Grand Kru County Health Team and Partners Conclude Mass Drug Administration for River Blindness and Elephantiasis Prevention

By: Emmanuel Koffa I Grand Kru County Correspondent

Barclayville City, Grand Kru County –Friday,Nov. 14,2025–The Grand Kru County Health Team (CHT), in collaboration with several partner organizations Wednesday November 12, 2025 concluded a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) exercise aimed at preventing Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) and Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis or Big Foot) across the county.

The dialogue brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from the Christian community, civil society organizations, the media, women’s groups (including the Rural Women’s Representatives), and officials from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ministry of Education, and traditional leaders representing chiefs and the traditional council.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, Paul Waylee, Regional Supervisor at the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), Liberia, and head of the technical team, lauded the collective efforts of stakeholders during the MDA campaign.

He urged line ministries, agencies, and health workers to continue serving as ambassadors for public health, especially as the Ministry of Health prepares for the upcoming Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis vaccination campaigns.

“We all have a shared responsibility to protect the next generation,” Waylee said. “The vaccines are free, safe, and beneficial to the health of our children and communities. Let’s carry this message to every household.”

According to Waylee, the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and GAVI, is set to launch a major nationwide HPV “catch-up” vaccination campaign targeting girls aged 9 to 18 years.

The campaign will run from November 17 to 21, 2025 to strengthen immunity and prevent cervical cancer among adolescent girls.

He disclosed that while the official launch of the campaign is scheduled for Monday, November 17, the Ministry has already embarked on a series of advocacy engagements with local leaders, schools, and health facilities to raise awareness ahead of the exercise.

“Our teams have been dispatched to some of the most remote communities to carry the message that the HPV and related vaccines are completely free and essential for protecting our girls,” he added.

Waylee emphasized that vaccination teams will be deployed across all 25 health facilities in Grand Kru County, covering major districts, schools, markets, and other public spaces.

The five-day campaign, he noted, will utilize both fixed and temporary outreach sites to ensure that no eligible child is left out.

 “Our goal is to reach every girl between the ages of 9 and 18,” he explained. “We’re focusing on schools and community gathering points to maximize coverage, especially in hard-to-reach areas.”

In an interview, S. Blohkwon Toee, a representative of the Ministry of Education, pledged the Ministry’s full support to the HPV vaccination drive.

He stressed that the campaign is vital to protecting the health and future of Liberian children.

“The Ministry of Education is working closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that students are reached during this important exercise,” Toee said. “This initiative has already made a meaningful impact on school-going children, and we are committed to overcoming the remaining challenges.”

The conclusion of the Mass Drug Administration marks another milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Liberia. Through strong collaboration between government ministries, development partners, and communities, Grand Kru County continues to make significant progress toward reducing the burden of preventable diseases.