-In Montserrado County
By Vaye Lepolu
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP), with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and in collaboration with key government ministries, has launched a major Community Engagement and Awareness Campaign in Montserrado County aimed at improving the health, education, and protection of women and children.
The launch took place at the Town Hall of New Kru Town on Bushrod Island under the theme: “Empowering Communities to Improve the Health, Education, and Protection of Women and Children in Liberia: A Social and Behavioral Change.” The initiative is a three-month pilot program that began on December 15, 2025, and is being implemented in Montserrado, River Cess, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, and Grand Gedeh Counties.
The campaign brings together the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education to address cross-cutting social challenges affecting communities, particularly women and children.
Delivering remarks at the event, LCP Chief Executive Officer Ambassador Juli Endee emphasized that sustainable national development requires collaboration among institutions.
“This program is about creating awareness, encouraging engagement, and empowering communities to take action,” Ambassador Endee said. “Health, education, and child protection are interconnected. When ministries and partners work together, we achieve greater impact.”
She explained that the campaign focuses on key national concerns, including the prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), promotion of children’s rights, routine immunization for children under five, Mpox (monkeypox) awareness and prevention, back-to-school initiatives, gender equality, and social inclusion.
According to organizers, health authorities are urging parents to ensure that children receive routine immunizations to prevent childhood diseases. Communities are also being educated about the signs, symptoms, and prevention of Mpox, while education officials are encouraging increased school enrollment and improved learning conditions.
Ambassador Endee disclosed that the pilot phase has already recorded progress across the participating counties. Activities conducted so far include community dialogue sessions on public health challenges, the establishment of Community Champions to promote positive health-seeking behaviors, family mapping exercises to identify unvaccinated children, public awareness campaigns through jingles and outreach, and psychosocial awareness messages targeting families and young people.
The initiative also promotes birth registration and encourages communities to incorporate health and gender discussions into their regular meetings.
On accountability, Ambassador Endee stressed that payments to field staff and volunteers will be made strictly through verified mobile money accounts registered in their individual names. She cautioned that individuals who fail to actively participate in field activities will not receive compensation.
During the engagement in New Kru Town, traditional leaders, youth groups, market women, religious leaders, and members of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace pledged their support for the campaign. Organizers announced plans to identify and train 10 Health Ambassadors, 10 Gender Ambassadors, and 10 Education Ambassadors within the borough to serve as peer educators and community advocates.
The pilot phase is expected to conclude in March, with a comprehensive report to be released in April. Following assessment, the program is expected to expand to additional counties nationwide.
Speaking on behalf of UNICEF, Social and Behavior Change Specialist Madam Musu Deshie described LCP as a trusted partner at the forefront of transformative community engagement in Liberia.
“We recognize that tackling Liberia’s high rates of maternal and child mortality requires a collaborative approach that transcends organizational boundaries,” she said.
She noted that the partnership prioritizes increasing routine immunization coverage, building confidence in the HPV vaccine to protect girls from cervical cancer, ensuring access to quality prenatal care and skilled birth attendants, supporting newborn care, promoting birth registration, and maintaining a strong presence in the national Mpox response.
Also addressing the gathering, Acting Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, welcomed the initiative and underscored the importance of vigilance and community engagement in safeguarding public health.
Dr. Camanor explained that Mpox remains a public health concern and spreads through close contact with infected persons, animals, or contaminated materials. She called on community leaders, religious institutions, youth organizations, health workers, and the media to amplify accurate information and combat misinformation.
“Preparedness is not a one-time achievement; it is an ongoing commitment,” she emphasized, urging citizens to practice good hygiene, avoid close contact with suspected cases, and report unusual illnesses to health facilities.
For her part, Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Garmai Tokpah described the campaign’s theme as a timely call to action.
“When communities are informed, united, and empowered, they become the strongest force for safeguarding children and supporting families,” she said, adding that government alone cannot address the challenges facing vulnerable populations without strong community partnerships.
She encouraged citizens to actively participate in the outreach, stressing that the engagement should serve as a turning point where knowledge is translated into action.
The Government of Liberia and UNICEF reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships at both national and community levels to ensure that every Liberian child is protected, educated, and given the opportunity to thrive.
