NPHIL Laboratory Joins Grid-Secures stable power after decades

MONROVIA – NPHIL’s connection of the National Reference Laboratory to the electricity grid after 35 years removes a costly obstacle to dependable public-health services. Stable power should improve diagnostics, specimen preservation, modern equipment and Liberia’s ability to detect outbreaks before they spread across the country. The achievement also exposes how long a critical national laboratory operated through expensive alternative energy. NPHIL’s accompanying national surveillance report shows why reliable infrastructure matters. Measles persists, Ebola threats require monitoring and health authorities must remain prepared even when Liberia is classified as low risk. The announced scientific conference adds a vital research dimension. Together, electricity, surveillance, vaccination and scientific collaboration form the practical foundation of a stronger, responsive national health-security system, as THE ANALYST reports.

MONROVIA: The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has announced a major milestone in the country’s public-health infrastructure, with the National Reference Laboratory connected to the national electricity grid after more than 35 years. NPHIL Interim Director General Dr. Sia Wata Camanor made the announcement Tuesday at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing in Monrovia, describing the development as a landmark achievement for Liberia’s public-health system.

Grid Connection Ends Long Wait

According to Camanor, connecting the National Reference Laboratory to the national grid will significantly improve the reliability and sustainability of laboratory services across the country. She said the development will strengthen diagnostic capacity, improve the preservation of specimens and reagents, support modern laboratory equipment and information systems, and enhance Liberia’s ability to detect and respond rapidly to disease outbreaks.

“Connecting our National Reference Laboratory to the national grid is a landmark achievement for Liberia’s public health system,” Camanor said. She explained that the connection demonstrates the government’s commitment to building a resilient, modern and sustainable national public-health laboratory system capable of protecting the health and safety of Liberians.

Camanor attributed the achievement to collaboration among several government institutions and international partners. She specifically acknowledged the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), World Bank and PREVAIL for their support to the laboratory.

Camanor disclosed that PREVAIL, one of NPHIL’s key partners, has provided approximately 1,000 gallons of fuel weekly to support laboratory operations over the past decade. She said the new electricity connection will help reduce the laboratory’s dependence on alternative power sources while providing more stable electricity for critical scientific and diagnostic operations.

Measles Falls, Surveillance Continues

Meanwhile, Camanor provided an update on the country’s ongoing disease-surveillance and outbreak-response efforts, disclosing that Liberia currently has no confirmed cases of Mpox or Lassa fever. She, however, said the country still has 42 measles cases, although that number represents a significant decline from earlier in the year when Liberia recorded more than 200 cases.

The NPHIL interim director general expressed optimism that the number of measles cases could decline to fewer than 10 before the end of the year. She attributed the progress to intensified vaccination efforts and collaboration between NPHIL and the Ministry of Health.

“Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease,” Camanor noted, adding that ongoing vaccination activities are beginning to produce positive results. She praised health workers and partners involved in the country’s immunization response and disease-surveillance activities.

Ebola Monitoring Remains Active

Turning to regional public-health concerns, Camanor said Liberia continues to monitor closely the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She noted that while the outbreak remains a regional concern, Liberia has been classified as a low-risk country.

Camanor emphasized that the country’s low-risk classification does not mean health authorities are relaxing surveillance and preparedness measures. “That doesn’t mean we should rest or sleep,” she said, stressing that NPHIL surveillance officers and other public-health personnel remain actively engaged in monitoring potential risks.

According to Camanor, NPHIL has screened more than 1,164 travelers arriving from countries considered relevant to the outbreak since it was declared in May. She said travelers entering Liberia from the affected region are monitored for 21 days in accordance with established public-health protocols.

As of August, Camanor said, 92 travelers remained under monitoring, while others had successfully completed their 21-day observation period. She said Liberia has not recorded any suspected Ebola cases linked to the regional outbreak. Camanor commended the surveillance teams and travelers for their cooperation and compliance with public-health measures.

Scientific Conference Returns October

Meanwhile, NPHIL Deputy Director General for Technical Services Dr. Julius S. M. Gilayereh Sr. announced plans for the Fifth Emmet A. Dennis National Scientific Conference, scheduled to take place from October 14 to 16, 2026. The conference will be held at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town under the theme, “Strengthening Health Security in Liberia Through Research and Innovation.”

Gilayereh said the scientific conference is one of NPHIL’s flagship initiatives aimed at promoting research, innovation and scientific culture in Liberia. He recalled that NPHIL was established in December 2016 through an act of the National Legislature with the mandate to prevent, detect and respond to public-health emergencies.

Beyond emergency response, Gilayereh said, the institution is also responsible for building a strong scientific and research culture capable of generating evidence to inform policies and decision-making. “It is in line with that mandate, particularly the research component, that we are here today to announce the organization of the Fifth Emmet A. Dennis National Scientific Conference,” Gilayereh said.

He explained that NPHIL is organizing the conference in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, other government institutions, development partners and research organizations. Partners supporting the initiative include PREVAIL, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), Africa CDC, University of Liberia and other institutions.

Gilayereh said NPHIL has successfully organized four previous editions of the conference and is now preparing for its fifth edition. He called on students studying public health and related disciplines, researchers and other individuals with relevant scientific findings to submit abstracts for consideration.

The deputy director general said the conference will bring together national and international scientists, researchers, health professionals, students and policymakers to discuss emerging public-health issues and research findings. Providing further details, NPHIL Director of Public Health and Biomedical Research Bode I. Shobayo said the upcoming conference represents the fifth edition of the scientific gathering, which was first held in 2018.

Shobayo explained that the conference is named in honor of the late Dr. Emmet A. Dennis, a distinguished Liberian academic and scientist who served as a professor at the University of Liberia and in the United States. According to Shobayo, the conference took a break during the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in 2022.

He said this year’s edition is intended to reinvigorate and re-energize the spirit of science and research across Liberia. “This fifth edition intends to reinvigorate and re-energize the entire spirit of science and research in Liberia,” Shobayo explained.

Researchers Define Conference Agenda

Shobayo outlined several thematic areas that will be addressed during the three-day conference. The areas include health systems and universal health coverage; surveillance and epidemics; emerging and tropical diseases; patient safety; climate and environmental health; the One Health approach; health informatics and artificial intelligence; maternal, newborn and child health; noncommunicable diseases and mental health; and health policy and financing.

Shobayo disclosed that the conference has already received more than 70 abstract submissions from researchers and scientists. He said the event will feature scientific presentations, speeches from national and international experts, and plenary sessions focusing on key developments in public-health research and scientific innovation.

The conference is expected to attract participants from across Liberia, including county and district surveillance officers, healthcare workers, students, researchers and representatives of universities and other institutions. International researchers and scientists from several African countries, including Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria, are also expected to participate.

According to Shobayo, the conference will provide an important platform for scientists and researchers to share findings, exchange ideas and strengthen collaboration across countries and institutions. “The essence of the scientific conference is to strengthen science and research in Liberia and communicate what we are doing in terms of research and science,” he said.

As Liberia continues confronting emerging health threats and strengthening its public-health preparedness, NPHIL says the scientific conference and continued modernization of the National Reference Laboratory represent important steps toward building a stronger, research-driven and resilient health-security system. The October gathering is expected to bring together some of Liberia’s leading researchers and public-health professionals alongside international experts, providing an opportunity for scientific exchange and the development of new ideas aimed at addressing the country’s public-health challenges.