SISTER AID LIBERIA INTENSIFIES FIGHT FOR PASSAGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH BILL
By Jeremiah Sackie Cooper
jeremiahcooper105@gmail.com
January 19, 2025
Monrovia: Sister Aid Liberia has reawakened the call for the passage of the Public Health Bill. The Public Health Bill has faced several challenges hindering its passage. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives in 2022 and sent to the Liberian Senate for concurrence.
The abortion component of the bill has been the point of discussion. Both traditional and religious groups continue to question the abortion component of the bill which calls for the legalization of abortions in Liberia.
To reawaken the call for the passage of the bill, Sister Aid Liberia, over the weekend, hosted a one-day round table engagement with media professionals in Montserrado County. The workshop, which was held at the organization headquarters in Paynesville, aimed to equip journalists with the necessary knowledge and tools for effective advocacy.
The event addressed the current status of the Public Health Bill, media strategies for advocacy, and key issues related to the bill, such as sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) and separation of powers in the health sector.
During the engagement, participants discussed the importance of the passage of the bill with a focus on enhancing transparency and improving public health delivery in Liberia. Titus B. Pakalah, Chairperson of SRHR Champions Liberia, emphasized that the bill had been stuck at the Senate Health Committee since being passed by the lower House in 2022. He called for continued efforts from the media, civil society organizations (CSOs), multi-sectoral working groups, and other partners to push for its passage.
“As you may know, the Public Health Bill has lingered at the Liberian Senate committee since it was passed by the lower House in 2022, movements and allies have had incredible engagements at community and policy levels, while on the other hand, The African Population Health and Research Center, and other partners continue to build the capacity of young champions and technical health professionals to influence optimal advocacy outcome”, he said.
He added, “However, to leverage this approach, we believe that the media, CSOs, multi-sector working group, and partners should understand what it is stake and what needs to be done collectively as community of champions. Today the bill is at the Senate Health Committee pending approval and passage.
Also, Mr. Theophilus G. Fayiah, President of the Liberia National Physician Assistant Association, highlighted that the bill would significantly improve the health sector, including addressing the division of labor and control of substances and strengthening health services on the overall. “The bill will also address the regulation of controlled substances while emphasizing sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR), a key focus area. Additionally, it aims to strengthen health services across Liberia, improving overall healthcare delivery”, he said.
Sister Aid Liberia is a women led national non-governmental organization that promote rights advocacy and empowerment, research and policy engagements, leadership and capacity building.
