Stakeholders in the health sector of Liberia alarm the rise in maternal and neonatal cases, which serve as critical indicators that define the health status of a country.The observation was contained in a 26-count resolution read at the close of the 10th Annual Health Sector Review Conference held at the Paynesville City Hall in Monrovia this week.
Held under the theme: “Making Universal Health Coverage”, the conference is the first hosted by the current administration at the Ministry of Health led by Minister Doctor Wilhelmina S. Jallah the Coalition of Democratic Change-led government.
This year’s theme highlights the Global Agenda of Universal Coverage which means that all people and communities can use promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need at sufficient quality to be effective, while ensuring the use of these services does not expose users to financial hardship.
The resolution read by the Manager of the Health Sector Pool Fund at the Ministry of Health Madam Miata Z. Gbanya says the Ministry’s goal for the 10th Annual Health Sector Review Conference is to promote accountability, transparence and performance for quality service delivery within the health sector.
The objective of the conference according to the resolution was to review and document performance from 2017 to 2018 and identify key challenges impeding delivery of services in the health sector as well as document best practices and proffer solutions to mitigate challenges.
The document notes that implementation of this year’s plan was done during the transition of national leadership from former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to President George Manneh Weah with the overall focus on the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).
It was also done under the leadership of past and present administrations of the Health Ministry now led by Doctor Wilhelmina S. Jallah.The stakeholders through their resolution call on the Liberian government to maintain the health sector as a priority sector in the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) to be implemented in the next five years in order to sustain the gains made over the last 13 years.
They specifically call on government to commit to mobilizing domestic resources for the health sector in the midst of decrease donor funding, while urging the Health Ministry and donors, including UN agencies and partners to align their support to the implementation of the PAPD and the National Health and Social Welfare Policy of 2011-2021 as well as the investment plan for building a resilient health system carved for 2015- 2021.
The stakeholders also want the Ministry of Health to reaffirm its utmost commitment to mobilizing resources, effectively implementing and monitoring the family planning and coasted implementation plan.
–Editing by Jonathan Browne
