THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Today’s editions of the local dailies are dominated by news of the United States Government’s ninth annual malaria report highlighting progress in the fight against malaria.

DOMINANT STORY

U.S. Government Releases Ninth Annual Malaria Report

The U.S Government says World Malaria Day is observed each year by the global community to call attention to the disease, as well as to mobilize action to combat it. The U.S. Embassy release issued in Monrovia said on this occasion, the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI), led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), releases its ninth annual report which describes the role and contributions of the U.S. Government in the effort to reduce the burden of malaria in Liberia, and other focus countries in Africa, and to monitor anti-malarial drug resistance and decrease malaria transmission in the Greater Mekong Subregion. According to the release, the PMI works with Liberia’s national malaria program, targeting pregnant women and children under five – the two most vulnerable groups from malaria – and focusing on rural areas where the greatest burden of the disease tends to fall on families with lower incomes and limited access to health care, noting that to date, 17 of the 19 PMI focus countries have seen reductions in childhood mortality rates, ranging from 18 percent (in both Liberia and Nigeria) to 55 percent (in both Senegal and Zambia). These data, according to the embassy release, contribute to the growing evidence that malaria prevention and treatment are playing a major role in these decreases in under-five mortality. The release quoted the U.S Government as saying in Liberia, child survival is improving and all-cause mortality rates among children under the age of five have declined from 114 per 1,000 to 94 per 1,000 over the period 2009-2013. According to the World Health Organization (WHO’s) 2014 World Malaria Report, the estimated malaria mortality rate in children under five decreased by 58 percent in the Africa region between 2000 and 2013, while the scale-up of malaria control interventions over the same period resulted in an estimated 4.3 million fewer malaria deaths. These gains were attributed primarily to increased use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, accurate diagnostic tests, and effective drug therapies.  “We celebrate the dramatic progress that has been made in reducing the burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa,’ said Deborah Malac, U.S. Ambassador to Liberia.  This progress is due to the leadership of Liberia’s government and partnership — of international donors including the U.S., The Global Fund, the private sector, non-governmental and faith-based organizations, local leaders, civil society, philanthropists, and many others, according to the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: U.S. Government Releases Ninth Annual Malaria Report(FrontPage Africa), U.S. Releases Ninth Annual Malaria Report(In Profile Daily), U.S. Govt. Releases Ninth Annual Malaria Report(The Analyst). At the same time,President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called on Liberians to soberly reflect on the huge progress made in the fight against malaria. President Sirleaf said though some Liberians are not pleased with the level of progress made by the current government, the country is better now than 10 years ago when many across the globe saw it as a ‘failed state’. The President’s statement was delivered by Foreign Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan during program marking World Malaria Day over the weekend in Monrovia, the Parrot newspaper reports under the caption “At World Malaria Day Celebration – Pres. Sirleaf Wants Liberians To soberly Reflect“.

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf Congratulates South Africa

The Heritage newspaper reports that the President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and People’s of the Republic of South Africa on the occasion marking the 21^th Freedom Day of that Country. In the message to the South African President Jacob Zuma, President Sirleaf extended warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Government and People of South Africa on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia and in her own name.  The Liberian Leader regrets that this anniversary of Freedom Day coincides with a difficult period in the history of South Africa and prayed that President Zuma will find the courage and strength to overcome this trial time and lead his people in the right direction in order to overcome this dark chapter and continue on the path of peace and economic freedom as the Government and People of Liberia wish him and his compatriots good health, prosperity and long life. President Sirleaf entertained the hope that Liberia and South Africa will continue to work together in furtherance of the principles of the African Union and the United Nations, aimed at promoting peace, security, and economic cooperation amongst member states. She prayed that God Almighty will endow President Zuma with abundant wisdom and strength as he leads the people of South Africa to greater prosperity.

President Sirleaf Congratulates Sierra Leone on 54^th Independence Anniversary

The President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Mrs.  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a Message of Congratulations to the Government and People of the Republic of Sierra Leone on the occasion commemorating the 54^th Independence Anniversary of that country. In her message to her Sierra Leonean counterpart, His Excellency Mr. Ernest Bai Koromah, President Johnson Sirleaf extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Government and People of Sierra Leone, on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia, and in her own name. The Liberian leader added that the observance of the 54^th Independence Anniversary of Sierra Leone, comes at the critical point when the three countries within the Mano River Union (MRU) region have committed themselves to utilizing the full potential of their people and mobilizing available resources to rid the sub-region of the deadly Ebola scourge which has left significant scars and injuries on the three nations. President Johnson Sirleaf further stated that despite the huge challenges posed  by Ebola, the people of Sierra Leone have shown extraordinary courage and resilience which confirm their tenacity to build a vibrant nation. The Liberian President added that as the people of Sierra Leone celebrate this joyous occasion, the People of Liberia wish president Koromah, and the government and people of Sierra Leone good health, prosperity and long life. Madam Johnson Sirleaf then entertained the hope that the   cordial ties of friendship so happily subsisting between the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone will be strengthened as the two governments explore new areas of partnerships. She also prayed that the Almighty God will endow President Koromah with abundant wisdom and strength as he steers the affairs of his people, writes the Heritage newspaper.

Pres. Sirleaf on Two-Day Working Visit to Cote D’Ivoire

The Analystnewspaper quotes an Executive Mansion release as saying, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, for a two-day working visit at the invitation of her counterpart, His Excellency, Mr. Alassane Ouattara. According to the release, the Liberian leader, who departed Liberia late Sunday evening, will hold bilateral talks with President Ouatarra who was on hand to welcome her at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport. President Sirleaf will meet with President Ouatarra at the Presidential Palace on Monday, April 27, where they will hold bilateral talks. The two leaders will later address a press stakeout before she returns home later in the afternoon.  Meanwhile, while the Liberian leader is away, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan will chair the Cabinet.

