(Accra, Ghana, September 22, 2025) – The Government of Liberia participated in a major regional health conference last week, highlighting the country’s advances in risk communication and community engagement during public health emergencies.

Mr. Mac Nagbe Nelson, the Pillar Lead on Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE) at the Ministry of Health represented Liberia at the Regional Risk Communication & Community Engagement Capacity Strengthening Workshop in Accra, Ghana. The workshop scheduled for September 16 to 19, 2025 was organized by the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

During the workshop, Mr. Nelson delivered several key presentations outlining Liberia’s strategies and lessons learned in the field of RCCE. He shared the country’s experiences in implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR), focusing on outcomes from the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) process. His presentation highlighted both progress made and opportunities for further strengthening regional and national public health emergencies.

“Liberia was the first country in West Africa to undergo the Joint External Evaluation in 2016 using the first edition of the JEE tool. Liberia’s JEE Report 2023 showed a score of 2 on Risk Communication, Community Engagement, and Infodemic Management,” he stated.

A significant portion of his address was dedicated to Liberia’s innovative use of social media influencers to disseminate accurate health information and counter misinformation. This approach has proven effective in increasing the reach and credibility of public health messages, particularly among the younger population in the digital space.

The regional workshop aims to enhance the capacity of African nations to design and implement effective risk communication and community engagement strategies, which are critical during disease outbreaks and other health emergencies. Liberia’s participation underscores its commitment to regional collaboration and improving its public health response capabilities.

The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Liberia remains committed to ensuring that its citizens and residents are protected before, during, and after a public health emergency, as well as, safeguarding health on the continent of Africa.