Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40672912›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2025

Strengthening governance and leadership of the national laboratory system in Liberia: achievements and challenges.

Torbandu H Kohar, Ellen Munemo, Jonathan Kpaka, Nisha Marles, Ochiawunma Akwiwu-Ibe, Anicet G Dahourou, Frantz Jean Louis

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Torbandu H KoharLiberia Ministry of Health, Monrovia, Liberia.
Ellen MunemoInfectious Disease Detection and Surveillance Project of USAID, Monrovia, Liberia.
Jonathan KpakaNational Public Health Institute of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia.
Nisha MarlesInfectious Disease Detection and Surveillance Project of USAID, Rockville, MD, United States.
Ochiawunma Akwiwu-IbeInfectious Disease Detection and Surveillance Project of USAID, Rockville, MD, United States.
Anicet G DahourouInfectious Disease Detection and Surveillance Project of USAID, Rockville, MD, United States.
Frantz Jean LouisInfectious Disease Detection and Surveillance Project of USAID, Rockville, MD, United States.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Liberia's health system, severely impacted by prolonged conflict and the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, suffered from critical gaps in laboratory governance, workforce capacity, and diagnostic infrastructure. To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with international partners, launched a national reform initiative aimed at strengthening the laboratory system. This study assesses the implementation and outcomes of the revised National Laboratory Policy and Strategic Plan introduced in 2019. Methods: A situational analysis was conducted to identify systemic weaknesses. The MoH formed a Technical Working Group to develop and implement the revised policy and plan. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through stakeholder interviews, document reviews, and laboratory quality audits. Interventions: The reform focused on five key areas: enhancing governance structures, expanding workforce development, implementing quality management systems (QMS), integrating private laboratories into the national network, and formalizing national laboratory policies and strategic guidelines. Results: Substantial improvements were observed across intervention areas. Governance was enhanced through strengthened roles of the National Diagnostic Division and National Public Health Institute of Liberia. A Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science program was launched, with its first cohort enrolled in 2023. Eighteen laboratories joined a structured QMS program, and three attained a one-star rating. Four private laboratories were integrated into national disease surveillance. Comprehensive policy documents and infrastructure, equipment, and quality assurance guidelines were developed and disseminated. Conclusion: Liberia has made measurable progress in laboratory governance, workforce development, and quality assurance. Sustained investment in policy implementation, training, and infrastructure is critical to preserving these gains and improving national health security.

Indexed as

Health PolicyLaboratoriesLeadershipHumansLiberiadiagnostic serviceslaboratory governancenational laboratory policynational laboratory strategic plannational laboratory systems

Identifiers

PMID40672912
PMCPMC12263591

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.