Liberia Gears Up for its Second Joint External Evaluation of International Health Regulations Core Capacities

Monrovia, August 30, 2023: Liberia is set to host its Second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) core capacities, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s commitment to global health security. The second Joint External Evaluation of Liberia’s health security capacity through the assessment of its IHR-prescribed core capacities is scheduled to take place from September 4 to 8, 2023, at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.

Following its inaugural JEE, Liberia will join a host of countries embracing the upgraded JEE Tool 3.0 to comprehensively assess its IHR core capacities. Within the framework of the One Health approach, the JEE constitutes a vital element of the IHR monitoring and evaluation mechanism.  It involves a diverse team of experts who will collectively scrutinize the country’s preparedness and response capabilities across 19 technical areas. Collaborative efforts will involve key government bodies such as the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), among others.

Liberia conducted its maiden JEE in 2016, utilizing the JEE 1.0 tool, resulting in an overall readiness score of 46%. This pivotal assessment led to the formulation of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) for 2018–2023, designed to address identified gaps and recommendations from the 2016 JEE. Subsequently, Liberia initiated its midterm assessment in 2019 with an overall readiness score of 49% and a 2021 NAPHS Implementation evaluation, yielding a readiness score of 52%, which will subsequently inform the formulation of Liberia’s next National Action Plan for Health Security.

The forthcoming 2023 JEE will offer a comprehensive evaluation of Liberia’s current status by pinpointing evolving gaps and opportunities. These insights will chart a course for targeted interventions to strengthen overall systems for protecting the lives of people, animals, and the environment.

Throughout the 2023 JEE, a team of external evaluators, experts, and partners will validate Liberia’s scores from the national self-assessments. A comprehensive review of presentations, documents, policies, and systems will be evaluated for each technical area. Site visits across the 19 technical areas will further enhance the assessment. The culmination of these evaluations will yield Liberia’s JEE 2023 score, signifying progress in detecting, preventing, and responding to public health threats.

Dr. Wilhelmina S. Jallah, Liberia’s Minister of Health, expressed enthusiasm for the impending evaluation, stating, “The Second Joint External Evaluation embodies Liberia’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the health of our citizens and the global community. This assessment presents an invaluable opportunity to reflect on our advancement, assimilate best practices, and chart a course toward even greater preparedness.”

As Liberia prepares to welcome global health experts and partners for this significant event, the nation reaffirms its steadfast dedication to prioritizing the health of its populace and contributing to global health security.

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