Monrovia, Liberia – In an effort to curb the spread of infectious illnesses, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), on behalf of the government, has released the National Technical Guide for “Event-Based Surveillance (EBS).” As a model and reference for stakeholders at all levels, the handbook marks an important milestone in the continuing efforts to modernize Liberia’s public health monitoring system.
It is anticipated that Event-Based Surveillance would boost the ability to identify and address a variety of health events, such as infectious disease epidemics, natural disasters, and other public crises, by offering thorough information, recommendations, and tools.
Speaking during the EBS launch in Monrovia on Friday, April 4, 2025, NPHIL Director General Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan stated that the tool is the result of a great deal of work and commitment from professionals in the Ministry of Health, NPHIL, and partners.
He indicates that the guidelines’ release demonstrates Liberia’s dedication to maintaining its leadership position in public health surveillance and its ability to quickly detect and address community hazards. Additionally, the NPHIL Director General urged all stakeholders, health workers, and public health experts to use the tools as a useful resource in their day-to-day work.
He clarified that they may all work together to create a safer and healthier Liberia by following the values and procedures specified in the guidelines. Director Nyan, however, commended the authors for their efforts in creating the papers and stated that he is eager to work with them to improve the nation’s health surveillance capabilities.
Regarding public health, Dr. Kokou Alinon, Regional Director of the Africa CDC, stated, “In the event-based surveillance process, health professionals start with the senior detection and proceed to the verification, and while it is identifying, it becomes events.” The majority of the incidents originate in the communities, and we are aware that a detector-based monitoring system is full of useful information.
Dr. Kokou revealed that the WHO and Africa CDC are working hard to resolve event-based monitoring because the majority of Africans do not visit hospitals when they are sick.
According to him, since 2021, the Africa CDC has collaborated with Liberia to implement the event-based surveillance framework and its resources, as well as to connect the event management system to facilitate data exchange.
“Surveillance is the beginning and the end of public health. Event-Based Surveillance has tools that help locate symptoms at hospitals, remote, and community areas,” according to Dr. Kokou.
The Technical Guidelines, in his opinion, will create and initiate the regionalization of event-based monitoring in Africa. Dr. Catherine Thomas Cooper, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Medical Officer, spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Health and reassured the audience of the ministry’s dedication to the guidelines in order to make sure the document is operationalized.
Dr. Cooper also discussed the solid collaboration between MOH and NPHIL, saying that as they go forward independently, the cooperation will only get stronger.
Reported by: Prince Saah
Contact: +231778239813
Email: saahprince119@gmail.com
