Health ministries in Liberia and Sierra Leone move to strengthen medical services

In Liberia, the Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide distribution of new medical equipment and essential supplies. Dispatched from the Central Medical Store in Montserrado County, the consignment aims to strengthen maternal, newborn, and child health services. The supplies cover various specialties, including pediatrics, diagnostics, surgery, anesthesia, and critical care, to complement ongoing quarterly drug distributions.

In Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Health has submitted a significant funding request for Fiscal Year 2027. The ministry requested NLe341.27 million in recurrent funding to sustain core operations, a figure that exceeds the Ministry of Finance’s baseline ceiling of NLe153.30 million. Additionally, the ministry requested NLe263.57 million for capital expenditures to fund new projects and complete ongoing infrastructure work.

During budget hearings, health officials highlighted recent sector improvements, such as reduced maternal and infant mortality and the recruitment of over 3,000 health professionals. The discussions also addressed the need for increased domestic financing as support from international development partners has reportedly declined.