(February 14, 2022, Monrovia, Liberia)—the government of Liberia and the government of the United States of America have signed a government-to-government partnership agreement to improve the Liberian health sector over the next five years.
Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Kemayah signed on behalf of Liberia, while Ms. Dana Banks, Special Assistant to US President Joe Biden and Senior Director for Africa at the National Security Council, signed on behalf of America.
Speaking at the signing ceremony Monday, February 14, 2022, Liberian Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah acknowledged and expressed gratitude to the government and people of the United States for their continuous support to the health sector as well as the Ministry of Health and Liberia as a whole.
“We recount your support to the Ministry of Health through the government-to-government agreement”, she noted. “This is one of the first countries to have a government-to-government agreement called FARA, which supports public health interventions in eight (8) counties (Bong, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Nimba, River Gee, Margibi, Lofa and Grand Gedeh counties) in line with the national health agenda and overall USAID support to the government and people of Liberia”.
After more than ten (10) years of this partnership, the government-to-government partnership agreement has worked in line with its tenant.
The government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health has been able to demonstrate improvement in the health outcomes of the nation. There have been several measures instituted including a robust financial management system that shows accountability and improvement in key indicators of the national and international consents.
“Honorable Banks, as our joint review has always demonstrated accountability and value for money, we hereby commit to both governments our outmost technical and fiduciary management for resources entrusted into our care”, Dr. Jallah committed.
This US$55 million, which represent third government-to-government cycle—a support to the health sector—will go a long way to improve health service outcomes and strengthen system at national levels in the framework of the national decentralization agenda on health.
According to Dr. Jallah this third cycles is as a result of positive health outcomes achieved from the first and second circles.
Meanwhile, the US head of delegation to the Bicentennial celebration of Liberia, Honorable Dana Banks said the agreement signed demonstrates the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthening health, combating malaria; advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights; maternal, neonatal, and child health; and accelerating efforts towards universal health coverage.
The Fixed Amount Reimbursement Agreement (FARA) activity with the Ministry in eight counties including Bong, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Nimba, River Gee, Lofa Margibi and Grand Gedeh counties, provides support to the MOH in the implementation of its 10 year National Health Policy and Plan. Under this agreement, USAID reimburses the Government of Liberia (GOL) for the cost of implementing the Essential Package of Health Services in three counties covering a population of roughly over 1.4 million Liberians.
The implementation of the agreement will focus on key areas that will stimulate Government of Liberia health systems and improve maternal, newborn and child health, family planning and reproductive health, and malaria; service delivery; and improve the quality of health services at the point of health care
Signed: ____________________________
Felecia Gbesioh
Director of Communication, MOH