MONROVIA – In a move to fortify health financing and oversight, Lofa County District #2 Representative Julie Wiah has formally proposed the creation of a Legislative Caucus on Immunization and Primary Health Care (PHC).
This initiative is aimed at addressing the increasing reliance of Liberia on foreign aid for its health sector, particularly as external funding sources dwindle.
In her communication to Speaker Richard N. Koon, Representative Wiah highlighted the critical risks posed by this dependency, noting that vital health advancements achieved in recent years could be jeopardized without proactive legislative measures.
With significant donor contributions from organizations such as GAVI and the World Bank expected to taper off by 2026, the call for a dedicated caucus could not be timelier.
Wiah pointed out that PHC has been grossly underfunded, receiving only 35.5% of the allocated budget between 2019 and 2024, and a mere 19.6% in 2024 alone.
This level of funding falls drastically short of the World Health Organization’s recommendation that at least 40% of health spending should be directed towards primary health care.
The proposed caucus is designed not only to enhance domestic resource mobilization but also to support the passage of crucial legislation and to ensure accountability regarding the utilization of immunization funds.
Representative Wiah’s initiative reflects a growing acknowledgment within Liberia’s legislative body of the need for sustainable health financing and robust governmental oversight to safeguard the nationโs health outcomes.
