(Margibi County, Feb. 6, 2026) — Liberia’s Ministry of Health on Thursday launched the National Tuberculosis Accelerated Plan and formally established the Liberia TB Legislative Caucus.
The launch, led through the Ministry’s National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Program, brought together government officials, lawmakers, development partners, and international advocates, including the World Health Organization, the Global TB Caucus, and Plan International.
The event culminated in the signing of the Liberia Parliamentary TB Caucus Barcelona Declaration, a global pledge to accelerate efforts to end the tuberculosis epidemic.
Opening the meeting on behalf of the Minister of Health, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services Dr. Cuallau J. Howe expressed gratitude to participants and partners, describing the launch as a critical milestone in Liberia’s public health agenda.
She emphasized that the establishment of the Liberia TB Legislative Caucus creates a formal platform for lawmakers to champion TB prevention, control, and financing, while holding implementing institutions accountable.
At the center of the ceremony was Senator Dabah D. Varpilah of Cape Mount County, chairperson of the Senate Health Committee, who signed the declaration on behalf of the Liberian Legislature alongside committee members.
The Barcelona Declaration serves as the founding document of the Global TB Caucus and is open to political leaders worldwide as a demonstration of solidarity and political will against TB.
“The fight against tuberculosis is everyone’s business,” Varpilah said in remarks following the signing. “The disease is among us and around us. Sometimes, those who carry the virus are not known until testing confirms it. That reality demands collective responsibility and sustained political action.”
The National Tuberculosis Accelerated Plan is a targeted response to gaps in prevention, detection, and treatment. The plan emphasizes intensified case-finding, improved treatment outcomes, deeper community engagement, and a stronger health system response across Liberia’s counties.
The strategy is designed to raise the visibility of TB, mobilize political and financial commitment, and ensure coordinated implementation at both national and county levels. A key objective is to secure sustainable financing by advocating for the inclusion of TB programming in the national budget.
The plan also aims to mobilize commitments from members of the newly established TB Legislative Caucus, county health teams, and development partners, while strengthening collaboration and accountability among all TB stakeholders.
The launch drew regional and international participation via Zoom, underscoring the global nature of the TB response.
Participants included a Cameroonian Senator, Hon. Pierre Flambeau Ngayap, Global Vice-chair and chair of the Francophone TB Caucus; Deborah Ikeh, Director of Program at the Global TB Caucus; Apostle Dr. David Kwesi Afreh, Executive Consulting Secretary and former National Chairman of the Stop TB Partnership Ghana; and Joel Tshishiku Musampa, West and Central Africa regional manager of the Global TB Caucus.
Speakers highlighted Liberia’s efforts as part of a regional push to translate political commitments into concrete action against TB, which remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.