Liberia has taken a decisive step to harden its defenses against future epidemics and pandemics, as the government formally reaffirmed its commitment to domesticate the 2024 amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), a move officials say is vital to national survival in the face of recurring public health threats.
Speaking Thursday, December 18, 2025, at a high-level closing ceremony attended by senior government officials, development partners, and health stakeholders, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung said the decision goes far beyond legal compliance, describing it as a strategic imperative for a nation still bearing the scars of Ebola and other deadly outbreaks.
“These amendments represent the most significant strengthening of the IHR since 2005. For Liberia, domestication means fortifying our national health architecture and ensuring we are fully prepared to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats of international concern,” Koung declared.
Moreover, Vice President Koung assured stakeholders that the government will swiftly initiate the legislative and administrative processes needed to integrate the IHR amendments into Liberia’s legal framework, stressing that close coordination among government agencies, civil society, and partners will be critical. “Our security, our well-being, and our prosperity depend on a strong national health system. Liberia must be ready, not only for itself, but as a responsible member of the global community,” he added.
Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister for Administration Gabriel H. Salee cautioned that Liberia has historically signed global agreements without fully domesticating them, warning that such gaps leave the country dangerously exposed during health emergencies.
“Whatever we sign internationally must be affirmed at home. This is about moving beyond lip service to concrete action, supported by legislation and national financing,” Salee narrated. However, the Ministry of Health formally accepted its role as Liberia’s National IHR Authority, while the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) was designated as the National IHR Focal Point.
