rehabilitation of addicts, to build up participatory adolescent health programs that focus
in particular on reproductive health rights and substance abuse.
The Committee appreciates the reconstruction of health facilities across the country as
part of post war recovery and rehabilitation programs. But there are indications that
many communities still lack access to basic health services particularly in rural areas.
The Committee suggests for improved efforts to advance access to basic health care
services for all children and pregnant women, particularly in rural by ensuring that
primary health care system covers the whole country;
The Committee commends the State Party for the establishment the National AIDS
Commission, chaired by the President and the State party’s measures to increase the
coverage and access to HIV testing clinics and the provision of anti-retroviral (ARVs) to
pregnant women and children born to mothers with HIV. But, there is a concern on the
uneven distribution of HIV testing, and ARVs to all children, teenagers, and pregnant
women. Hence, the State Party should increase the comprehensive HIV informationeducation campaign; make stronger its efforts to ensure proper coverage of HIV testing
and ARVs provision by giving a particular attention to pregnant adolescents in rural
areas and children born to mothers with HIV, and seek technical assistance from the
concerned International Organizations and CSOs.
G. Education, leisure and cultural activities
There are indications that from the 60% of the signatory allocated from mining
companies to the Ministry of Education under the 2011 Education Reform Act, 90% are
spent on salaries and wages, and the remaining to promote tertiary education thus,
limiting opportunities for all children to achieve universal primary and second cycle
education. This is evident in the low rate of primary school enrolment, which is currently
37%, of which only one-third complete the primary school. Hence, the government of
Liberia should take measure to ensure the necessary budget is allocated to primary
education; and increase the availability of schools at all levels in particular in rural areas
in order to ensure equal access to education to all children.
The views of parents, student and school administrators shows that there is no free and
fair compulsory education in Liberia, in fact, in government schools, learning material
have increased now a day with uniform cost ranging from $10 USD to $15 USD. The
Committee recommends the State Party to monitor and enforce the free-of charge
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