Former NPHIL Boss Questions US$4.2 Million Ebola Preparedness Budget

Monrovia, Liberia: Former Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, has raised concer over a proposed US$4.2 million budget intended to strengthen Liberia’s preparedness against a possible Ebola outbreak, describing the amount as excessive given the country’s existing public health response systems.

By: Emmanuel P. George Sr.

Dr. Nyan said Liberia already possesses structures and experience gained from previous responses to infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19, Lassa fever, and monkeypox, which should reduce the need for such a large allocation.

“There are already existing structures from fighting other viral infections such as Lassa fever, COVID-19 and monkeypox,” he said Wednesday during an appearance on a local radio program.

The proposed preparedness budget comes amid renewed concerns over the Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the virus has reportedly killed more than 150 people.

The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak as an international public health emergency.

Dr. Nyan questioned why Liberia would require more than half of the amount reportedly being used by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak and a country with far more confirmed cases.

“Another question is why US$4.2 million, when DR Congo, which is the epicenter, is requesting US$7.2 million. They already have over one hundred and seventy cases,” he stated.

According to the former NPHIL head, Liberia should prioritize maximizing existing health infrastructure and response mechanisms instead of proposing what he termed a disproportionately high preparedness budget.

He further noted that the proposed allocation exceeds the annual operational budget of NPHIL and therefore deserves greater public and legislative scrutiny.

“The amount proposed is even higher than NPHIL’s annual budget,” Dr. Nyan added.

Beyond the financial concerns, Dr. Nyan stressed the importance of effective public communication during health emergencies, warning that poor messaging could trigger unnecessary fear and misinformation among the population.

“Where we need to start from is a risk communication strategy to regain the confidence of the people,” he said.

He called on health authorities to ensure that any preparedness plan is accompanied by clear, transparent, and coordinated communication strategies capable of keeping the public accurately informed during emergencies.

Health authorities have yet to publicly respond to Dr. Nyan’s concerns regarding the proposed Ebola preparedness budget.