THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015

Dominating today’s newsstand are stories of Nigerian Government’s donation towards Liberia’s Ebola fight and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s meeting with Speaker J. Alex Tylerand the Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor.

Dominant Stories

Nigeria Commits Additional US$1.5M To Aid Ebola Fight In Liberia

The Heritage newspaper quote a Foreign Ministry release: The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has committed additional 1.5 Million United States Dollars to assist Liberia, as the country intensifies its fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.The disclosure was made on Thursday by Nigerian Ambassador accredited near Monrovia Her Excellency ChigozieNgozie Obi-Nnadozie  when the she  paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Augustine KpeheNgafuan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Nigerian Ambassador said that this latest tranche of donation to Liberia was approved by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan as a gesture of solidarity to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Liberian people and was also in recognition of the longstanding traditional ties between Liberia and Nigeria. Ambassador Obi-Nnadozie stressed that Nigeria remains committed to ensuring sub-regional and continental peace, security and social stability and has found Liberia a very willing and capable ally in this noble pursuit.She disclosed that President Good luck Jonathan on behalf of Nigeria is disposed to consolidating fraternal bonds and good neighborliness with countries within the West African sub-region, adding “the solidarity is both in peace and in war time, and also in disease and in health”. In response, Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the Government and People of Nigeria for the generous assistance toward Liberia’s Ebola response. “Madam Ambassador, let me on behalf of Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and the Government and the People of Liberia, extend to the People of Nigeria the warm and profound appreciation of the people of Liberia for yet another demonstration of solid partnership. Crisis has a way of separating fair-weather friends from all-weather friends; throughout this Ebola crisis , the   Federal Republic of Nigeria has proved to be  one of Liberia’s all-weather friend”,  Minister Ngafuan stated. He recalled with appreciation Nigeria’s announcement in July 2014 of a US$500,000 donation to Liberia. He added that President Goodluck Jonathan took a pioneering position in rallying significant financial and other forms of assistance from the International Community towards the Liberia’s Ebola response. Also commenting on Nigeria’s upcoming elections, Minister Ngafuan expressed confidence that as Nigerians go to their presidential polls next month, the people of that West African state will conduct a very peaceful and democratic election, which could serve as a positive example for the other four West African countries that are expected to hold presidential elections in 2015.

Related Captions:Nigeria Commits Additional US$1.5M To Liberia’s Ebola Fight (In Profile Daily),Nigeria Gives More To Fight Ebola (The Inquirer), Nigeria Commits Additional US$1.5M To Aid Ebola Fight In Liberia (News) and Nigeria commits Additional US$1.5M To Fight Ebola in Liberia(Insight)

Pres. Sirleaf meets with House and Chief Justice

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has met with the House Speaker J. Alex Tyler and Chief Justice, His Honor Justice Francis S. Korkpor at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia. Pres. Sirleaf brief Chief Justice Korkpor and House Speaker Tyler about the visit of President yayi Boni of Benin and Mahamadou Issouftou of Niger who paid a solidarity visit to Liberia on Wednesday. President Sirleaf also use the occasion to remind the heads of the two Branches of government of the urgent need to increase their levels of coordination and understanding in the New Year with a view to achieving what is best and in the interest of the people of Liberia after a difficult and challenging year, says the Insight newspaper.

Related Captions:Ellen Briefs Speaker Tyler, Chief Justice Korkpor(New Dawn),Ellen Meets House Speaker Tyler, and Chief Justice Francis Korkpor(Informer)

