(Zwedru, Grand Gedeh – March 8, 2025) The Grand Gedeh County Health Team, alongside Last Mile Health, has initiated a weeklong geospatial mapping exercise in the county to boost Community Health services. This followed an intensive two-day training for 25 Community Health Services Supervisors, five county-level supervisors, and six District Health Officers. Participants were trained in data collection techniques and equipped with specialized digital devices to ensure accurate and efficient geospatial mapping. The mapping exercise aims to identify and document communities situated more than five kilometers from the nearest health facility. It will assess both areas currently served by Community Health Assistants and those without coverage.

Additionally, key community health structures—including trained traditional midwives and community health committees—will be mapped. The exercise will record population data, walking distances or travel time to health facilities, and the geospatial coordinates of both communities and health centers to improve planning and resource distribution. Community Health Department Director Mr. Netus N. Nowine, urged all enumerators to approach the exercise with diligence, stressing that the data collected will be essential in enhancing healthcare delivery, especially for remote populations. The effort is part of a larger exercise to strengthen Liberia’s healthcare system by ensuring equitable access to services, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. The southeastern region, including Grand Gedeh and Grand Bassa counties, is the first to undergo the assessment as part of a nationwide mapping project. With support from Last Mile Health, the data gathered will inform policy decisions, improve healthcare service delivery, and enhance emergency response planning for remote communities.