Although, authorities at the Ministry of Health (MoH) have denied the presence of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, House Plenary, has constituted a special committee to work with MoH and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL).
NPHIL has at the same time, confirmed the presence of 16 foreign nationals in the country.
NPHIL says, the foreigners arrived from affected (not named) Ebola African countries.
They are been kept “under surveillance” for fear of the EVD.
Meanwhile, the 16 individuals are currently being screened and monitored.
“The individuals,” according to the NPHIL’s statement, “are from East African nations, including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
The measure is part of Liberia’s enhanced surveillance and preparedness efforts in response to the potential re-emergence of the EVD.
However, the House’s action regards also the country’s preparedness for any possible outbreak of Ebola.
The committee is chaired by the Chairperson on Health, Julie F. Wiah, and comprises representatives from the Committees on Ways, Means and Finance, Gender, and other designated resource persons, including Musa Bility, Bernard Blue Benson and Dixon Seboe.
The committee has been mandated to report its findings and recommendations to Plenary on today, Thursday, May 28.
Plenary also expressed concern regarding procurement processes associated with Ebola preparedness activities.
Lawmakers emphasized that “all emergency health-related procurements during this period should be exempted from the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) procedures.”
The measure is due to the “emergency nature of the situation.”
Health Minister, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, who appeared before Plenary, assured lawmakers that the country currently has “no suspected or confirmed case of Ebola.”
Dr. Sia Wata Camanor is NPHIL Acting Interim Director General.
She highlighted the Integrated Disease Surveillance System, which is jointly managed by NPHIL and MoH.
Dr. Camanor: “The surveillance system includes indicator-based surveillance, event-based surveillance, community-based surveillance, and rumor and media reporting mechanisms.”
She disclosed how the country currently has 989 health facilities in 98 health districts; each equipped and assigned district surveillance officers.
The country, Dr. Camanor said, maintains a trained workforce of field epidemiologists; community health assistants, and surveillance officers responsible for early detection and reporting of disease outbreaks.
She spoke about how the country also operates a rapid alert investigation mechanism, and a laboratory surveillance system linked to field surveillance, while actively monitoring regional epidemiological developments through the World Health Organization (WHO).
She informed lawmakers that Liberia is currently responding to national outbreaks of monkeypox, Lassa fever and measles, while existing surveillance systems remain focused on early detection, notification, investigation and response to suspected Ebola cases.
On preparedness, Dr. Camanor said, the country has developed an Ebola preparedness plan, and conducted a coordinated national risk assessment using WHO guidelines.
The assessment indicates that Liberia is 69 percent prepared in several response areas, though logistics management remains at 49 percent.
The country, she added: “Has strengthened surveillance measures at airports, seaports, and ground crossings, including 49 official border crossing points, eight of which are designated under the International Health Regulations.”
Dr. Camanor said, courthouse personnel and health officers stationed at ports of entry are being sensitized on Ebola case definitions, and are conducting daily screenings, traveler risk assessments and monitoring through health declaration forms.
She further disclosed how the country is currently using a paper-based health declaration system, but is in discussions with software developers to introduce a digital health declaration application similar to the COVID-19 digital platform.
The digital system, once operational, will allow travelers to submit health information prior to boarding flights to strengthen preparedness and early detection efforts.