Limo Service in Monrovia, IN

Paynesville— The Government of Liberia (GoL), through the Ministry of Health and in collaboration with development partners, has officially launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign targeting girls between the ages of 9 and 18.

The launch event took place at the Voker Mission Public School in Paynesville, outside Monrovia and brought together hundreds of school-aged girls, health officials, educators, and stakeholders.

Representing First Lady Kartumu Y. Boakai, Varfee Holmes, Technical Consultant and Media & Communication Officer in the Office of the First Lady, described the vaccine rollout as a significant milestone in safeguarding the health and future of Liberian girls.

“This launch is not just another health activity—it is an act of national protection, a step toward generational health, and a gift of life to girls across Liberia,” Mr. Holmes stated.

Quoting the First Lady, Mr. Holmes emphasized: “Every strong nation begins by protecting its daughters, because a daughter protected today becomes a mother strengthened tomorrow.”

Mr. Holmes disclosed that the campaign aims to achieve 90% vaccination coverage, reaching more than 560,000 girls nationwide.

“That means 560,000 futures secured, 560,000 dreams strengthened, and 560,000 young women spared from a disease that should never claim lives in this modern age,” he added.

He encouraged parents and guardians to support the initiative: “The HPV vaccine is safe, effective, and saves lives. It does not affect fertility. Let us protect our daughters now so they can focus on building their future.”

Health Minister Highlights Urgency

Liberia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto, underscored the importance of the campaign, noting that cervical cancer remains one of the most preventable yet deadly cancers among women in Africa.

“I’ve worked with female patients most of my life and have seen firsthand the devastating impact of cervical cancer,” Minister Kpoto said.

She explained that many women discover the disease only after marriage or childbirth—often when it is too late.

“This vaccine gives young girls the chance to grow, thrive, and enjoy life without fear of a disease that silently destroys families,” she stated.

Dr. Kpoto also announced improvements in primary health facilities and immunization outreach, ensuring no eligible child in Liberia is left behind.

EPI Doubles Down on Sensitization

Speaking during the launch, Dr. Yeah A. Nemaha, Acting Program Manager of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), explained the science behind the effort.

“Many women develop cervical cancer because they were infected with HPV,” he said. “By taking the HPV vaccine, you are preventing the virus—and ultimately protecting yourself from cervical cancer.”

Campaign Strategy

The Ministry of Health says its teams will be deployed to: Schools, Communities, Religious centers, Markets, Local leadership hubs to ensure nationwide access and awareness.

Community leaders are also expected to support mobilization efforts throughout the one-week vaccination exercise.

About HPV and Cervical Cancer

HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer, which is one of the most preventable cancers through vaccination. The HPV vaccine is recommended worldwide for girls before their first exposure to the virus.

The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign marks a critical step in strengthening Liberia’s health system and reaffirming the government’s commitment to preventing avoidable diseases, especially among girls and women.

…Raise Questions About the Health System’s Readiness

By Amos Harris

MONROVIA, LIBERIA — Liberia’s public health system is facing intense scrutiny following a disturbing surge in Mpox infections nationwide. Since September 2024, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported over 2,400 suspected cases, with more than 1,300 infections confirmed, exposing what critics argue are lingering weaknesses in the country’s capacity to manage emerging diseases.

In a situation update released on November 7, 2025, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Catherine T. Cooper confirmed that the virus remains active across multiple counties despite ongoing interventions in surveillance, case management, and public awareness. The Ministry’s data reveals a high positivity rate of 56.6 percent, signaling widespread community transmission that has now reached 65 of Liberia’s 98 health districts.

Montserrado County has emerged as the clear epicenter, accounting for 57 percent of all active cases. The infection rate is particularly high in the densely populated corridors of Bushrod, Central Monrovia, and Somalia Drive—areas frequently challenged by inconsistent healthcare access. Nimba County follows with 18 percent, Margibi with 7 percent, and Grand Bassa with 5 percent.

While the MOH reported 1,154 recoveries and a relatively low case fatality rate of 0.5 percent (six deaths), public health experts warn that this apparent success does not mitigate serious underlying systemic deficiencies. These gaps include critically limited testing capacity, inadequate funding for national surveillance, and a slow logistical response, especially in rural areas.

“The numbers might appear encouraging, but we are still seeing delays in case detection, testing, and treatment, particularly in remote districts,” one public health worker, speaking anonymously to maintain their employment, stated. “If the government doesn’t sustain community engagement and supply chain logistics, the situation could worsen rapidly.”

To counter the widening spread, the Ministry has launched a 90-day national response strategy slated from November 2025 to January 2026. This plan pledges to strengthen surveillance, expand treatment capacity, and intensify public education. Key actions include:

Crucially, the strategy includes the rollout of a preventive ring vaccination campaign in Montserrado and other high-transmission counties, scheduled to begin in December 2025. This follows Liberia’s receipt of 42,720 vaccine doses from an international consortium that includes the US CDC, Africa CDC, GAVI, and UNICEF, targeting adults aged 18 and above.

Despite the ambitious plan, concerns persist regarding funding and execution in Liberia’s heavily donor-dependent healthcare delivery system. Questions linger about the Ministry’s ability to effectively coordinate logistics, maintain the vaccine cold chain, and consistently reach underserved communities.

Civil society groups also point to a deficit in public trust, arguing that the government’s slow communication and lack of transparency have fueled misinformation and public fear.

“Communities need more than statistics; they need consistent education and trust,” a health advocate in Kakata noted. “People are still confused about how Mpox spreads and how they can protect themselves.”

The MOH has reactivated its Incident Management System for daily coordination and weekly audits of infection prevention efforts in hospitals. As the nation battles this new wave of Mpox, the government’s ability to execute its plan—and, in doing so, regain public confidence—will ultimately determine not just the fate of this current outbreak, but the credibility of its public health leadership going forward.