Celebrating 75 years of extraordinary- WHOs 75th Anniversary campaign launched in Liberia | WHO

Today the Vice President of the Republic of Liberia launched the WHO 75^th anniversary yearlong campaign as she was unveiled as the WHO75 Champion for Liberia, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 2023 World Health Day, which is also WHOs 75th anniversary since its establishment on April 7, 1948.

The event began with a Health for All walk from the Ministry of Health to the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, followed by an official event that saw hundreds of people from various walks of life come together in celebration of the milestones WHO has achieved in the past seven decades and specifically delineating the progress made in the health sector over the past 40 years of WHOs presence in Liberia.

The indoor event began with the viewing of WHOs 75^th Anniversary video, followed by a video statement from His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia. In his statement, the President congratulated Liberians and the WHO on its 75th anniversary, emphasizing that the WHO theme “Health for All” highlights health as a human right and envisions that all people have good health and live a life that is prosperous and sustainable. He further elaborated that Liberia has been part and parcel of the WHO since its inception, and Liberia resonates with its success as a shared responsibility to humanity.

“Over the 75 years of existence, we can reflect on our collective success in managing public health effectively. As a result of our resolve to prevent and control diseases, we have won the battle against smallpox, polio, Ebola, and the recent deadly COVID-19 pandemic, among others. In 1948, Liberia was among the founding nations to establish the WHO, because of our shared commitment to improving people’s health. It’s important to note that Liberia was the first African country to sign the WHO Charter on March 14, 1947. Liberia was also among the countries that signed the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration which identified Primary Health Care as key to attaining the goal of health for all by 2020”, said President Weah.

He also added that the realization of the dream is being steadily realized as countries reorient their health systems towards Primary Health Care for the attainment of universal health coverage and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Representing the US government, Dr. Rachel Idowu, US CDC Country Director in Liberia, highlighted that the achievements for public health by the WHO in the African region, rally from significant progress in HIV prevention and control, maternal health, the eradication of polio and smallpox, and specifically in Liberia, the control of Ebola and COVID-19, including progress in immunizations.

“These are not the achievements of a single individual or entity; they are a collective achievement between partners. WHO deserves credit for its effort to achieve health for all every day. It is a privilege to be working with you,”, said Dr. Idowu.

Reading the WHO Regional Directors statement, Dr. Clement Peter, WHO Representative for Liberia, exclaimed, that expanding access to essential health services and coverage has produced positive results. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths decreased by 44% and 55%, respectively, across Africa. Between 2015 and 2021, the number of TB deaths in the region decreased by 26%. Likewise, between 2000 and 2019, the life expectancy in the African region increased by ten years per person. These are just a few of the many achievements attained in the past few years. He appreciated the governments, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector, and communities for their collective efforts and contributions towards Health For All.  He encouraged Members states and relevant stakeholders to ensure innovation and political commitment toward health investments.

” As we move towards the 2030 target of Universal Health Coverage, we must be innovative and tackle persistent challenges. I encourage our Member States and all stakeholders to play our roles in ensuring that political commitment is translated into evidence-based policies, strategies, and plans and that these in turn receive the investment they require to be effectively implemented”.

“Let us all renew our determination, strengthen our partnership, and be innovative in our collective efforts to make progress towards health for all in Africa, through stronger health services that offer holistic, people-centered care to empowered and engaged communities”, said Dr.Peter.

In her key note address, Her Excellency Madam Jewel Howard Taylor, Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, outlined some of the gains in the health sector that demonstrate the government’s commitment to improving the lives of Liberians despite various challenges, including the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. She further appreciated the WHO and all stakeholders in development for their support and contributions towards the National Development Agenda.

“In the past year, the government launched a 10-year National Health Policy and its 5-year strategy alongside the package of essential services. These instruments have clearly defined government’s vision and goal to ensure that every person in Liberia can access and enjoy the health care that they always need, wherever they are, without financial hardship.”

Accepting her yearlong role as the WHO75 Champion for Liberia, she pledged her commitment as an advocate and lead voice for the campaign.

“As the National Champion for the WHO75 campaign in Liberia, I am happy to officially launch the yearlong campaign for WHO at 75 in Liberia. I am committed to supporting this process through advocacy and awareness to ensure increased access to universal health coverage for all Liberians. Let us work together towards the laudable goal of Health For All”.

Also in attendance were members of the Diplomatic Corps, the UN family, including current and retired WHO staff, various players in the health sector, students, and the media.

The WHO75 campaign aims to remind the Liberians and the world about public health successes, current and future challenges, and paint a picture of Health For All in the future while reinforcing the power of science, solutions, and solidarity. The campaign will run from April 7, 2023, to April 7, 2024.