MONROVIA – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, opened the 4th edition of the Emmet A. Dennis National Scientific Conference at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia.
The three-day event, held under the theme “Strengthening National Capacities for Preparedness and Response to Diseases and Public Health Threats,” brings together scientists, public health professionals, policymakers, and international partners to exchange ideas, share innovations, and build collaborative approaches to tackling health crises. The conference will run until Friday, September 19, 2025.
In his opening address, NPHIL’s Director General, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, delivered a keynote scientific paper in which he outlined the importance of strengthening Liberia’s health security systems. He extended greetings to the international community, government officials, and Liberia’s scientific community, noting that the conference has become a platform for advancing science, technology, and innovation in public health.
Dr. Nyan expressed gratitude to partners including the Africa CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), UNESCO, UNICEF, AFENET, Africa Bio, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He emphasized that since his administration took office a year ago, NPHIL has focused on building a professional and accountable institution, free from political interference.
Reflecting on challenges faced during the past year, Dr. Nyan recalled how his leadership was quickly tested by multiple outbreaks, including MPOC, METO, and Lassa fever. He praised the collaborative efforts of the Africa CDC, WHO, and regional governments, particularly Nigeria, for helping contain these threats. “We immediately sprung to our feet and did all we could with the help of our partners,” he said.
According to Dr. Nyan, NPHIL has strengthened its surveillance systems, especially cross-border surveillance, to prevent a repeat of the rapid spread of diseases as seen during the Ebola outbreak. He also announced that in less than a year, Liberia has established a state-of-the-art diagnostic and research laboratory equipped with advanced gene sequencing technology. This, he noted, enables Liberian scientists to detect and identify pathogens with precision and speed.
“Our young team of scientists, trained in just six months, was able to use this technology to identify circulating pathogens in Liberia. This demonstrates Africa’s enormous potential in science and technology if given the right support,” Dr. Nyan stated.
He stressed that NPHIL remains committed to professionalism and the integrity of science, warning against the dangers of politicizing public health. “When politics interferes with science, science degrades,” he said. “The National Public Health Institute, under my guidance, will not be used for the commercialization of outbreaks. We will not give results that are not based on evidence.”
Dr. Nyan further assured the public that recent rumors of viral hemorrhagic fever in the country were disproven through extensive testing. “We did not detect Marburg, we did not detect Lassa, and we did not detect any viral hemorrhagic fever. Our results were independently verified abroad and came back negative. That is how science works,” he explained.
The NPHIL Director General concluded by reaffirming the institute’s statutory mandate to respond to public health threats, pledging continued transparency and accountability in all operations. He also lauded President Joseph Boakai’s leadership, describing him as a strong supporter of integrity and honesty in public institutions.
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