The Director-General of the National Public Health Institute (NPHIL), Mr. Tolbert Nyenswah, has tendered in his resignation to President George M. Weah, an Executive Mansion source has hinted Liberia Public Radio.
Our source said he tendered in his resignation on October 9, 2019 and might leave office on November 29, 2019.
According to a source close to Executive Mansion, Mr. Nyenswah resignation letter only stated “extenuating circumstances and family obligations” as reasons for this resignation.
It is not clear whether his resignation has been accepted by President Weah.
Mr. Nyenswah who was celebrated in Liberia for his fight during the ebola outbreak in Liberia from 2014-2016, is the second high profile official resigning from the Weah-led administration.
It can be recalled that Mr. Alex Cuffy who served as the Director-General of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) recently resigned – a resignation which was kept secret by the Executive Mansion until it was leaked to social media.
Cuffy resignation letter also cited “family reasons” as reason for his resignation.
The National Public Health Institute was established on January 26, 2017, by an Act of the Legislature, to prevent and control public health threats, post the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemics that devastated Liberia’s public health system, killing close to 5,000 people.
Under his stewardship at NPHIL, Mr. Nyenswah succeeded in securing from the United States (U.S.) Government and the World Bank Group, over twenty (20) million U.S. dollars ($20 million), to construct the National Reference Laboratory and NPHIL headquarters in Congo Town, now in the second phase of construction.
NPHIL also secured US$15 million from the World Bank for three-year epidemiologic surveillance activities throughout Liberia.
He has served in various capacities at the Ministry of Health including office assistant in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (now Ministry of Health), in 1999, Assistant Minister of Health and Deputy Chief Medical Office for Preventive Services (2012-2015); Deputy Program Manager of the National Malaria Control Program (2007-2011), serving concurrently as Acting Program Manager for two years (2009-2011).
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