By H. Matthew Turry
Nimba County Electoral District #2 Representative Nyan Flomo has declared the House of Representatives “ready and resolute” to pass the long-awaited Health Equity Fund Bill.
Framing universal health coverage not as a policy option but as a constitutional duty, Flomo warned that the government can no longer delay action while mothers and newborns continue to die preventable deaths.
Speaking on Tuesday, July 4, 2026, at the National Health Review Conference themed “Introducing Universal Health Insurance in Liberia: Financing Maternal and Newborn Care for All,” Flomo described the Liberia Health Equity Fund for Universal Health Coverage (LHEF) Bill as one of the most consequential reforms ever considered by the legislature.
At the heart of his remarks was a stark indictment of Liberia’s healthcare system: families are being driven into financial ruin by crushing out-of-pocket costs. The proposed fund seeks to end that cycle by subsidizing care for pregnant women, children under five, and vulnerable groups, while guaranteeing timely reimbursements to health facilities — money intended to stabilize staffing, improve supplies, and restore confidence in the system.
Flomo pointed to the recent creation of the Liberia Primary Health Care and Immunization Caucus (LIPIC) as proof lawmakers are organizing for sustained oversight. He credited the House Committee on Health for spearheading consultations and said the caucus will serve as a watchdog for accountability, advocacy, and spending transparency.
In one of the most concrete disclosures of his address, Flomo revealed that the House has tasked its Committees on Health and Judiciary to review amendments to the Public Health Law that would prohibit hospitals and clinics from turning away patients who cannot pay. If enacted, the measure would transform a long-standing aspiration into enforceable legal protection.
Flomo’s most forceful language underscored the human toll of inaction. “Every maternal or newborn death is not merely a statistic but a devastating loss for a family and community,” he said, adding that Liberia cannot afford to fail its mothers and children.
Closing his address, Flomo issued a direct promise: “The House of Representatives remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that every pregnant woman has access to skilled maternal care, every newborn receives quality healthcare, and no Liberian is denied medical treatment because of an inability to pay.”
He called on government agencies, development partners, civil society, and healthcare workers to turn conference dialogue into concrete action, praising organizers for creating a forum that must yield tangible recommendations for accelerating universal coverage.
The House’s next move will be judged against Flomo’s vow: expeditious consideration of the LHEF Bill once formally submitted. For a nation confronting one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, the stakes could not be higher.
