The National Public Health Institute (NPHIL) over the weekend distributed infection and prevention and control supplies worth over US$300,000 to eight designated points of entry in Liberia.
The designated points of entries that benefited were the Robert International Airport and Jaynes Payne Airports, Free Port of Monrovia, Buchanan Port, and Bo Waterside, as well as Ganta, Yekepa and Loguatuo Borders.
Dr. Jeane Macauley, Director General of NPHIL, making the presentation on Thursday in Congo Town thanked the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the immense support to strengthen NPHIL’s capacity to detect, prevent and respond to public health emergencies.
“The National Public Health Institute extends and appreciation to the African Development Bank for the immense support to strengthen NPHIL’s capacity to detect, prevent and respond to public health emergencies and other events of public health concerns in Liberia,” Macauley said when she presented the materials to NPHIL’s staffs assigned at the eight points of entry designated for the donation.
Under the Result Based Management-Monitoring and Evaluation of Public Health Activities in Liberia Project, Dr. Macauley said the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases like Ebola and COVID-19 have highlighted the need to strengthen Liberia’s main points of entry.
She added, “The emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases like Ebola viral disease and COVID-19 have highlighted the need to strengthen Liberia’s main Points of Entry (POEs) while adhering to domestic and international regulations.”
Macauley reiterated that NPHIL looks forward to addressing other critical needs port health.
Meanwhile, the NPHIL Director General has encouraged all heads of POEs to utilize the supplies transparently so that public health can remain resilient.
In remarks, NPHIL Deputy Director General for Administration, Dr. Patrick Kpanyan, said the issue of port health strengthening is written in several conventions of the United Nations, hence thanking the African Development Bank for the support.
“We would like to thank the African Development Bank for this support,” Dr. Kpanyan said.
“The issue of port health strengthening is not new; they are written down in several conventions of the United Nations, so we would like to say thank you and this remain our focus.
“We would like to call on other organizations to follow the example of the African Development Bank. We want to also thank our government for the continued support to NPHIL,” he maintained.
The materials, according to the head of the project, Bernice Sylvanus, include 850 pieces of infrared thermometer, 900 pairs of rain boots, 1,200 and 1,800 pieces of examination gloves, 195 buckets of chlorine power, among several others.
