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Evidence Based Health Policy

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16 Health Executives and Administrators Graduate CTLI's Evidence-Based Health Policy Program

Sixteen MOH and NPHIL executives and administrators have successfully completed the inaugural CTLI's Evidence-Based Health Policy (EBHP) program after nine months of rigorous study.

Graduates from the Health Based Health Policy Program pose for a picture with CTLI Deputy Director for Certificate Course Neima Nora Candy (front right) and BRIDGE-U: Liberia co-PI Marie Martin (front right after Neima)

The EBHP certificate course trained health executives and administrators from the Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute of Liberia with the skills to make informed decisions and policies grounded in evidence, addressing both current health challenges and future needs. Eighteen individuals participated in the course, with 16 meeting rigorous completion requirements for certification. 

Madam Neima Nora Candy, CTLI's Deputy Director for EBHP, provided an overview of the training. She emphasized that graduates gained a deep understanding of the significance of evidence in shaping health policies. "They also provided constructive peer review to colleagues, helping them understand and utilize evidence in decision-making. The graduates can now proactively identify opportunities to improve health policy using the latest evidence," Madam Candy noted.

During the course, participants engaged in discussions and analyses of decision-making approaches, even when faced with limited high-quality evidence. This training fostered in-country ownership of health policy decisions by enabling graduates to apply evidence in real-world contexts.

In her remarks, USAID Health Program Management Specialist Pamela Bernard-Sawyer underscored the graduates’ role in bridging the gap between research and practice. She expressed confidence that the skills and knowledge gained over the past nine months will contribute to positive transformations in Liberia's health sector.

Dr. Catherine Thomas Cooper, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Medical Officer, commended ULCHS for creating the evidence-based program, noting that it is time Liberia uses its "own" expertise to craft policies based on local data. "We are now ready to use evidence to inform our decisions and policies," she stated. Dr. Cooper highlighted that many existing health policies are derived from outdated World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and called for a reassessment to align them with Liberia's unique needs, aiming for progress toward universal health coverage.

Two graduates reflected on the program’s impact. Siatta L.A. Gray from the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) described the experience as rewarding: "It has brought a new direction where we can rely on data to make informed decisions." George Jacobs, Assistant Minister for Planning and Policy at the Ministry of Health, echoed this sentiment, noting the program's potential to turn policy into action and support the government's ARREST Agenda. "I am excited and grateful to the College of Health Sciences for setting a new course for sustainable solutions in the health sector," he remarked.

The graduates are now well-prepared to use evidence-based approaches to drive policy change and improve health outcomes in Liberia.