(Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, February 25, 2026) – The Assistant Minister for Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Cuallau J. Howe, has hailed the launch of a new national guidelines to combat non-communicable diseases, calling it a ‘critical and timely initiative’ in the fight against the public health crisis.
Speaking at the close of a three-day stakeholders’ meeting in the city of Buchanan, Dr. Howe praised the MOH Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries (NCDI) Unit for leading the effort to create what she described as a forward-looking, action-driven framework to address chronic illnesses plaguing Liberians.
“I want to sincerely appreciate the NCDI Unit for orchestrating this critical and timely initiative,” Dr. Howe stated. “This is not just a document—we must all recognize the broader impact of the NCDI agenda.”
The guidelines, finalized after extensive consultations, aim to streamline how major NCDIs such as hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell disease, rheumatic heart disease, and asthma are diagnosed, treated, and managed across the country.
According to Dr. Howe, non-communicable diseases have emerged as a major threat to national health and development, cutting across age, gender, and geography.
“Today, NCDs have become some of the leading causes of death within our communities and across Liberia,” she warned. “If we do not take decisive action… we will be failing the very people we are called to serve. These guidelines are not just technical tools; they are part of a larger vision to close quality gaps and improve access to healthcare nationwide.”
The validation meeting in Buchanan, Grand Bassa, brought together clinicians, public health experts, and policymakers from across Liberia. The meeting aimed not only to finalize clinical guidelines, but also to unify health actors under a national strategy to tackle chronic illnesses.
The new guidelines include steps for early detection, referral systems, and community-level awareness campaigns. Training and monitoring systems will accompany their rollout in both public and private health facilities.
The NCDI guidelines are expected to be implemented nationwide in the coming months, reinforcing the nation’s healthcare system and advancing its goal of universal health coverage.