Patrick N. Kpanyen is a nurse, epidemiologist, and public servant in Liberia. He currently serves as deputy director general for administration at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia. He provides oversight to safeguard and protect public health. Patrick has helped oversee the nation’s COVID-19 response. With more than 20 years of experience leading health-related organizations, as well as training and research institutions, Patrick has served as a faculty member at the Cuttington University Graduate School and published articles on infectious diseases. He is principal investigator on several public health projects in Liberia in partnership with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St. Louis. Patrick earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Public Health from Cuttington University and a doctorate in epidemiology and biostatistics from the Medical College at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.
Applied Project Title: Construction of Public Health Screening Center at Ganta Border in Liberia
Border infections remain the single biggest challenge in low-income countries including Liberia. Evidence links cross-border infections with a lack of border health screening infrastructure and systems for early detection of diseases of international public health concern, including the Ebola virus and COVID-19. This project focused on strategies to increase border screening facilities and management systems with the goal of controlling, preventing and curtailing huge outbreaks caused by single undetected infections. Kpanyen recommended initial efforts be centered on constructing a health screening and referral center on the Ganta Border post – the busiest ground crossing point in the country. Kpanyen and his team at the Ministry of Health in Liberia will establish an innovative mechanism to bolster the smooth operation and realization of the country’s existing infectious disease prevention policies.