(Monrovia, Liberia, February 5, 2026) — Senior health officials, development partners, and technical experts have gathered this week in Monrovia to begin an intensive review of Liberia’s National Malaria Strategic Plan, marking a critical step toward shaping the country’s next phase of malaria control and eventual elimination.
The meeting is held from February 2 to 6, 2026, and focuses on the end-term review of the 2021–2025 National Malaria Strategic Plan, which formally expired in December. The exercise is intended to assess progress, identify gaps, and generate evidence to guide a new strategy for the period beginning in 2026.
Opening the workshop, Dr. Trokon Washington, Manager of the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), underscored the importance of broad collaboration in developing the next plan.
He recognized senior leadership from the Ministry of Health, including Assistant Minister for Preventive Services Dr. Cuallau Jabbah Howe, as well as partners such as Catholic Relief Service (CRS), World Health Organization (WHO, faith-based organizations, donors and technical agencies.
“The development of a new National Strategic Plan is a collective effort,” Dr. Washington said. “It brings together government, partners, and communities with one shared goal, a malaria-free future for Liberia.”
Dr. Howe, delivering keynote remarks, highlighted both achievements and persistent challenges in Liberia’s malaria response over the past five years. She pointed to the launch of the End Malaria Council as a major milestone, noting that it has strengthened resource mobilization and increased domestic financing. She also cited the training of community health workers for malaria vaccine delivery as a key factor in reducing malaria incidence nationwide.
“We have made progress, but we know more can be done,” Dr. Howe said. “This strategic plan review gives us the opportunity to honestly assess ourselves, identify gaps, and adopt innovations that are sustainable and effective.”
Dr. Howe formally declared the workshop open, expressing confidence that the review would “enlighten our thinking and help us put the right measures in place for the benefit of the country.”
The multi-day workshop centers on the internal validation of a thematic desk review, a core component of the broader Malaria Program Review (MPR).
Participants are examining epidemiological and entomological trends, financing levels, program capacity, and progress toward national targets. The review is aligned with the World Health Organization’s Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (2016–2030).
Technical discussions are organized across several thematic areas, including case management, chemoprevention and malaria vaccination, procurement and supply chain management, integrated vector management, social and behavior change communication, surveillance and operational research, and program management and financing.
The outcomes of the desk review and subsequent external validation will feed directly into Liberia’s next National Malaria Strategic Plan, which is expected to guide policy, investment, and implementation from 2026 onward.