Last Mile Health shares our deep gratitude to Marion Subah on her departure from Last Mile Health after five years as our Liberia Country Director, and we extend our congratulations to Brittney Varpilah, who will step into the role effective October 1, 2024.
Brittney Varpilah (left) and Marion Subah (center) with Last Mile Health CEO Lisha McCormick.
Marion joined Last Mile Health in 2019, overseeing our largest country program’s growth over the past five years, including navigating the country’s response to COVID-19. A nurse-midwife, she has been a steadfast champion of the health workers we support and patients we serve, and always reminded the organization to go back to our collective why. Among her accomplishments as Country Director, Marion set the Liberia country strategy on a five-year course, scaled Last Mile Health’s impact and influence in the National Community Health Program, kept a strong focus on improving the quality of care for mothers and children, and maintained the organization’s relationship with the Government of Liberia through a change of administration. “Marion has led the Liberia program with integrity, wisdom, and grace,” says James Nardella, Last Mile Health’s Chief Programs Officer. “She has inspired us all with her deeply committed faith and purpose.”
As she departs the organization, Marion holds a vision of growth and momentum for community health in Liberia. “As I have and will always advocate for a health system strengthening approach, I am hopeful that the future will be outstanding, exceptional, and extraordinary for the National Community Health Program and Last Mile Health in Liberia,” she says.
Marion Subah represents Last Mile Health at Izumi 2024.
Deputy Country Director Brittney Varpilah will step into her new role after ten years with Last Mile Health. Since the launch of the National Community Health Program in 2016, Brittney has worked alongside the Ministry of Health to build community health worker curriculum; coordinate donor partner funding; test new community approaches to immunization, nutrition, and contraception; revise the national policy based on learning; and ensure continued political support for the national program. “Brittney is a trusted leader in Liberia, known by the Ministry of Health, implementing partners, and the primary funders of the National Community Health Program,” says James. “We have full confidence that she is ready to lead our work in-country.”
As she assumes her new role, Brittney honors Marion’s leadership and legacy. “I could not have asked for a better mentor than Marion,” she says. “What I have admired most is her ability to balance being a compassionate leader who cares deeply for her team with her drive to push the team to achieve maximum impact from our work. She consistently keeps frontline health workers and the patients that they serve at the center of all we do.”
Brittney (left) and Marion (second from right) with Last Mile Health colleagues at the Third International Community Health Worker Symposium in Monrovia, Liberia.
Brittney looks forward to the work ahead in her new role. “Over the last ten years, I have witnessed the National Community Health Program go from a policy document to a fully scaled program that is global exemplar in community health,” she says. “I am excited to see how we can sustain the gains made through ensuring the program is fully managed and eventually financed by the Government of Liberia. This is not an achievement we are likely to achieve in the next few years, but I am confident through our long term commitment and partnership with the government of Liberia that we will continue to make progress.”
Although her work with Last Mile Health has come to a close, Marion will remain a steadfast advocate for community health. “Last Mile Health’s highest principle is working with governments to strengthen health systems and deepen their capacity for health service delivery in remote communities, using data for decision-making, with quality staff in an enabling environment to enhance every person’s ability, no matter the position,” she says. “Community health is not everything—but without community health, health is nothing.”
