…WITH NATIONAL, CONTINENTAL PLEDGES
(Monrovia, Liberia, April 25, 2025)— Liberia marked the 2025 World Malaria Day with a resounding national and continental call to action, culminating in the official launch of the Liberia End Malaria Council (LEMC), a heuristic step toward achieving malaria elimination by 2030. The event was held in Monrovia and lured scores of government officials, global health experts, development partners, and civil society under the theme: “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest. Reimagine. Reignite.”
The President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., pledged his administration’s full commitment to reducing malaria deaths by 75% by 2025 and achieving zero malaria cases by 2030. “This commitment is not just a lofty ideal. It is a matter of life and death. We must act with resolve and urgency,” declared President Boakai.
Dr. Teyah Sackie Moore, Assistant Minister for Curative Services, spoke on behalf of the Minister of Health, affirming that malaria is still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Liberia. “Our fight against malaria is not optional—it is essential. With over 1.5 million cases in 2023 alone, we must do more, together,” Dr. Moore. The Assistant Minister outlined Liberia’s four strategic pillars: prevention, prompt treatment, surveillance, and vector control.
Major Dr. Albertha Clark Kollie, the first female general surgeon at the 14 Military Hospital of the Armed Forces of Liberia, served as the keynote speaker. Dr. Kollie, whose pioneering achievements in the medical field are an inspiration to many, spoke passionately about the critical challenges malaria poses to Liberia and its people. She stressed the need to address the root causes of malaria, including poverty, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and climate factors. “Malaria is not just a health issue; it is an issue of equity, poverty, and development. We must unite to combat this disease and build a stronger, healthier Liberia.” Dr. Kollie also shared encouraging developments in Liberia’s fight against malaria, highlighting the distribution of millions of insecticide-treated nets, the training of community health workers, and improvements in diagnostic testing and treatment protocols. However, Dr. Kollie insisted that progress must continue, as malaria remains a significant threat to the nation’s health and development.
However, the LEMC now joins a coalition of nine End Malaria Councils across Africa. Their role: advocate for resources, mobilize communities, and ensure accountability in the implementation of the National Malaria Strategic Plan. The Ministry reiterated Liberia’s focus on “evidence-based decision-making and strengthening supply chains,” while emphasizing the importance of the Community Health Assistant Program (CHAP) in reaching remote communities with diagnosis and treatment. The LEMC announced that its first year will focus on mass distribution of mosquito nets, enhancing local manufacturing of malaria commodities, and intensifying behavior change campaigns to debunk myths surrounding malaria causes and treatment. The day-long celebration concluded was free malaria testing and treatment.