Liberia

The Liberia country profile provides an overview of the community health system in Liberia according to the most up-to-date policies available. It particularly focuses on the country’s community health providers, the structures that support them, and the services they deliver across many health areas – with a spotlight on family planning. The profile is targeted towards policymakers, program implementers, donors, researchers, and others interested in the country’s community health system.

The table below captures key information from the full, downloadable country profile. The complete CHS Catalog data set is also available for download, including information for Liberia.

Community Health Quick Stats

Main Community Health Policy / Strategy | Last Updated
  • Essential Package of Health Services: The Community Health System | 2011
  • Investment Plan for Building a Resilient Health System in Liberia 2015 to 2021 | 2015
  • Liberia Health Workforce Program | 2016
  • National Health and Social Welfare Policy and Plan 2011–2021 | No date
  • Revised National Community Health Services Policy 2016–2021 | 2015
  • Revised National Community Health Services Strategic Plan 2016–2021 | 2015
Number of Community Health Provider Cadres

2 main cadres

  • Community health assistants (CHAs)
  • Community health volunteers (CHVs)
Recommended Number of Community Health Providers
  • 4,467 CHAs
  • 3,844 CHVs
Estimated Number of Community Health Providers
  • Information not available in policy1
  • 8,052 CHVs
Recommended Ratio of Community Health Providers to Beneficiaries
  • 1 CHA : 40-60 housholds2
  • 1 CHV : 40-60 households2
Community-Level Data Collection Yes
Levels of Management of Community-Level Service Delivery

National, regional, district, health facility, community
Key Community Health Program(s)

CHA Program; Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Program; various national health-focused programs (e.g., HIV and AIDS, malaria)

1 The CHA is a new cadre established per policies developed in 2015–2016. To date, there is no record of the number recruited and trained.
2 Or up to 350 people. Some CHVs, however, may have a different recommended ratio based on their job description.

Key Policies and Strategies

Community Health Services Division and Family Health Division, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Liberia. N.d. National Guidelines for Initiating and Managing Community-Based Family Planning Distribution (CBD) Services.

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Liberia. n.d. National Health and Social Welfare Policy and Plan 2011-2021 (accessed December 2016).

———. 2010. National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy.

———. 2011. Essential Package of Health Services. Primary Care: The Community Health System. Ministry of Health: Monrovia (accessed December 2016).

———. 2012a. General Community Health Volunteer Module I – Community-Based Management of Diarrhea in Childhood. Monrovia: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Liberia (accessed December 2016).

———. 2012b. General Community Health Volunteer Module 2 – Community-Based Management of Malaria in Childhood. Monrovia: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Liberia (accessed December 2016).

———. 2012c. General Community Health Volunteers Training Facilitator Guide (Community-Based Management of ARI in Childhood). Monrovia: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Liberia (accessed December 2016).

———. 2014a. Liberia Community Health Road Map: July 1, 2014–June 30, 2017. Monrovia: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Republic of Liberia (accessed December 2016).

———. 2014b. National Guidelines on Hygiene Promotion (accessed December 2016).

Ministry of Health, Republic of Liberia. n.d. National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Strategic Plan 2014–2018 (accessed December 2016).

———. 2015. Investment Plan for Building a Resilient Health System in Liberia 2015 to 2021 (accessed December 2016).

———. 2015a. Revised National Community Health Services Policy 2016–2021. Ministry of Health: Monrovia.

———. 2015b. Revised National Community Health Services Strategic Plan 2016–2021. Ministry of Health: Monrovia.

———. 2016a. Health Workforce Program Strategy.

———. 2016b. Liberian Health Information System Strategic Plan (Draft 2016–2021).

———. 2016c. National Community Health Assistant Curriculum 2016–2021: Module 1: Disease Prevention and Control.

———. 2016d. National Community Health Assistant Curriculum 2016–2021: Module 2: Reproductive, Maternal, and Neonatal Health.

———. 2016e. National Community Health Assistant Curriculum 2016–2021: Module 3: Child Health.

———. 2016f. National Community Health Assistant Curriculum 2016–2021: Module 4: Special Services.

National Technical Coordinating Unit, Republic of Liberia. 2012. Guidelines for Community-Led Total Sanitation Implementation in Liberia (accessed December 2016).

Republic of Liberia. n.d. Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector Strategic Plan for Liberia 2012–2017 (accessed December 2016).

———. 2007. National Health Policy and National Health Plan 2007–2011 (accessed December 2016).

———. 2014. National HIV & AIDS Strategic Plan 2015–2020 (accessed December 2016).