The Ministry of Health on Thursday, April 24, 2025, had bilateral talks with its Cuban Counterpart on the sidelines of the Fifth International Health Convention “Cuba Health 2025,” which is ongoing at the Convention Palace in Havana, Cuba. The United Nations Population Fund, the West African Health Organization, Economic Commission for Latin America & the Caribbean, United Nations Development Fund, UNICEF, World Food Program, International Atomic Energy Agency, and Health Ministers from around the world are attending the Health Convention. The Hon. Minister of Health was represented by Dr. Cuallau Jebbeh-Howe, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services, while the Cuban side was represented by H.E. Madam Anayansi Rodriquez Comejo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
During the bilateral meeting, Liberia thanked Cuba for the long-standing relationship spanning over 50 years and the assistance received in the area of healthcare from Cuba during that period. Specific reference was made to the deployment of the Cuban Medical Brigade during the deadly Ebola outbreak in Liberia. Dr. Howe used the period to make a formal request from the Liberian side for the deployment of Specialist Cuban Doctors in key areas, Technicians, training of high-level healthcare workforce, among others. The Assistant Minister highlighted the Liberian Government’s ongoing strive to improve health outcomes for Liberians in urban and rural deprived areas across Liberia with emphasis on the immediate improvement of key indicators like Maternal Mortality, Neonatal Mortality, life expectancy, among others, adding that these indicators are unacceptably high in Liberia. The Cuban side lauded Liberia for its traditional leadership on the continent of Africa. Ambassador Anayansi assured the Liberian side of Cuba’s commitment to provide the needed assistance. She urged the Liberian side to reduce the current human resource and training needs of Liberia in writing for urgent consideration. The two sides recommitted themselves to continuous collaboration in the areas of health for the good of their respective citizens.,