Buchanan City, August 22, 2026: The Ministry of Health (MOH), through the National Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries (NCDI) Unit, with support from the IECD TREND Project, has successfully conducted a comprehensive WHO Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions (WHO-PEN) training for primary healthcare workers in Grand Bassa County.

The four-day training brought together 29 healthcare workers from 14 primary healthcare facilities across the county. The training forms part of the Ministry of Health’s national strategy to strengthen the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and long-term management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the primary healthcare level.

The training equipped participants with practical knowledge and clinical skills to deliver standardized, evidence-based NCD services, with emphasis on diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and other priority NCDs using WHO-PEN protocols. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions covering patient assessment, cardiovascular risk assessment and stratification, lifestyle counseling, diagnosis and treatment, referral pathways, follow-up care, documentation, and reporting.

The sessions were facilitated by county-level trainers and monitored by national supervisors from the MOH NCDI Unit. The training methodology included interactive presentations, case studies, clinical demonstrations, role plays, group discussions, and practical exercises designed to strengthen healthcare workers’ competence and confidence in delivering quality NCD services in resource-limited primary healthcare settings.

Speaking during the training, Mrs. Jamesetta Teewon Smith, Director of the National NCDI Program at the Ministry of Health, reaffirmed the Government of Liberia’s commitment to integrating quality NCD services into primary healthcare as part of the country’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and President Boakai’s ARREST AGENDA for INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT (AAID). She encouraged participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to improve patient outcomes and strengthen community-based prevention, early detection, and management of NCDs.

Representing the IECD TREND Project, Dr. Anthony M. Tucker, Project Manager, reaffirmed the project’s commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health in strengthening Liberia’s health system through health workforce development, improved service delivery, and expanded access to quality NCD services across the country.

Dr. Whesseh Jude, County Health Officer of Grand Bassa County, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health and the NCDI Unit for selecting Grand Bassa County as one of the implementation sites for WHO-PEN. He encouraged participants to maximize the opportunity by applying the knowledge and skills gained to improve the quality of care provided to patients.

Dr. Jude also emphasized the importance of accountability for government and donor-supported resources and called for continued collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the County Health Team, and the IECD TREND Project to expand similar capacity-building opportunities to other healthcare workers across the county. He noted that the burden of NCDs continues to increase in Grand Bassa County and Liberia as a whole.

Strengthening Facilities with Essential Screening Equipment

At the conclusion of the four-day training, the IECD TREND Project donated essential NCD screening and diagnostic equipment and supplies to the Grand Bassa County Health Team for onward distribution to the 14 participating health facilities.

Receiving the items on behalf of the County Health Team, the County Chief Pharmacist expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health and the NCDI Unit for facilitating the inclusion of Grand Bassa County in the WHO-PEN implementation. He assured the IECD TREND Project and the Ministry of Health that the donated equipment would be properly accounted for and used for their intended purpose.

He further emphasized that donated supplies should not be sold and should remain clearly separated from commodities procured through the Community Revolving Drugs Fund (CRDF) system.

The donated equipment and supplies included:

•            Digital and manual blood pressure machines

•            Blood glucose monitoring machines

•            Blood glucose test strips

•            Lancets

•            Weighing scales

•            Height measurement boards

•            Cotton wool

•            Safety boxes

These resources will support healthcare workers to improve early detection, screening, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and follow-up of people living with diabetes, hypertension, and other priority NCDs.

Milestone for NCD Care in Grand Bassa

The successful completion of the first phase of WHO-PEN training in Grand Bassa County marks another important milestone in Liberia’s efforts to decentralize quality NCD services and make essential prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and long-term management services more accessible at the primary healthcare level.

The initiative demonstrates the Government of Liberia’s continued commitment to strengthening primary healthcare and advancing Universal Health Coverage through the nationwide implementation of the WHO-PEN approach.

Together, we can prevent NCDs, detect them early, improve treatment outcomes, and ensure healthier communities across Liberia.