(Monrovia, Liberia, July 18, 2025)—The Ministry of Health, through its National Diagnostic Division (NDD), has begun the decentralization of the GeneXpert molecular diagnostic machines to major referral hospitals across the country.
The project is being led by the GeneXpert Technical Working Group under the NDD in close collaboration with the National AIDS Control Program (NACP), the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Program (NLTCP), and the Health Technology Management Unit. The effort is also being supported by several key partners, including the Global Fund, World Health Organization (WHO), Plan International, Partners In Health (PIH), Riders for Health (RFH), and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC).
This nationwide distribution and installation of GeneXpert machines were made possible through a donation by the Global Fund to strengthen diagnostic services across Liberia’s healthcare system. The new machines are being installed at strategic facilities, including the TB Annex Hospital Laboratory, Redemption Hospital, Ganta Rehabilitation Hospital in Nimba County, the Liberia Government Hospital in Bomi County, the Government Hospital in Grand Bassa, and the Tellewoyan Hospital in Lofa County.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony at Redemption Hospital, Prince Gbondin, Quality Manager and GeneXpert Trainer at the National Diagnostic Division, led the delegation on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Catherine T. Cooper.
“This donation, courtesy of the Global Fund, aims to boost Liberia’s diagnostic capacity at key regional hospitals,” Mr. Gbondin stated. “We are proud to donate this GeneXpert molecular diagnostic equipment, which has been instrumental in Liberia since the 2014 Ebola outbreak. It is used to diagnose Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including drug-resistant strains, monitor HIV viral load, diagnose pediatric HIV, and detect viruses such as Ebola, COVID-19, and Mpox.”
According to Gbondin, the model being deployed is a state-of-the-art 10-color, 16-module GeneXpert machine, capable of conducting up to 16 different tests simultaneously. The system can also detect rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and other drug-resistant strains, making it vital for ongoing TB and HIV programs. Receiving the equipment on behalf of Redemption Hospital, Dr. Tina Anandani, Chief Medical Officer, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the support.
“On behalf of the medical directors, administrators, and all of us at Redemption Hospital, we extend our sincere thanks. We are grateful not only for the donation but also for the commitment to install it and train our personnel,” she said. “We promise to take good care of this equipment and use it strictly for its intended purpose, to save lives.”
The rollout of these diagnostic machines is expected to significantly reduce diagnostic turnaround times, expand access to rapid testing for infectious diseases, and support Liberia’s health security and surveillance systems.