(Abuja, Nigeria, July 14, 2025) — Liberia joined other African nations at the 2nd International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa (ICPPA 2025), held from July 8–10 in Abuja, Nigeria. The event was convened under the theme, “Advancing Implementation of PEN-Plus for Severe NCDs in Africa: Technical Innovations, Operational Insights, and Scalable Solutions.”
Hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, the conference served as a strategic platform to align the PEN-Plus initiative with public health programs across the continent. The event also comes ahead of the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, scheduled for September 2025, where PEN-Plus is expected to be featured prominently as a core response strategy for addressing severe NCDs in Africa.
Liberia was represented by Mrs. Jamesetta G. Smith, Director of the Non-communicable Diseases and Injuries Unit at the Ministry of Health, along with WHO Technical Assistant Mr. Barkon Dwah. During the conference, the Liberian delegation highlighted the country’s strong progress in implementing the PEN-Plus strategy, positioning Liberia as a model for scalable and impactful NCD care in low-resource settings. “Our experience in rolling out PEN-Plus at decentralized levels has demonstrated that quality care for severe noncommunicable diseases is not only possible but also essential for strengthening our health system,” said Mrs. Smith during a panel discussion.
The Liberian delegation was further supported by key development partners, including Partners In Health (PIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Liberia Country Office. These partners have played an instrumental role in operationalizing PEN-Plus services, including the integration of specialized care for conditions such as type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and rheumatic heart disease into district-level hospitals.
Delegates at the conference included policymakers, technical experts, donors, civil society organizations, and private sector representatives from across Africa. The forum focused on sharing innovations, addressing implementation challenges, and exploring strategies to scale up PEN-Plus within national health systems.
The International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa remains a vital platform for collaboration, capacity-building, and advocacy as African countries prepare for the global spotlight at the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting in September.