Gov’t Embarks On Drug Information System Development-As MOH, Partners Draft Nat’l Strategic Plan To Combat FGS

By Bill W. Cooper
The Ministry of Health(MOH) has embarked on a three-day training for people providing treatment services for substance use disorders (SUD) in the country.
The training, ongoing in Monrovia, focuses on the use of standardized tools that are used in the screening and assessment of people with drug addiction, thus bringing together over 35 participants.
The event, organized by the Mental Health Unit of the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with support from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), aims to strengthen Liberia’s capacity to collect and analyze data for effective drug use disorder treatment and prevention services.
The Director of the Mental Health Unit at the Ministry of Health, Moses Ziah expressed gratitude to the international partners, including INL and UNODC, for their sustained support.
Dr. Ziah also emphasized the importance of training frontline service providers from both public and private facilities, highlighting the nation’s ongoing efforts in the development of a national drug information system.
“Although service providers are working tirelessly and with limited resources, Liberia lacks accurate data on the types of substances being used and the populations affected. This workshop is vital in tailoring our interventions to the specific needs of those living with substance use disorders,” he said.
The Director of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the U.S. Embassy, Sally Schlegel, praised the country’s commitment to strengthening its drug demand reduction efforts across Liberia.
“We commend the leadership of Dr. Ziah and the Ministry of Health in advancing drug information systems in Liberia. This training marks a significant milestone toward quality, standardized treatment services because globally, only 1 in 11 people with drug use disorders receive treatment—Liberia is moving in the right direction by addressing this gap,” she added.
Meanwhile, UNODC Program Officer, Anselme Simeon Sanou lauded the collaborative efforts and emphasized the global relevance of Liberia’s initiative.
He encouraged participants to remain committed to the training, noting that the use of internationally validated tools such as the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and Addiction Severity Index (ASI) will strengthen accurate data collection, inform national policy, and improve outcomes for people affected by substance use disorders.
The workshop runs through April 30, 2025, and is expected to lay a foundation for future interventions focused on data-driven, community-centered solutions in drug prevention and treatment.
In another development, the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Program of the Ministry of Health, in partnership with international organizations is hosting a three-day strategic planning session to Combat Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) from April 28-30, 2025, in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
In partnership with Effect Hope (Canada), Unlimited Health (United Kingdom), ANESVAD (Italy), and Hope Rises—also known as the American Leprosy Mission, the event brought together key stakeholders to review current data, health programs, and policy frameworks related to schistosomiasis and reproductive health.
The planning session further focused on developing a comprehensive framework covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment, community engagement, research, and advocacy among others.
The ongoing session, being held under the theme: “Transforming Access to Female Genital Schistosomiasis Services in Liberia,” focused on drafting a national strategy to manage and prevent FGS, a neglected yet significant reproductive health issue.
The goal is to identify gaps in service delivery and policy implementation and to chart a path forward for a more coordinated national response, ensuring the well-being and safety of all Liberians, specifically women and girls.
In her opening remarks, Health Minister, Louise Mapleh Kpoto said, “Anytime I hear about tropical medicine, I feel like I am back home, and as it relates to FGS, in obstetrics and gynaecology, we often overlook it, not because it’s unimportant, but because it hasn’t been emphasized in our training.”
According to her, Medical practitioners must be sensitized to consider schistosomiasis during ovarian examinations, revealing that sometimes it’s not cancer—it could be schistosomiasis.
She added, “So, on that note, I now declare this program officially open, on behalf of President Joseph Boakai. And I urged all of you participants to take this planning session very seriously in the interest of our women and girls.”