Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014

African Union Commission’s Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma one-day official visit to Liberia as part of her tour of the three countries worst affected by the Ebola Virus Disease and the dedication of a ninety-six bed Ebola Treatment Unit to the Government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare are stories dominating our summary of the selected local dailies today.

DOMINANT STORIES

African Union Chairperson Arrives In Liberia For Official Visit

The Analyst newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma at the head of a 14-member delegation arrives in Liberia on Thursday, October 23, 2014 for a one-day official visit. The visit of the African Union Chairperson to Liberia is part of her tour of the three countries worst affected by the Ebola Virus Disease. The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission of Africa (ECA) Dr. Carlos Lopes is accompanying her on a visit that will take the delegation to Sierra Leone and Guinea. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the AU Chairperson will meet with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and other senior officials of Government at the Foreign Ministry to be followed by a Press Stake- Out. The AU Chairperson will also meet with UNMIL Chief Karin Landgren, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Ebola, Mr. Anthony Branbury and members of the National Ebola Task Force, among others. The release said the visit by Dr. Zuma is to show solidarity and support for the efforts of the Government and People of Liberia in trying to contain the Ebola pandemic and to discuss the African Union’s comprehensive efforts, currently ongoing, to combat the Ebola virus. The African Union has already deployed a 36 member team of medical personnel to assist with the fight against Ebola under the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak Operations in West Africa (ASEOWA).  The AU Chairperson will use her visit to assess the operations of the team and determine the possibility of scaling up the AU presence in Liberia.

Related Captions:  Efforts Continue for Ebola Treatment AU Chairperson Arrives Today to Assess Team’s Operation(Inquirer), African Union Chairperson Arrives Here Today for Official Visit(Heritage), African Union Chairperson Arrives in Liberia for Official Visit(FrontPage Africa)

Alphas Turns Over 96-Bed Ebola Treatment Unit to Gov't

According to the Daily Observer, responding to the growing demand for more space to accommodate Ebola patients, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority have turned over a 96-bed Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) to the Government through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The Center is located adjacent the Unity Conference Center off the Hotel Africa road in lower Virginia. Giving an overview of the project Wednesday, the Managing Director of the National Port Authority and sister of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Madam Matilda W. Parker said the initiative was the two organizations' way of contributing to government's efforts in the Ebola fight. “The NPA Managing Director disclosed that the ETU contained 26 bathrooms and showers built for patients and others who will be visiting their loved ones there.  "We want to say as Alphas we don't implement and walk away," Madam Parker said revealing that the two organizations had negotiated for three months medical supplies for the facility, due to arrive in November. In addition to that, she said special packages will be given to Ebola survivors who will be walking out of the center Ebola free. The NPA boss lauded Americare, APM Terminal, Environmental Protection Agency, General Service Agency and others who supported the construction of the center.

Related Captions: New ETU Open(New Democrat), Ellen Dedicates 100 Beds ETU(The News), Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha Dedicate 96 ETU Bedrooms…Medical Supplies Expected Next Month(The Inquirer), Health Ministry Gets New ETU(The New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES

52 Cuban Healthcare Workers Arrive in Liberia

The INSIGHT newspaper writes that a total of 52 Cuban doctors and Nurses and Administrators on Wednesday arrived in Liberia to aid the West African nation in its fight against the deadly Ebola virus. The volunteer Cuban healthcare workers including 29 Nurses and 21 Doctors, including specialists were welcomed by officials of the Liberian government. The Cuban healthcare workers, all male, were dressed in traditional medical gown, with some holding up the Cuban flag. Cuba’s Ambassador to Liberia, Jorge Lefebre Nicolas said his country had sent the medical practitioners to Liberia in the spirit of African solidarity. “We see ourselves part of this. All of our people, heads of our liberation struggle, were brought to Cuba from Africa. We have a compromise with Africa. We cannot see our brothers in Africa in difficult time and we are there folding our arms in Cuba,” Ambassador Nicolas told newsmen.

Six Survivals Walk Out Of Ganta ETU

At least six Ebola patients have been discharged from the Ganta Ebola Treatment Center in Nimba County after they were given medication by doctors. After they were discharged, the six survivors were certificated by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through Dr. Paye Gbamie, who is the assigned doctor to the county. The New Dawn, newspaper reports that Dr. Gbamie expressed happiness that the six persons were able to have been treated successfully at the Center.

Lofa To Become Ebola Free

The head of the Médicins San Frontières (MSF) run Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) in Foya, Lofa County Dr. Serge St. Louis, briefing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, said Lofa could soon be declared an Ebola free county if the pace at which the transmission has broken continues. The Northwestern County, which was reported the first center for the outbreak of the deadly Ebola epidemic have reported a drastic decline in transmission of the virus with “no new cases” for the past three weeks, the New Dawn reports.

116 Principals, Teachers Trained In Ebola Awareness

One hundred and sixteen principals and teachers in Grand Bassa County have undergone a one-day training in the dissemination of Ebola awareness and prevention messages. The training was held Monday at the Buchanan Demonstration School under the auspices of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with UNICEF. The County Education Officer, Edwin S. Kwakpae, told reporters following the workshop that the participants “will undertake a door-to-door” sensitization campaign in all the five electoral districts of the county, Heritage reports.

3 Die In Buchanan Highway Accident

Three persons have died instantly and four others sustained serious injuries in a motor accident on the Monrovia-Buchanan highway. Grand Bassa County Deputy Traffic Commander, Sgt. Louise J. Gbegeah, identified the dead as David Gaye, the driver, Yamah Borbor and Youjay Kilby. He said they died instantly when the driver lost control of the vehicle due to the explosion of its left front tire, the News reports.

New Immigration Commander Advocates For Secured Borders

The newly-assigned Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) Commander in Maryland County, Col. Regional Moore, has challenged BIN and other security officers to uphold their statutory duty to secure the borders of Liberia. The newly assigned BIN Commander was speaking Monday in Harper when he took over from his predecessor, Col. William Kotia, who now moves to Barclayville, Grand Kru County as commander, the News reports.

MTI Donates To Cape Mount Health Team

The Medical Team International (MTI), an International Medical group, has donated 200 gallons of fuel oil to the Grand Cape Mount County Health Team (CHT) to buttress its effort to contain the Ebola virus. MTI Community Health Services Supervisor Oretha Paye made the donation at the County Ebola Taskforce meeting held in Sinje Town, Garwula District in Grand Cape Mount County Wednesday, the News reports.