• Five-year agreement aims to improve disease surveillance, labs, supply chains, and workforce
• Liberia becomes first in West Africa to enter this type of health cooperation with the U.S.
• Partnership aligns with the U.S. “America First” strategy and follows sharp aid cuts in 2025

Liberia and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on December 9 covering $124 million to strengthen the West African nation’s health system. Liberia becomes the first country in West Africa, and the third in sub-Saharan Africa after Kenya and Rwanda, to establish this form of cooperation with the United States.

The five-year partnership is expected to deepen disease surveillance, strengthen epidemic response capacity, improve national and regional laboratory systems, modernize supply chains for essential medicines and health products, and reinforce the health workforce.

It also includes developing integrated digital health information systems and making targeted investments in maternal and child health services, as well as programs to combat infectious diseases.

The MoU aligns with the Trump administration’s “America First” strategy, which the U.S. government describes as a comprehensive vision to make the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous. It will protect the homeland by preventing infectious disease outbreaks from reaching American shores and strengthen bilateral relations through multi-year agreements, according to the U.S. Department of State.

President Donald Trump sharply reduced international aid after taking office in January 2025, despite the United States being the main donor supporting health access programs worldwide. The cuts created funding gaps for health services across many low-income African countries.

Liberia faces significant health challenges, according to the World Health Organization, including high maternal mortality (742 per 100,000 live births) and elevated neonatal mortality, particularly affecting young populations. Limited access to essential medicines and difficulties in managing infectious diseases such as tuberculosis add to the burden.

The country has nonetheless recorded progress in its response to HIV/AIDS, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases through government initiatives. These include a new investment plan for sexual, reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health (SRMNCAH) and improvements in prenatal care services.

Lydie Mobio