By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Washington DC – Liberia has entered a groundbreaking health cooperation agreement with the United States Government, becoming the first country in West Africa and the third in Africa after Kenya and Rwanda to sign this category of bilateral partnership aimed at strengthening national health security and system resilience.
The US$124.4 million, five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in Washington, D.C. between Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and U.S. Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom, Jeremy P. Lewin.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hon. Lewin described the agreement as a major milestone in deepening ties between the two nations. He highlighted that Liberia’s leadership in signing this advanced cooperation framework reflects a strong national commitment to health security, innovation in disease response, and long-term system strengthening.
The U.S. State Department, which now oversees all U.S. foreign assistance and humanitarian aid, will guide the implementation of the partnership.
Foreign Minister Nyanti expressed profound gratitude on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., acknowledging the United States for its sustained support to Liberia’s development and health priorities. “We particularly recognize the technical support of the Minister of Health, Dr. Louise Kpoto, and her team who worked tediously on the fine details of the MOU,” she noted.
The agreement outlines a comprehensive framework to enhance Liberia’s health systems and improve public health outcomes. Over the next five years, U.S. support will strengthen disease surveillance systems, enable faster national outbreak responses, modernize national and regional laboratories, and upgrade supply chains for medicines and essential health commodities.
It will also expand the deployment of frontline healthcare workers nationwide, integrate digital health information systems, and support maternal, child, and infectious disease services.
This landmark MOU represents one of the most significant U.S.–Liberia health engagements in recent years.
The MOU underscores both nations’ commitment to building a resilient health sector capable of responding swiftly to public health threats, and it is expected to dramatically improve national health outcomes while bolstering regional preparedness for future epidemics.
