**For Immediate Release**

Monrovia, Liberia, August 12, 2024,– Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, the newly appointed Head of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Shufflex Biomed, LLC, presented a crucial public health lecture today at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia.

Dr. Nyan’s lecture addressed the causes, effects, and treatment of Hepatitis B, C, and E, along with other infectious clinical diseases. His presentation highlighted the pressing need for advanced research and preventive measures, particularly in light of the potential cross-border transmission of Hepatitis strains between Liberia and the United States.

A medical doctor and biomedical research scientist with a degree from Humboldt University of Berlin and training from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Nyan specializes in infectious disease diagnostics. His work focuses on developing rapid diagnostic tests for blood-borne pathogens, including HIV and various Hepatitis viruses.

Dr. Nyan defined Hepatitis as inflammation of the liver resulting from factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, food toxins, and viral infections. He emphasized the importance of increased government investment in health research to address the challenges posed by emerging infectious diseases, especially Hepatitis C. He also highlighted the recent development of a vaccine for Hepatitis C by Egyptian scientists, noting its positive impact in Ghana and other countries.

In his address, Dr. Nyan called for enhanced routine diagnostic practices and vaccination measures, underscoring that medical checks for infectious diseases are a standard procedure before employment in the U.S. He also stressed the need for respectful treatment of lab technicians, who play a vital role in ensuring accurate diagnostic results.

Currently, Dr. Nyan works at the Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens within the Division of Emerging and Transfusion-Transmitted Diseases at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).