BY: SHALLON S. GONLOR |
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba County, Liberia — The Nimba County Health Team, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and development partners, on Friday, September 4, 2026, inaugurated the newly constructed Dr. Catherine Thomas Cooper Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) County Cold Chain Depot in Sanniquellie City.
The facility, valued at more than US$79,000, is intended to strengthen vaccine storage, coaching, management, and distribution across Nimba County.
The newly constructed depot was funded through a partnership involving the Government of Liberia, Ministry of Health, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and others.
The EPI program initially focused on protecting infants and children against six major vaccine-preventable diseases —tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, and measles.
Over the years, immunization programs have expanded beyond childhood vaccination to adopt a life-course approach, covering adolescents, pregnant women, older adults, and other vulnerable populations.
Supt. Gono Applauds Health Investment
Delivering special remarks at the ceremony, Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeh Gono acknowledged the continued support of the Ministry of Health and development partners toward strengthening healthcare delivery in Nimba County.
Superintendent Gono particularly commended development partners, and other health stakeholders for their contributions to the project.
She also expressed appreciation to Health Minister Dr. Louise M. Kpoto and officials of the Ministry of Health for supporting the construction and equipping of the EPI depot in the county.
Serving as Chairperson of the Nimba County Health Team Board, Gono described the facility as an important investment in strengthening immunization and healthcare services, particularly for women and children.
“That’s why I say Nimba is the fastest-growing economic and developmental frontier in Liberia. We are very happy to be part of this. This building is a symbol that our children are healthier; they are going to be healthier. It’s a commitment that our county is ready and well-positioned for development and growth.”
Gono further noted that Nimba’s large geographical size and population require additional EPI facilities beyond the county’s current depot.
She called on health authorities to consider establishing another EPI facility in Central or Lower Nimba, noting that the County Administration is prepared to support such an initiative.
“I know sooner or later, Dr. Ponnie Robertlee Dolo will be telling me about groundbreaking or something important in Lower Nimba because the county is very large in landmass and population to have a single EPI facility. The County Administration stands ready to support you in all that you do to construct an additional EPI facility in Central or Lower Nimba County this year, 2026.”
The Superintendent also commended the Ministry of Health for its continued support to the Nimba County Health Team, particularly Minister Kpoto and her team for their role in ensuring the completion of the project.
Gono praised the head of the Nimba County Health Team, Dr. Ponnie Robertlee Dolo, and his team for what she described as their efforts toward the timely completion of the facility.
She also congratulated the County Health Team for its performance among health teams nationwide and for receiving the Best County Health Team Award for the second time in two years.
Health Minister Urges Nimba Citizens to Own Facility
Dedicating the facility, Health Minister Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto urged citizens of Nimba County, particularly women and children, to take ownership of the facility and make full use of its immunization services.
Delivering the Minister’s dedicatory remarks on her behalf, Dr. Adolphus T. Clark, Manager of the Ministry of Health’s Expanded Program on Immunization, emphasized the strategic importance of the new depot.
According to Dr. Clark, Minister Kpoto considers Nimba County a critical part of Liberia’s national development and health system.
He quoted the Minister as describing Nimba as being “not just a county,” but appearing almost like a second Republic of Liberia, in reference to its size, population, and importance.
Dr. Clark said the facility represents an important milestone not only for Nimba County but for Liberia’s national immunization system.
“Going forward, this is our prototype with respect to county depots. So, Nimba has set the stage, and we look forward to working with other county health teams to follow suit.”
He further said Minister Kpoto remains committed to ensuring that children in Nimba County survive, remain healthy, and have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
“What she can do to support this county, you can count on her,” Dr. Clark quoted the Minister as saying.
Dr. Clark stressed that an effective cold-chain system is the backbone of a well-functioning immunization program.
He explained that having sufficient health workers and vaccines is not enough if vaccines are not stored and transported under the required temperature conditions.
“You can have enough workers committed to making sure that all of the children in Nimba are vaccinated, but if the vaccine cold chain is broken, we are simply administering vaccines, and those children won’t get the protection that is so desired.”
He said the new depot demonstrates the government and its partners’ commitment to ensuring that children receive vaccines that remain potent, safe, and effective from the point of storage to the point of administration.
According to Dr. Clark, the facility will help ensure that vaccines reach children with the quality and effectiveness required to protect them against vaccine-preventable diseases.
He also commended the Nimba County Administration for working with the County Health Team and helping to ensure that health allocations under the county health budget were accessed and utilized to support the project.
Dr. Clark said the collaboration between the government, county authorities, and development partners demonstrates a shared commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
Dr. Clark also disclosed that the Ministry of Health plans to provide additional logistical support to the Nimba County Health Team.
He said the Health Minister had asked him to inform stakeholders that, beyond the construction of the depot, a new vehicle would also be provided to support the County Health Team’s EPI operation.
The announcement was welcomed as an additional boost to the county’s immunization and healthcare delivery efforts.
Why the EPI Depot Matters to Nimba
The dedication of the newly constructed EPI Cold Chain Depot represents more than the opening of a new building. It marks a significant investment in the health and future of the people of Nimba County.
The facility is expected to help ensure that children, pregnant women, and other eligible residents have timely access to safe, effective, and properly stored vaccines.
Vaccines are among the most effective and cost-effective public health interventions, protecting individuals, families, and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.
However, vaccines can only provide their full benefits when they are properly stored, transported, and handled throughout the cold-chain system.
For years, Nimba County’s immunization program faced challenges associated with vaccine storage and distribution, including inadequate storage capacity, transportation difficulties, power supply constraints, and the need to maintain required temperatures throughout the vaccine supply chain.
The construction of the county-level EPI depot is therefore expected to address some of these longstanding challenges.
The facility will strengthen the Nimba County Health Team’s capacity to safely store and distribute vaccines to health facilities throughout the county.
It is also expected to help reduce vaccine stockouts and wastage, strengthen immunization services, and contribute to increased immunization coverage.
Most importantly, health authorities say the depot will help bring life-saving vaccines closer to the people of Nimba.
From a Single Room to a Dedicated Depot
Prior to the construction of the new facility, the Nimba County Health Team operated its EPI activities from a single room that was considered inadequate to meet the growing needs of the county’s immunization program.
The limited space created challenges for proper vaccine storage and management, as well as the storage of immunization equipment and other essential supplies.
The constraints also limited the County Health Team’s ability to expand and improve immunization services as the county’s population and healthcare needs continued to grow.
The new Dr. Catherine Thomas Cooper EPI County Cold Chain Depot is expected to provide the expanded capacity needed to improve vaccine management and strengthen immunization services across Nimba County.
The inauguration brought together health authorities, county officials, development partners, traditional leaders, community representatives, and other stakeholders in the health sector across Nimba and Liberia.
Following the ceremony, Superintendent Gono joined health authorities, development partners, persons with disabilities, community representatives, and other stakeholders in dedicating and touring the newly constructed facility.
