National Coalition of Civil Society Organizations of Liberia (NACCSOL) say they seek accountability and transparency in Liberia’s health sector.
According to the Executive Director of NACCSOL, Benjamin Tarnue, the health sector is critical for the health needs of the Liberian people and civil society organizations (CSOs) should begin to give serious attention toward the health delivery system of the nation.
Director Tarnue made the remarks Thursday at the start of a two-day capacity building training on advocacy and effective communication tools to strengthen civil society organizations’ platforms that engage in government-led Global Funding Facilitate (GFF) processes or support country -level resource mapping and fundraising, held in Monrovia.
He underscored that members of CSOs should be knowledgeable enough with the relevant tools in the sector to advocate effectively about issues confronting the Liberian health sector to ensure adequate accountability and transparency in the sector is adhered to.
He noted that health financing is a major issue confronting the sector, and CSOs should work along to ensure that gaps in financing the health sector are tackled.
Director Tarnue maintained that the project to build the capacity of CSOs is expected to last for six months, and there is a need to have a vibrant CSO platform to champion health policies, which have been passed into law, to be implemented.
He indicated that the platform will also create awareness in the various communities about accessing health services through clinics and hospitals across the country.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Minister for Policy and Financing at the Ministry of Health, George P. Jacobs, said the government is striving to provide universal health coverage for the Liberian people.
Minister Jacobs stated that access to healthcare is crucial to move people from poverty, noting that when people are sick they cannot work.
He emphasized that if one million people are to be lifted out of poverty they must have sustainable healthcare through a national health insurance scheme program.
According to him, the national health insurance scheme is a vital instrument to provide affordable access to healthcare to every Liberian.
Minister Jacobs emphasized that sickness creates poverty, and funding healthcare requires the collective effort of every Liberian.
He noted that CSOs advocating for the improvement of the health sector have a significant role to play in strengthening the awareness for better and affordable healthcare in Liberia.