(Bong County, Liberia – March 23, 2025)—The Ministry of Health (MOH) ‘s Child Health Unit has completed a three-day neonatal inspection of key health facilities in Bong County. Conducted from March 20 to March 22, 2025, the comprehensive assessment focused on evaluating the Neonatal Child Intensive Care Units (NCIUs) to determine their current state and identify areas for improvement. The initiative, supported by UNICEF, aimed to address critical challenges in neonatal healthcare and propose actionable solutions to enhance service delivery.

The selected health facilities for the inspection included Phebe Hospital, C.B. Dumbar Hospital, Palala Clinic, and Baptist Clinic. These facilities play a crucial role in providing neonatal care in the county, and the assessment sought to evaluate infrastructure, equipment availability, staffing levels, and overall service efficiency.  Preliminary findings indicate the need for improved neonatal care units, increased medical supplies, and enhanced staff capacity to ensure better health outcomes for newborns.

Dr. Nutia Gbanlon Nuahn, Neonatal Child Intensive Care Unit, emphasized the importance of strengthening neonatal care services to reduce infant mortality rates and improve child health outcomes in Liberia.

She expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its support and reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s commitment to enhancing neonatal healthcare services across the country. Moving forward, findings from the inspection will inform policy recommendations and targeted interventions aimed at upgrading neonatal intensive care facilities in Bong County and beyond.