President George M. Weah has underscored the importance of the medical profession and vowed that his government would continue to improve and expand access to healthcare delivery across the country.
He recalled recalled how he has seen firsthand the challenges that families are faced with, particularly in rural areas, in accessing these basic health needs but 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,” the Liberian Chief Executive stated.
President Weah spoke virtually, Wednesday, March 22, 2023 during the official opening of the 3rd International Community Health Workers (CHW) Symposium hosted by the Ministry of Health (MoH), at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
The conference is intended to provide an opportunity for advocacy for the host country and other nations for investment into its Community Health Program and the health system.
The symposium accordingly, brought face-to-face over 40 different countries with 600 delegates including high-level government officials, and is held under the theme, “Advancing Community Health Worker Programs to Build Resilient and Equitable Health Systems that Accelerate Primary Health Care for Universal Health Coverage.”
Acknowledging many shocks the Liberian health sector has experienced over the years, the President indicated that the sector has remained resilient, urging health workers to ensure that the country continues such momentum.
“There still remain a lot of challenges that require collective action to overcome. So, 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,” he maintained.
President Weah, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States of America, further bemoaned his absence, saying he would have loved to grace the program in person, and thereby thanked health workers for committing to work for the good of humanity.
Earlier, Health Minister, Wilhelmina Jallah remarking at the symposium thanked community health workers for their immense and invaluable services render to improving the country’s healthcare services.
Minster Jallah stated that through the support of community healthcare workers, maternity modality rate and malaria prevalence among children have significantly reduce across Liberia.
She also used the community healthcare workers to continue being the frontline soldiers to help in curbing health emergency to build vibrant health resilient across the country.