(Monrovia, April 14, 2026) — The Ministry of Health has taken a step toward eliminating malaria, as health professionals, policymakers, researchers, and international partners on April 13 validated the country’s National Malaria Strategic Plan (NMSP) for 2026–2030.

The plan, endorsed at a stakeholders’ engagement, sets out a comprehensive framework to guide the country’s malaria response over the next five years, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, innovation, and measurable impact.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services, Dr. Cuallau Jabbeh Howe, underscored the strategic importance of the document, describing it as a critical roadmap for national action.

“This is not just any document,” Dr. Howe said. “It is a collective effort, built from the inputs and ideas of many stakeholders. That is why today is so important, it is our opportunity to contribute, refine, and ensure that what we produce is something meaningful and useful for our country.”

She stressed that beyond validation, implementation remains key to achieving results. “This document must not sit on the shelf. It must be a living tool actively used to bring about real change and measurable results,” she declared.

Highlighting priority areas, Dr. Howe pointed to the importance of strengthening surveillance systems. “Without accurate and timely data, we cannot make informed decisions or measure progress. Good data supports research, planning, and effective interventions,” she noted.

While reaffirming Liberia’s alignment with global malaria elimination targets, she emphasized the need to increase domestic resource mobilization to ensure long-term sustainability of interventions.

Also speaking, the World Health Organization’s National Professional Officer for Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Yatta Sackie-Wapoe, described the strategy as a product of strong collaboration and technical expertise.

“This plan represents a true collective effort, bringing together strong technical expertise and, most importantly, the voices of the communities most affected by malaria,” Dr. Sackie-Wapoe said.

She reaffirmed the WHO’s commitment to supporting Liberia through technical guidance, capacity building, and coordinated resource mobilization.

“The World Health Organization remains fully committed to supporting Liberia… to ensure that the interventions outlined in this plan are translated into measurable impact,” she stated.

According to her, the strategy aligns with the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030, which aims to reduce malaria cases and deaths by at least 90 percent by 2030.

Earlier, National Malaria Control Program Director, Dr. Trokon Washington, emphasized the importance of the validation process, noting that it ensures the plan reflects national realities and priorities.

“Today marks a significant step forward in our fight against malaria,” Dr. Washington said. “We are here to review and validate a national strategic plan that reflects our strong commitment to protecting our communities from this preventable disease.”

He added that consensus-building remains central to the process. “Before we can fully implement this plan, it is essential that we go through a thorough validation process. We must build consensus, and that is one of the key reasons we are gathered here today,” he said.

Dr. Washington called for stakeholder engagement, stressing that inclusive participation will strengthen ownership and effectiveness. “Your input will not only strengthen the effectiveness of our strategies but will also foster a shared sense of ownership and commitment to the success of this plan,” he added.

He also commended the Ministry of Health and development partners for their continued support, noting that collective efforts have been instrumental in reaching this milestone.

The NMSP 2026–2030 outlines an ambitious vision of achieving pre-elimination in Greater Monrovia and reducing malaria prevalence by 75 percent in moderate-burden counties by 2030.

Key targets include diagnosing 95 percent of suspected malaria cases, ensuring universal treatment for confirmed cases, achieving at least 80 percent utilization of preventive measures, and improving timely malaria data reporting to 95 percent.

The strategy further prioritizes innovation, including scaling up malaria vaccination, deploying next-generation insecticide-treated nets, and strengthening community-based health services.

Equity remains central to the plan, with a focus on expanding access to essential services for underserved and high-risk populations.