Liberia: Health Ministry, Partners Convene National Immunization Review Amid Funding and Coverage Concerns - FrontPageAfrica

Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County- The Ministry of Health (Liberia), in collaboration with international partners and county health teams, has launched its annual review of the country’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), with renewed calls for strategic adjustments to address emerging challenges.

The review meeting, currently underway in Zwedru, will assess immunization performance for 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. A second phase is scheduled to take place in Kakata City, Margibi County.

The exercise brings together health teams from all 15 counties to evaluate progress, identify gaps and set priorities for the year ahead.

Delivering remarks on behalf of Health Minister Louise M. Kpoto, Deputy Minister for Policy, Planning and M&E Malayah Tamba Chieyoe urged stakeholders to ensure that policy discussions lead to real improvements in healthcare delivery.

She emphasized that such forums are vital for collaboration and professional engagement, but warned against allowing decisions to remain unimplemented.

Chieyoe challenged participants to stay committed throughout the planning process and ensure that outcomes benefit citizens, particularly those not represented in decision-making spaces.

EPI Program Manager Adolphus Clarke described the current period as critical for Liberia’s immunization program, citing declining financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and other partners.

He revealed that the government is exploring additional funding through a Government-to-Government agreement with the United States to support unfunded immunization activities.

“Once we get full approval, we will inform you of those activities supported by the U.S. government,” he added. Clarke also raised concerns about persistent measles outbreaks despite reported high vaccination coverage.

“We will rely on the counties’ expertise, but most importantly, the true answers to why we are seeing consistent measles outbreaks amid high vaccination coverage,” he stated.

Representing the World Health Organization, Immunization Officer Tiala Korkpor Mulbah,  commended the Ministry and EPI team for organizing the review and promoting decentralized health planning.

“There’s a lot that goes into the planning and coordination of such activity, and I most commend EPI for being robust with this,” Dr. Mulbah said. “Being here in Zwedru is a testament to the power of decentralization.”

She praised frontline health workers for their dedication under challenging conditions: “We see the way you push tirelessly, despite limited resources and difficult terrain, toward the promise of universal vaccine coverage.”

Highlighting the human impact of immunization efforts, she added: “That progress isn’t just a line on a graph; it is a child who will grow up healthy, a mother who can sleep soundly, an adolescent who is safe, and a community that is stronger than it was yesterday.”

However, she cautioned that gaps remain, especially among children who have not received any vaccines. “As long as those gaps exist, our job is not done,” she stressed.

Mulbah reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to Liberia’s immunization goals and the global Immunization Agenda 2030. She added, “WHO remains your steadfast partner on this journey. We share your vision that no child in Liberia should be left vulnerable to a disease we have the power to prevent.”

Also speaking at the event, UNICEF Grand Gedeh County Program Officer, Timothy Paulus,  described UNICEF as a key partner providing both technical and logistical support to Liberia’s immunization program.

“In Liberia, UNICEF is a core partner to the Ministry of Health’s Expanded Program on Immunization. The relationship goes beyond funding, positioning UNICEF as a key technical and logistical support arm,” Paulus said.

He noted that UNICEF has played a crucial role in addressing supply and cold chain challenges, particularly in remote communities.

“One of the most significant challenges in Liberia is reaching ‘zero-dose’ children in hard-to-access communities,” he said. “We are working with the MOH to spearhead the ‘Last Mile’ delivery strategy.”

Paulus cited achievements from recent campaigns: “UNICEF funding enabled specialized outreach teams to reach 78,514 children in remote areas across all 15 counties.”

He also pointed to efforts to modernize data systems in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and highlighted vaccine procurement initiatives.

“This marked a major expansion of the EPI portfolio beyond traditional childhood diseases,” he noted, referencing the delivery of 112,000 doses of the RTS,S malaria vaccine in early 2024.

The EPI Annual Review Meeting includes detailed technical sessions focusing on data management, disease surveillance, service delivery, supply chains, community engagement, and workforce training.

Health authorities say the outcomes of the review will shape Liberia’s immunization strategy as it works to close coverage gaps and strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.