Advocating Against the Odds: Festus McKeen’s Fight for Health and Human Rights in Liberia

2019 EXPERT PROGRAMMATIC AND TECHNICAL SUMMIT: From left to right Pepukai CHIKUKWA, then UNAIDS Liberia Country Director/ Wilhelmina Jallah, then Liberia Minister of Health/ Festus Mckeen, then Enda Sante AYP Communication Liason CSIH/WCA (Senegal, Nigeria, and Liberia) Theodosia Kolee, then Liberia’s National AIDS Commissioner

Monrovia – In a time of global health uncertainties, Festus McKeen, a dedicated health and human rights advocate, continues to push for equitable healthcare access in Liberia. As the Lead Advocate for Minority Voices Liberia, McKeen has been instrumental in advancing Liberia’s HIV response, even as the freeze of USAID funds threatens critical programs. His advocacy is rooted in a commitment to ensuring that key populations and vulnerable communities are not left behind in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

A Lifelong Commitment to Health and Human Rights McKeen’s journey as an advocate has been shaped by years of experience in community-based healthcare and policy engagement. In July 2024, he attended the International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference in Munich as a scholarship recipient, where he engaged global experts on best practices in HIV prevention and treatment. His expertise was further recognized when he became an HIV Vaccine Advocacy Fellow, working to ensure that Liberia remains at the forefront of emerging HIV prevention technologies.

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