(Monrovia, Liberia, April 17, 2025) Healthcare Quality Management Unit (HQMU), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC), and implementing partner Jhpiego graduated nineteen (19) Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) health workers from across Liberia on April 16, 2025, following the completion of a three-month intensive training program. Major stakeholders attended the graduation, including representatives from the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA), the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC), and several development partners.
Dr. Caullau Jabbeh Howe, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services, served as Guest Speaker at the event and was entrenched on the value of IPC, especially in light of Liberia’s past public health challenges. “What this country has gone through has taught us many lessons. IPC played a crucial role in saving lives and keeping the health system functioning. This training is more than a refresher—it’s a lifeline,” Dr. Howe emphasized. She encouraged the graduates to actively implement what they’ve learned in the field, noting that IPC is not theoretical but 100% practical. “You must protect yourselves, your patients, and your communities. Always wear protective gear and practice standard precautions. IPC must become a culture in every healthcare facility,” she urged.
Meanwhile, Dr. Cecelia Woods-Cheneyon, Director of HQMU and Course Coordinator, lauded the MOH and its partners for introducing and supporting the program. “We’re grateful to Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto and all our partners for embracing this initiative. The goal is to have trained IPC professionals across all fifteen counties, strengthening our healthcare system from the ground up,” Dr. Woods-Cheneyon said. Providing an overview of the program, Dr. Woods-Cheneyon noted that the NIPCCTP was launched in September 2024 and is structured in three levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced, each with a duration of three months. “The program aims to improve IPC knowledge and skills among health workers, increase the pool of IPC specialists, and enhance our capacity to prevent, control, and mitigate epidemic and pandemic diseases,” she explained. She added that the MOH is working on a sustainability plan to integrate the program into TNIMA to ensure its continuity even without donor support.
In the supra, there was a collective call from both the Ministry and partners to continue expanding IPC training across Liberia, ensuring that quality healthcare and infection prevention remain a national priority.