THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015

The Proclamation joining Liberia with other countries around the globe to celebrate World Health Day, the international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières new pediatric hospital and President Johnson Sirleaf message of condolence to the Government and People of the Republic of Kenya following the death of one hundred and forty eight persons at the Garissa University College are stories dominating the summary of today’s local dailies..

DOMINANT STORIES

Liberia Observes World Health Day Today

The FOCUS newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying: Liberia’s President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has by Proclamation declared today, April 7, 2015, as World Health Day and is to be observed throughout the country as a Working Holiday. According to the Proclamation, Liberia, as a founding member of the World Health Organization (WHO) will join other member states of the WHO in observance of the Day under the Theme: “How Safe is Your Food? From Farm to Plate, Make Food Safe”. The Proclamation calls on all Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Centers and Schools as well as the citizenry throughout Liberia to cooperate with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the resident Office of the World Health Organization (WHO) in executing appropriate programs befitting the occasion. The release says this year’s celebration will focus on food safety as a critical public health area. The proclamation further indicated that this year’s celebration is to call upon governments, manufacturers, retailers and the public to protect consumers from the risks of food poisoning and food-borne diseases, as unsafe food can lead to a range of health problems, including viral diseases, such as Ebola which has been linked to contaminated bush meat. Each year, the World Health Day is celebrated on April 7th to mark the anniversary of the founding of the WHO, the proclamation added.

Related Captions: Today Is World Health Day (The Inquirer), Today Is World Health Day (In Profile Daily), Today Is World Health Day (Heritage), Today Is World Health Day (The News)

MSF Opens New Children’s Hospital

The New Dawn newspaper reports that the international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on March 23rd opened a new pediatric hospital in Monrovia. According to a press release from MSF, the Children’s Hospital which is located on Barnerville Road, only admits pediatric emergencies referred from a community health clinic and does not provide external consultations.  The daily writes that the 24/7 hospital has opened with 46 beds for children under 5 years with the capacity to extend up to 100 beds.

Related Captions: MSF Opens New Children’s Hospital in Monrovia (In Profile Daily), MSF Opens New Children’s Hospital in Monrovia (Heritage), MSF Opens New Children’s Hospital in Monrovia (FrontPage Africa)

Ellen Consoles Kenya On National Tragedy

The News newspaper reports: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of condolence to the Government and People of the Republic of Kenya following the unfortunate situation of the death of one hundred and forty eight (148) persons at the Garissa University College as a result of attacks by the Al-Shabaab Terrorist Group. In her message to His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Republic of Kenya, President Johnson Sirleaf expressed shock and extended deep condolences on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia and in her own name, to the Government and People of Kenya, especially the bereaved families for the tragic loss sustained. “We condemn in the strongest terms, these killings as act of terrorism and crime against humanity”, the President declared. While expressing regrets over the situation, the Liberian leader prayed that God will grant President Kenyatta and the People of Kenya strength and fortitude as they go through this difficult period of national mourning. The Liberian leader then wished President Kenyatta personal well being and for the people of Kenya unity, peace and progress under his dynamic leadership.

Related Captions: Ellen Consoles Kenya On National Tragedy (Heritage), Ellen Consoles Kenya On National Tragedy(FOCUS), President Sirleaf Consoles Kenya (The New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf Meets With UN Peacebuilding Commission Head

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, on Monday, April 6, received in audience the chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador   Olof Skoog, and delegation during a courtesy call. Mr. Skoog, who is also Swedish Ambassador to the United Nations, was  led to the  Liberian leader’s office at the Foreign Ministry by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Liberia, Karen Landgren. President Sirleaf informed Ambassador Skoog that Liberia  was already  in the process of implementing its five-year development plan, the Agenda for Transformation, when Ebola emerged and as the virus is being brought under control, government is still very much focused and on course with its implementation. For his part, the leader, the chair of the UN Peacebuilding  Commission, Ambassador Skoog, to be visiting Liberian and meeting with President Sirleaf. He reflected on his first visit to Liberia in 1997, INSIGHT reports.

EU, SCI Pledge Support To Youth Development

The head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Tiina Itelmann says youth development in any country is very vital to its social and economic growth development. Ambassador Intelmann said everyday her organization thinks about the youths of Liberia and how he help   the Liberian Government to improve their lives but was quick to note that if Liberian youths are to be develop, they must at all times engage their government and its partners in a more matured manner that will win support to their programs, In Profile Daily reports.

Health Ministry, Partners Begin Post Ebola Plan Validation Today

The Ministry of Health together with its development partners will today, Tuesday start a 3-day Health System Assessment and Investment Plan Consensus Meeting at the Paynesville. According to the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the Validation Meeting, Mr. Momolu V.O. Sirleaf, the objectives of the meeting are to review and validate the health system and build consensus on the Investment and Transitional Health Plans, Heritage reports.

Labor Ministry Retires 27

The Ministry of Labor in Monrovia, on Monday, retired twenty-seven of its employees. At an honoring ceremony, the Minister of Labor,  Atty. Neto Zarzar Lighe expressed heartfelt gratitude to the retired employees for their services to the nation, indicating that it was not the intention of the Ministry to execute their retirement, but the action was in consonance with the Civil Service Agency or CSA. According to Minister Lighe, since his appointment at the Ministry of Labor in 2012, he has always known the twenty- seven retired employees for their best working qualities, wishing them well in their new endeavors. The New Dawn