Other Stories

UN Ebola Mission Chief Hails  Progress

On his first tour of Ebola-stricken Liberia the newly appointed special Representative of the Secretary General for the United Nation Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) today outlined his vision to tackle the scourge in what he called a “3c approach” which he described as recognizing the vital roles of “Countries, communities and coordination.” Briefing journalists at spring’s Airport in Monrovia, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed described his first impression of the situation on the ground as “mixed.” On the one hand, he begins his post with “a lot of optimism,” but on the other hand, he recognizes mounting challenges to end Ebola. “We are not yet there. There is certainly still a lot to be done for Liberia to be claimed free {of Ebola},” he said, expressing concern that successes and optimism may provoke a degree of complacency.” During his visit, the UMEER head met with the President H.E Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, minister of Health, representative of non- governmental organizations and the UN system which remains “quite active” on the ground joined by UN special envoy on Ebola David Nabarro, Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed visited a treatment centre as well as Grand Cape Mount which has seen a recent flare-up of cases, pens the Focus newspaper.

First Responder Emergency Medical Services Incorporated Pays President. Sirleaf a Departure visit

According to Focus newspaper,President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has thanked Montserrado County District # 13 representative Hon. Saah Joseph for his commitment to help eradicate the deadly Ebola virus disease not just from Liberia, but the entire sub-region and expressed government’s admiration and appreciate for the work of the first Responder Emergency Medical Services and Representative Joseph in particular. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader made the statement when she received the 20 member team of the First Responders Emergency Medical Services Incorporated of Representative Joseph at Foreign Ministry in Monrovia. They were led to the President’s office by the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) lawmaker himself Representative Joseph.   

Related Caption: Saah Joseph And Team Gear Up For Ebola Fight In Sierra Leone (Heritage)

UL Implores Stringent Measure

According to the New Democrat newspaper, the University of Liberia has instituted stringent preventive measures for Ebola as it prepares to reopen after six months of closure due to the deadly Ebola epidemic. The measures include the restriction of dress code, number of students on school buses and regular temperature taking before students enter classrooms and offices on campus of the institution. “If you are going in the classroom don’t dress like you are going to the beach. Wear long sleeves. Do not have that mini skirt kind of thing that will make some touch your kneels”, the President of the University, Dr. Emmett Dennis announced on the UL Radio Wednesday.

Gov’t Declares Free Education

The Government of Liberia on Thursday announced free education for elementary and junior high levels for all public schools across the country. “The Ministry of Education wishes to announce to the general public that tuition is free from kindergarten to grade nine in all public schools across the country,” according to a Ministry of Education Press Statement read yesterday by Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs, Isaac W. Jackson, reports the New Democrat newspaper.

France promise more support to LNP 

The Government of France through its Embassy near Monrovia has reemphasized its willingness to continue assisting the Liberia National Police with the necessary trainings and equipment describing the Police performance as remarkable. France Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Joe Godeau said the renewal of his government’s commitment comes as a result of the excellence performance of the Liberia National Police during the just ended senatorial election and its contribution to the fight against Ebola, reports the News newspaper.

Related Caption:French Gov’t Pledges Supports To Police(The Inquirer)

Acrcelormittal Donates Medical Supplies

According to the News newspaper, Arcelormittal Liberia has donated medical supplies to the Government Hospital in Grand Bassa County. According a release, the donation is the second batch of medical supplies include antibiotics, analgesics, anti-malarial, IV fluids, anti-hypertensive , diuretics, hematinic, bronchodilators, blood begs and infusion sets, anti-helminthic and general material such as needles, syringes and Foley’s catheters. The release said the two donations combine worth $50,000.

Related Caption: ArcelorMittal Liberia Donates Medicines To G/Bassa County(Informer)

Government to give 35% Discount on ER health service 

The Government of Liberia has disclosed a subsidiary health scheme with private and faith based health `facilities in five counties with an aimed to provide Liberians 35% discount on charges for emergence health services receive at those selected facilities. Assistant Minister for curative service at the Ministry of Health /MOH Dr. Saye Dahn Baawo, unveiled the scheme when he addressed Ministry of Information news conference about what was being done to restore essential health service which was hampered by the Ebola epidemic. US 6$ million has been made available to the Ministry of Health by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry Finance to support the selectedhealth institutions that will support the scheme, writes the Insight newspaper.