Liberia’s President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, has recognized the United Nations H6 Mission’s findings on the health sector in Liberia as a matter of critical national importance. The Mission’s report highlighted the alarming statistics of 1,100 women and 8,510 newborns who die annually during childbirth in Liberia. This prompts President Boakai to address the issue in alignment with the government’s ARREST agenda.
The UN H6 Partnership, consisting of UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, UN Women, UNAIDS, and the World Bank, aims to assist countries in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on sexual, reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health.
Following the conclusion of the UN H6 Mission’s visit to Liberia, President Boakai engaged in a debrief with the Mission team at the Executive Mansion, along with Dr. Catherine Cooper, Liberia’s Chief Medical Officer, and numerous health practitioners at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Cong Town. The Mission also interacted with the Liberian National Legislature health committee and conducted assessments of the health sector in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The UN H6 joint mission underscored the urgent need for action to combat the high rates of maternal and newborn deaths in Liberia. The delegation’s report revealed the staggering numbers of maternal and newborn deaths occurring annually in the country, emphasizing the necessity for immediate intervention.
The government of Liberia, with support from partners, is dedicated to accelerating efforts to reduce maternal, newborn, and child deaths in the country. The Mission stressed the importance of inter-sectoral coordination and its connection to the ARREST agenda, which focuses on key areas such as Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism.
Dr. Anshu Banerjee, H6 Mission Team Lead and WHO’s Director of Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Ageing in Geneva, highlighted the severity of the situation, emphasizing the need for enhanced access to healthcare services, reduced out-of-pocket expenditure, improved health infrastructure, and legal frameworks to address gender-based violence and other issues contributing to maternal and newborn mortality.
President Boakai reaffirmed his government’s commitment to addressing this pressing concern and expressed gratitude to the UN H6 Mission for their visit and insights. Dr. Catherine Cooper also commended the Mission for their efforts and expressed readiness to collaborate on developing a roadmap to address maternal mortality in Liberia.
The President reiterated the government’s dedication to ensuring the health and well-being of women and children in the country, emphasizing the need for collective action to make a positive impact on maternal and newborn health outcomes.
