(Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – January 7, 2025)-The Ministry of Health (MoH), through its National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Program (NLTCP), is set to transition tuberculosis (TB) reporting in all 333 health facilities across Liberia’s fifteen counties from a quarterly to a monthly reporting system, effective January 2026.
During the opening of a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) for TB/HIV focal persons and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) officers from across the country, held in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County. Assistant Minister for Vital Statistics, Dr. Anthony L. Fortune, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, expressed appreciation to participants for their continued commitment to the national TB response.
“I want to admonish you that a lot is happening, and we expect even more to happen, especially as we move into 2026,” Dr. Fortune stated.
Dr. Fortune emphasized the critical importance of the transition to monthly reporting, noting that this will improve earlier case detection and faster response, improve patient management, enhance data quality and accuracy, and strengthen supply chain management, among others. He indicated that the transition is critical for TB surveillance with emphasis on new TB cases identification, monitoring of treatment adherence, and detection of drug stock-outs. He indicated that the current three-month reporting often causes such delays limit timely interventions and often resulting in missed opportunities to support health facilities and patients, including delayed identification and tracking of patients lost to follow-up.
Providing an overview of the training, Mr. Rufus G. Saye, Program Manager of the National Leprosy and TB Control Program, highlighted that the three-day ToT is designed to prepare national and county-level trainers to effectively guide health facilities through the new reporting system and ensure a smooth nationwide transition. He emphasized that the transition is part of the Ministry of Health’s broader plan to integrate TB management into Primary Health Care
Currently, the National TB and Leprosy Program relies on a quarterly reporting system to collect and analyze data on TB and leprosy case detection, treatment outcomes, and drug stock levels. While functional, this system has limited the program’s ability to respond rapidly to emerging challenges.
The transition to monthly TB reporting aims to significantly enhance the program’s responsiveness, efficiency, and accountability by strengthening data collection, management, and utilization processes. Monthly reporting will improve the timeliness of decision-making, support early detection of gaps, and align TB program operations with national Health Management Information System (HMIS) reporting cycles and international best practices.
Ultimately, the shift is expected to contribute to a more effective and responsive TB control program, accelerating Liberia’s efforts to control and eventually eliminate tuberculosis and leprosy as major public health threats.