IPNEWS: A joint planning meeting between the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Africa Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Africa CDC) geared towards the establishment of a center of excellence at NPHIL began today, July 9, 2024, at the Boulevard Hotel in Monrovia.
In his opening remarks, the Acting Director-General of NPHIL Amos Gborie commended the Africa CDC for selecting Liberia to establish a center of excellence. According to Mr. Gborie, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia since its formation has demonstrated its capacity to effectively respond to disease outbreaks in the country.
He assured the Africa CDC that the center of excellence when established at NPHIL will achieve its overall objectives.
The three-day in-depth planning meeting will focus on data management and health information systems, surveillance and early warning systems, public health research, corporate governance, and workforce development. The Africa CDC recently concluded an assessment of fully established National Public Health Institutes in Africa for them to be designated Centers of Excellence (CoEs).
The role of the CoEs is to support member states who are currently developing, or, who have expressed interest in establishing NPHIs. Liberia was selected as one of the Nine NPHIs that were proposed as potential regional centers of Excellence (CoEs).
The centers of Excellence in each region will have the following roles. Provide support and guidance on organizational change management, standardized approaches/processes, tools, methodologies, and knowledge for other NPHIs, provide training and capacity-building skills, assessments, e-learning curriculum, face-to-face training, certification programs, provide support in strengthening the data management and establishing of data management Centre, strengthen the emergency preparedness and response as well as strengthen the research capacity in the region.
