimizing mortality.

“As you may know, in the last few years, we have managed to increase our coverage through the training and recruitment of health workers, as well as ensuring the accessibility of health care services,” he said.

Weah acknowledged the many shocks the Liberian health sector has experienced over the years, especially from the Ebola epidemic to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also indicated that the sector has remained resilient.

“We are building momentum in the sector. Let’s continue on that path,” he said. “There still remain a lot of challenges that require collective action to overcome.”

“It is, therefore, my expectation that this 3rd International Community Health Worker symposium will ponder over how all stakeholders can work together in achieving success.”

The theme of the symposium is: “Advancing Community Health Workers programs to build resilient and equitable health systems that accelerate primary health care for universal health coverage.” 

The program aims to foster cross-country learning, exchange, and action through engagement with country delegations.

It also intends to showcase the country’s experience with integrating, adapting, scaling, and optimizing Community Health Workers (CHW) and Community-based and led outreach programs for high-quality, equitable community-based PHC.

The symposium seeks to gather and discuss plans to expand healthcare services to meet the needs of the vulnerable population. In remarks at the event, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf emphasized the need to invest in professional community health workers, adding that such investment makes the population healthier, more productive, and even wealthier.

Sirleaf also noted that investing in community health workers makes communities safer and resilient, but most especially gives women who are the bedrock of the healthcare system the right for recognition.

She explained that when health workers are provided with the right tools, support, and compensation, they help turn the path against infectious diseases, poverty, and many other viruses.

She urged the participants to re-write Africa’s history so that the symposium becomes a reflection point in their collective journey toward health for all.

Meanwhile, Sirleaf disclosed that she has worked with the Africa Frontline First Initiative in securing an initial amount of US$45 million to invest in the health sectors across the continent.

She said the money is meant to close the approximately US$4 billion financing gap that the Africa Continent Community Health workers are faced with.

She added that the project seeks to support, train and improve community healthcare across the continent. 

She stated that the amount seeks to close the more than US$4 billion financing gap Community health faces on the continent.

“One effort I am particularly confident of is the Africa Frontline First Initiative in a collaborative effort to close the more than US$4 billion financing gap Community Heath faces on the continent,” she said. 

Through a unique partnership, she said the government, African Union, Africa Center for Disease Control, donors, and experts, Africa Frontline First will support and train countries in Africa to build high-functioning systems that are old and led by countries.

The former Liberian president stated that the project seeks to train and deploy 200,000 Community health workers. 

“I have been able to work also with those to be able to mobilize the first US$45 million for the cabinet fund for the Africa First Fund,” she said.