(Monrovia, Liberia, October 5, 2026) — The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with development partners, has commemorated World Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Day with the official launch of a revised national PPH protocol, renewed commitments to maternal health, and the unveiling of locally modeled calibrated drapes designed to improve the detection and management of excessive bleeding after childbirth.

Representing the Ministry of Health, Dr. Teyah Sackie Moore, Assistant Minister for Curative Services and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, emphasized that the government’s continued commitment to reducing preventable maternal deaths through evidence-based interventions and stronger emergency response systems.

Dr. Moore said the revised protocol represents an important step in strengthening the country’s capacity to prevent, identify and manage postpartum hemorrhage at all levels of the healthcare system.

“The launch of this revised protocol is a clear demonstration of the Ministry of Health’s commitment to ensuring that every woman receives timely, safe and quality care before, during and after childbirth. We cannot afford to lose mothers to causes that are preventable and manageable when the right interventions are provided at the right time,” Dr. Moore said.

He stressed the importance of ensuring that the revised guidance translates into practical action at health facilities across the country, particularly among midwives, nurses, physicians and other frontline healthcare workers.

“A protocol is only meaningful when it is understood, available and consistently applied at the point of care. Our responsibility now is to ensure that health workers across Liberia are equipped with the knowledge, skills, commodities and support needed to respond effectively when postpartum hemorrhage occurs,” he added.

A major highlight of the ceremony was a keynote address by Honorable Leonard Kamugisha, Deputy Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), who called for sustained action, accountability and investment to prevent avoidable maternal deaths.

Honorable Kamugisha stressed that World PPH Day should not be treated merely as an annual awareness event, but as an opportunity to translate evidence into practical action across Liberia’s health system.

He emphasized that the theme of the observance captures the urgency surrounding postpartum hemorrhage, stressing the importance of preventing, recognizing, acting and referring PPH cases without delay.

“Every minute counts,” Kamugisha emphasized, noting that decisions made by health workers, availability of lifesaving medicines, blood supplies, emergency teams, transportation and referral preparedness can determine whether a woman survives a severe bleeding episode.

Honorable Kamugisha noted that postpartum hemorrhage remains a major contributor to maternal deaths globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

The ceremony formally launched Liberia’s Revised Postpartum Hemorrhage Protocol, which is expected to provide health workers, including midwives, with updated and standardized guidance for preventing, recognizing and managing postpartum hemorrhage.

The observance, held under the theme “Translating Evidence Into Action: Prevent, Recognize, Act, and Refer PPH Cases.” brought together senior health officials, maternal and reproductive health partners, representatives of the United Nations system, health facility managers, midwives, frontline health workers, civil society organizations, students and other stakeholders.

The event highlighted the urgent need to prevent, recognize and rapidly respond to postpartum hemorrhage, one of the most serious and time-sensitive complications associated with childbirth.

Postpartum hemorrhage refers to excessive bleeding following childbirth and can rapidly become life-threatening if it is not identified and treated promptly.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening maternal health services through updated clinical guidance, evidence-based interventions and improved emergency response systems.

The revised protocol, E-MOTIVE scale-up and calibrated drapes are expected to strengthen the country’s ability to detect postpartum hemorrhage earlier, initiate treatment promptly and ensure timely referral when advanced care is required.

The calibrated drapes, unveiled during the ceremony, are designed to help health workers objectively measure blood loss rather than relying solely on visual estimation.

The World PPH Day observance also provided an opportunity for the Ministry and its partners to review progress under the E-MOTIVE scale-up plan, identify implementation gaps and outline further actions needed to strengthen PPH prevention and management nationwide.

The Ministry and its partners emphasized that the fight against preventable maternal deaths requires sustained collaboration among government, healthcare workers, communities, development partners and civil society.

The observance reaffirmed the national message that “Every Minute Counts” in the management of postpartum hemorrhage, with stakeholders calling for continued investment in skilled health workers, essential medicines, blood availability, emergency transportation, referral systems and quality maternal healthcare. Through the revised protocol, E-MOTIVE scale-up, calibrated drapes and renewed partner commitments, the Ministry of Health is seeking to strengthen Liberia’s capacity to prevent avoidable maternal deaths and ensure that women receive timely, quality and lifesaving care during the critical period following childbirth