Editorial: Building A Resilient Health System: The Significance Of The Up-coming Joint External Evaluation (JEE)
THE JOINT EXTERNAL Evaluation (JEE), an international body of health experts and partners, provides an opportunity to evaluate the investment made by Liberian government in collaboration with international partners following the Ebola outbreak and during the COVID-19 pandemic in building a resilient health system using the One Health and the whole of government or society’s approach. The JEE brings together a diverse group of international experts every five years, fostering collective introspection into a nation’s strengths and weakness, in terms of preparedness response in public health.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR General for Technical Services of NPHIL, Dr. Julius S.M. Gilayeneh, said the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) is a comprehensive assessment of the country’s readiness to prevent, detect and respond to public health emergencies, in line with the international health regulations since 2005. According to him, these regulations provide global framework for managing the cross-border spread of diseases and other health risks, ensuring a coordinated national and international response.
HENCE, THE NATIONAL Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has announced that Liberia is gearing up to host its second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of the International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities, noting that the significant endeavor underscores the entity’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of the people within and across the globe.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR General for Technical Services said Liberia conducted its first JEE in 2016, resulting in an overall readiness score of 46%. “This pivotal assessment led to the formulation of national action plan for health security (NAPHS) for 2018—2023, designed to identify gaps and recommendations from 2016 JEE. Since the first JEE in 2016, Liberia has made substantial progress in strengthening health system and emergency response capacities, evident by the response to COVID-19 pandemic,” he observed.
HE SAID LIBERIA initiated its midterm assessment in 2019, with an overall readiness score of 49% and 2021 NAPHS implementation evaluation yielding a readiness score of 52%, which will subsequently inform the country’s next national action plan for health security, and called on the Liberian people to recognize the significance of the upcoming joint external evaluation. Our commitment to strengthening health system and emergency response is an investment in the health and prosperity of Liberia,” he stated.
THE WORLD HEALTH Organization (WHO) has acknowledged the significance of the joint external evaluation (JEE) as vital voluntary external assessments of a nation’s capacities in preventing public health threats.