Liberia’s Fight Against Material And Child Mortality

The World Health Organization has donated two fully fitted ambulances and critical medical supplies valued at $600,000 to Ministry of Health to reinforce the country’s campaign to reduce maternal and child deaths.  With maternal mortality rates among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, the government and its partners are intensifying efforts to expand access to life-saving services which underscored Liberia’s renewed focus on maternal and child health under President Joseph Boakai’s administration. The handover ceremony, held March 31 at the Ministry, comes just days after Liberia launched its “365 Days of Activism to End Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths.” 

In his remarks at the program, WHO Representative to Liberia Dr. Olushayo Olu  alluded the government’s commitment under Health Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto  to expand access to essential services.  “We believe that this initiative which is coming at an auspicious moment demonstrates Liberia’s commitment to improving maternal and child health,” Olu said.  “It will contribute significantly to the reduction of maternal and child deaths through the expansion of access to life-saving services for women and newborns across Liberia.”  Accordingly, the donation fulfills a campaign promise by WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi.  The ambulances are equipped to serve as mobile intensive care units, mobile clinics, and patient transfer vehicles while the  medical supplies presented include infant ventilators, neonatal incubators, resuscitation equipment, and portable ultrasounds, all vital for maternal and newborn care. Olu added that WHO will provide logistics for transportation, installation, and training of health workers. 

“The ambulances and equipment represent a bridge to better health outcomes and a testament to our partnership,” he said.  Olu noted that WHO provides medicines and equipment regularly, but this donation was publicly announced to highlight its alignment with Liberia’s national health priorities. “We donate on a daily basis but this is important for us,” he said. “We felt we should announce for the people to see what we are doing for the country.”  Health Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto welcomed the support, noting that the ambulances would be deployed through the Central Emergency Medical Service at John F. Kennedy Memorial  Hospital to serve Montserrado. 

“Those ambulances can be used at mobile clinics, and sometimes we have our patients that we need to resuscitate,” she said. “The items that are there, those are actually what we need in health facilities to improve maternal and newborn health.”  Also speaking, Acting Chief Medical Officer of Liberia, Dr. Teyan S. Moore emphasized that the donation reflects strong collaboration. “This is what we call partnership. If the donation is timely, especially a few days ago, together we launched a 365-day action plan to reduce maternal mortality across the country,” Moore said. 

He clarified that the ambulances will not be limited to John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital but will be managed by the Ministry’s emergency medical service unit to serve Montserrado and beyond.  “It will be used for transportation all around Montserrado, even beyond Montserrado,” he said.  Moore also revealed that the ministry is working with the United Nations Development Programme to procure additional ambulances for rural areas. “We are in discussion, planning with the Family Health Division, Senior Management, so that we use those items at the appropriate places,” he said. “Most of those items will go to the rural areas, the health centers and the referral hospitals in these counties.”