4 More Trafficked Girls Arrive

The Government of Liberia through the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force has announced the arrival of four additional Liberian girls allegedly trafficked to Lebanon.  According to the Ministry of Labour, the Task Force detailed that upon their return last week, the girls were taken to a safe home where they joined 10 others, who were earlier rescued and repatriated from Lebanon.  Liberia's Labor Minister Neto Zarzar Lighe' said, 62 of the girls were reportedly taken from the country by some Lebanese businessmen, in collaboration with some Liberians under the guise of giving them a greener pasture. According to the New Dawn newspaper, the National Anti- Human Trafficking Task Force assures all Liberians that the prosecution of the alleged perpetrators is in process and that the government is working with the Lebanese Community in Liberia, the Lebanese Government and all its international partners to identify and bring back to the country all Liberian girls, who are similarly situated.

U N Chief Names New Head Of Ebola Mission

The U.N. Secretary General, on Saturday, appointed a new head of the emergency mission responding to West Africa's Ebola crisis, expressing the hope that the world's deadliest outbreak of the virus will soon come to an end. A statement from Ban Ki-moon's office is quoted as saying Peter Jan Graaff of the Netherlands will work closely with David Nabarro- the U.N.'s special Ebola envoy, in addressing an epidemic that has claimed more than 10,000 lives in the three hardest-hit countries: Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Graaff had been serving since October as the U.N.'s Ebola crisis manager in Liberia, which has recorded more Ebola deaths than any other country. Liberia's last known Ebola patient died on March 27, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption: New Ebola Chief Names As Outbreak Calms(New Democrat)

Bong College Nets US$800,000

The New Dawn newspaper reports that the Bong County Technical College has received US$800,000 from the county’s coffers for the construction of the college facilitates in Gbarnga, Bong County. In March 2014 delegates at the County Development Council seating allotted U.S $ 800,000 to the college construction project but the funding was not provided by the Ministry of Finance due to the Ebola outbreak in the country.

MSF Hands Over ELWA-3 To GOL

In Profile Dailyreports that today the international medical organization Medecins Sas Frontieres/Doctors without Borders (MSF) hands over the ELWA 3 Ebola Management center in Monrovia to the Liberian Ministry of Health/IMS. The Ministry will run the facility as a temporary Ebola management center.  “Today is a day full of emotion for the MSF movement”, says Mariateresa Cacciapuoti, MSF movement”, says Mariateresa Cacciapuoti, MSF Emergency Coordinator in Liberia, “ELWA3 has been the symbol of a long and incredibly difficult battle against Ebola”.

BIVAC International Concludes 5-Day Training For Custom officers Here

The Bureau Veritas (BIVAC) International has concluded a five-day training on customs valuation and classification for Customs |officers in Liberia. BIVAC is a French company which signed a contract wit the Governemt of Libeia (GOL) for pre-shipment inspection. The custom officers trained came from the Ministries of Finance and Development Planning, Comerce and Indstry, as wel as the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA). Speaking to reporters sortly after the climax of the training, BIVAC’s Deputy Manager, Mr. Henry Bernard, explained that the training was effectuated based upon a clause in the contract signed with the Liberian government for the training of custom officers, Heritage newspaper reports.

World Bank Admits Challenge – In Reducing Poverty

The President of the World Bank Group, Dr. Jim Yong Kim has on behalf of the financial institution admitted that since taking over leadership of the bank more than a year ago, followed by review of the bank’s past policy on ending extreme poverty over the past 50 years, it still remains a mystery to be proven as to what works well in reducing or ending extreme poverty and hunger around the world and on the African Continent, including Liberia. Dr. Jim made the confession on Friday, April 10^th, 2015 in Washington D.C., the United States of America during a “Media Telecoference” held with correspondents of national and international media outlets, one=-week, before the just concluded World Bank Group’s Spring |meetings with the Presidents of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to discuss “Comprehensive Economic Stabilization Recovery Plan: for those countries, during aftermath of one and a half ear of Ebola Virus disease Outbreak in West Africa, In Profile Daily reports.

Liberia’s Ivorian Refugees Finally Going Home As Ebola Ends

Deep in Liberia’s forested hinterland, thousands of refugees who fled conflict in Ivory Coast have been waiting in limbo, impatient to rebuild their shattered lives back home but unable to leave. “I was about to leave when the process was stalled by the Ebola virus”, Saint Lamco Deniohon told AFP outside his makeshift home at the PTP refugee camp, in the south-eastern county of the Grand Gedeh, New Democrat newspaper writes

DEA To Get US$25k Office In Bomi Soon

The Acting Commander of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Bomi County, Othello Watson, has disclosed the construction of a US$25,000 DEA Office in the county.  Commander Watson said the project will be undertaken by UNMIL Quick Impact project in the county. He told the Liberia News Agency in an interview on Thursday in Tubmanburg that the project will be implemented by a local non-governmental organization called Coda, Inc., based in Monrovia, Meanwhile, Commander Watson is appealing to the county authorities to provide transportation for the DEA Office, Heritagenewspaperreports.

ECOWAS Delegation Inspects Fraud Detection Unit

A delegation from ECOWAS National Coordinating office in Liberia over the weeked visited the Fraud Detection Unit of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) at the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County. The delegation, headed by Amos Tubor, Jr., Senior Program Officer-in-Charge had gone at the unit to inspect modern fraud detection equipment provided by ECOWAS. Speaking during the visit, Tubor said ECOWAS is impressed with the modern fraud detection equipment at the unit, the News newspaper reports.