By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Monrovia – Senate ProTemp Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence has stressed the need for more investment in healthcare for Liberia.
In a remark delivered on World Health Day 2025, the Grand Bassa Senator said allocating resources to improve healthcare infrastructure, ensuring facilities are equipped and accessible including with adequate appropriate skilled human resources, particularly in rural areas will deliver massively for Liberia.
She said there should be implementation of a comprehensive education programs that inform women, adolescents and youth about reproductive health, prenatal care, nutrition and the importance of skilled birth attendance.
“Education and Empowerment: Implementing comprehensive education programs that inform women, adolescents and youth about reproductive health, prenatal care, nutrition and the importance of skilled birth attendance.” ProTemp Lawrence said.
The leader of the senate wants more community engagement involving the collaboration of traditional leaders, midwives, families and community health workers to bridge cultural gaps and promote health-seeking behaviors.
Senator Lawrence also told the gathering that there was a need to formulate and enforce policies that prioritize maternal newborn, and child health, including measures to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for families within the context of universal health care, leaving no one behind.
“The theme “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures” is not merely a slogan; it is a vision that compels us to act with urgency and compassion. By addressing the challenges of maternal and newborn mortality head-on, we honor the lives lost and pave the way for a future where every birth is a celebration of life and potential.” She noted.
The Pro-Temp said “Let us move forward together, united in purpose and unwavering in our dedication to the health and well-being of mothers and children. Through our collective efforts, we can transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s triumphs, ensuring that healthy beginnings lead to hopeful, thriving futures for all.”
Pro-Temp Lawrence recognized that the path to reducing maternal and newborn mortality is multifaceted, demanding a comprehensive approach that addresses healthcare access, education, socioeconomic conditions, and cultural contexts, including gender dimension and reproductive rights.
Successful interventions in countries such as Kenya, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Rwanda have demonstrated the efficacy of strategies, including expanding family planning services, ensuring skilled birth attendance, deploying community health workers, and investing in emergency obstetric care.
She said the above mentioned examples serve as beacons, illuminating pathways that Liberia can adapt and scale up to our unique context in an expedited manner.
The 2025 World Health Day is being celebrated under theme: “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.”
