Senate Chair on Health, Senator Dabah M. Varpilah, calls on the government to expand appropriations for health care across the country.
By: Emmanuel Wise Jipoh
Monrovia, Liberia, July 15, 2024—The Senate Chair on Health, Grand Cape Mount County Senator Dabah M. Varpilah, wants government to expand revenue allocation in the health sector of Liberia to close gaps in the country’s health system.
Senator Varpilah underscores the essential need to increase the domestic revenue envelope and appropriations, which will significantly expand access to quality healthcare services.
She acknowledged the deep weakening of the health system, especially in rural areas, which she lamented is one of Liberia’s real challenges—a weakening health system.
“If you do not feel the burns of the weakened health system in the community, in the counties, in the villages, we do as the people Representatives- because it is we that are there with them; to see a pregnant woman- showing up and there is no generator- electricity in the delivery room, if there is any in the community,” Senator Varpilah recounted.
She called for expanding domestic revenue—appropriated—toward the health sector, which would help bridge the already weakening gaps and increase access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
“I think we saw the first budget demonstrate an increase, and we look forward to more increase, and if we are committed to revenue appropriation- significantly towards- our health sector, we can overcome these gaps,” Senator Varpilah added.
On behalf of the 55th Legislature, the Grand Cape Mount County Senator renewed the Legislature’s commitment to ensuring continuous engagement with relevant stakeholders, ministries, and agencies to appropriate significant funds for the Health Sector.
She rallied officials, especially healthcare workers, to demonstrate their commitment. An expanded revenue allocation will boost the fight against pandemic prevention and other related diseases.
Senator Varpilah was speaking over the weekend at the Global Fund Grant Cycle 7” for Strengthening Health System in the fight against HIV-AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and other diseases, where she reflected on health actors’ commitment at the World Health Day Celebration in Geneva, Switzerland to reduce the high number of maternal and newborn health, something, she said of many are due to the danger of these three diseases that the GFC7 Grant is supporting.
Senator Varpilah decried the weakened health system in rural Liberia while urging for more support.
Also speaking, Liberia’s Attorney-General, Cllr. J. Oswald Tweh reassured the government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability regarding the GC7 fund provided by the Global Fund to fight these three diseases and promised to deliver.
For her part, the head of Africa and Middle East of the Global Fund, Madam Caty Fall Sow, stressed that global health remains an increased priority amidst an increasingly fragile and global economy but rallied coordinated efforts from everyone to help respond to these challenges.
She acknowledged Global Fund donors for their continuous support, and he commended the government and people of Liberia for their commitment and dedication to fighting HIV, TB, and Malaria while building a resilient health sector.
Madam Sow, said the global fund replenishment shows unwavering commitments to 15.7 Billion United States Dollars, in addition to $5 Billion grant, to fight Covid-19 and has embarked on the same path for HIV- AID, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Editing by Jonathan Browne
