Annual Workshop of National Leprosy Control Program Managers
and Partners
June 27 – 29, 2011
Dakar, Senegal
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Country profile
Liberia Health system
National Leprosy and TB Control Program
Analysis of indicators
Current National Status
Challenges
Conclusion
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Liberia is situated on the
West Coast of Africa
bordered by Sierra
Leone, Guinea and Ivory
Coast
It has a population of
3,476,608 million
people
Has a land space of
43,000 square miles
GDP per capita is 222
Annual GDP growth rate
is 4.6%
There are 15 political
sub divisions called
counties.
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The Liberia health system is currently being reformed
through a ten year National Health Plan ( 2011 –
2021).
A package of essential health services is being
developed to improve the provision and quality of
health services.
The country’s health indicators are still unsatisfactory
with infant mortality at 79.9 per 1000 live births;
under five mortality at 110 per 1000 live births; and
maternal mortality at 994 per 100,000 live births.
There currently exist a joint program for tuberculosis
and leprosy, however in the new ten year plan leprosy
is being integrated under the NTD program.
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The program is gradually expanding both
leprosy and TB services to all health facilities
in the country both public and private
There is presently MDT coverage in 23(
16.7%) of the 137 districts in Liberia, with 24(
4.5%) health facilities provide MDT of the 522
health facilities.
The NLTCP still has a challenge with capacity
to diagnose and report leprosy cases as is
reflected in the low coverage.
:
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The prevalence rate remained stable in 2008
and 2009 with a decrease in 2010.
The case detection is steadily increasing as
interventions are being scaled up in the high
risk areas.
There proportion of MB cases reported is
higher than PB cases
There is ongoing transmission in the
population.
The proportion of females and children has
remained steady in the three years.
Trend of prevalence rate 20082010
4.00
Rate/10,000 population
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
prevalence rate
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
2008
2009
2010
Trend of case detection 2008 - 2010
14.5
case detection rate /100,000
14.0
13.5
13.0
12.5
12.0
11.5
11.0
10.5
2008
2009
2010
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Percent of PB and MB Leprosy Cases Detected
During (2008-2010)
73%
74%
74%
MB %
PB %
27%
2008
26%
2009
26%
2010
Percent(%)
Category (Child & Adult) of Leprosy New Cases
Detected From (2008-2010) In Liberia
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
89%
83%
90%
Adult
Children
17%
11%
2008
10%
2009
Years
2010
100%
90%
80%
36.2
33.2
36.9
70%
60%
50%
females
40%
males
30%
63.7
66.7
63
2008
2009
2010
20%
10%
0%
INDICATOR
# of CASES
PROPORTION
Prevalence
495
1.42
Case detection
482
13.9
New cases MB
357
0.74
New cases children
84
0.17
New cases with
disability
0
0
New cases females
178
0.37
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Lack of capacity of staff to diagnose leprosy
Poor reporting and recording of leprosy data
Inadequate funding for leprosy.
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Liberia has committed herself to revise the
leprosy situation in the country.
An integrated NTD strategic plan has been
developed covering five years.
Included the plan is an active case finding
strategy; introduction of the community based
project; increased capacity building for staff at
the health facility and a prevalence survey.
Leprosy indicators have also been included into
the integrated HMIS system for improved
reporting and recording.