Establishing Maryland County as a Model County for Universal Health Coverage

PIH is committed to a long-term partnership with Maryland County and the broader Southeast region, implementing a four-pillar strategy to transform the area. The goal is to make Maryland a model county for universal health coverage while significantly reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and the…See More

Objectives

Model County for TB: enhance case notification using innovative active case finding strategies, disruptive technology, and new diagnostics. Public sector accompaniment: Accompany and advise the Ministry of Health – using lessons learned and emerging best practices from Maryland – to inform policy, strategy and clinical protocol development through regular participation in technical working groups and serving as the lead in-country “consultant” on two national policies. Investing in the Next Generation: Support the Ministry to staff rural hospitals with well-trained, social justice oriented and system-based physicians by: launching the family medicine residency at JJ Dossen and gaining accreditation from the Liberian College of Physicians and Surgeons (LCPS). Enhance nursing and midwifery practice through revision of the nursing and midwifery curriculum. Enhancing Regional Readiness and Leadership: Enhance infrastructure, equipment, test menu, and personnel to bring the JJD lab from a 2-star to a 3-star lab.

Deliverables

Non-Negotiables: Globally, PIH has committed to infrastructural upgrades that will keep the lights on and make safe, potable water available at all supported facilities. In Liberia, PIH will work with the MOH to make WASH upgrades at the TB Annex, JJ Dossen, and Pleebo Health Center. It will support electrification projects and explore the feasibility of solar and rain water harvesting. It seeks to reduce its carbon footprint and reliance on plastics. Investing in the Next Generation: PIH continues to support pre-service, in-services and specialist post-graduate trainings for Liberian providers. PIH will work with MOH, LCPS and LMDC to transition the family medicine residency to JJ Dossen Hospital and standardize policies related to medical education; it will support LBNM to validate the Registered Nurse Midwife Curriculum, update and apply its National Clinical Policy; it will invest in Tubman University’s simulation lab, e-learning center, faculty and fleet in support of accreditation. Regional Readiness: Together with MOH and NPHIL, PIH will upgrade infrastructure and decentralize testing, positioning it to become a regional reference lab for microbiology and IDSR. It will support the CHT to achieve a record-breaking SLIPTA score.

National Development Plan Alignment

The Partners In Health (PIH) Liberia program aligns closely with the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development by advancing equitable, high-quality health services and strengthening systems that underpin human capital development. In partnership with the Ministry of Health Liberia, and County Health Teams, PIH reinforces primary health care delivery in underserved regions by expanding access to maternal and child health services, infectious disease programs (including TB, HIV, and malaria), and integrated non-communicable disease and mental health care. These efforts are complemented by investments in infection prevention and control, WASH standards, and referral systems, directly contributing to improved health outcomes and reduced geographic and socioeconomic disparities—core objectives of the AAID. Beyond service delivery, PIH supports the AAID’s emphasis on resilient systems, sustainable financing, and accountable governance. This includes strengthening disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, and emergency preparedness to enhance national health security; improving supply chain systems to ensure the consistent availability of essential medicines; and building leadership, regulatory, and coordination capacity across all levels of the health sector. PIH also contributes to health financing reforms, resource mobilization, and workforce development through decentralized recruitment, training, and data-driven planning systems. Collectively, these interventions reinforce Liberia’s progress toward a more inclusive, efficient, and resilient health system, in line with the transformative vision of the AAID.