THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

News of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power assertion about the emergence of positive results in the fight against the Ebola disease, the arrival of a consignment of medical equipment and accessories to aid Liberia’s fight against the deadly Ebola virus from the State of Kuwait, Nigeria’s offer to send 250 volunteers to Ebola-affected countries, the National Christian Taskforce on Ebola pronouncement of a three-day fast and prayer for the eradication of the deadly disease from the country and the drop in the prices of petroleum products are stories dominating our summary of selected local dailies for today.

DOMINANT STORIES

‘We Are Beginning To See Results’-US Ambassador to UN, Samantha Power Asserts, Promises More Support

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, who arrived in Liberia yesterday for high level talks about the Ebola pandemic, has said that positive results are beginning to emerge as the response efforts from the United States and other international community partners against the Ebola virus begin to take root.  Ambassador Power said these tangible results are also coming forth as a result of the robust mechanisms and strategies employed by the government of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and citizens are now aware of the situation around them and are responding positively. Speaking at a joint press conference held along with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the foyer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after a closed door meeting, Ambassador Power said that President Barack Obama had asked her to come to the worst hit countries to show solidarity and assure the people that they are not alone.  Ambassador Power also discussed international efforts to combat Ebola with the USAID-led Disaster Assistance Response Team, which is overseeing the U.S. overall response to the health emergency and with representatives from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense, UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). At the press conference, she indicated that the US has put its military and experts from the Center for Disease Control on the ground in Liberia and are now assembling their response efforts which will soon go full swing, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Ebola Crossroads (FrontPage Africa), U.S. Ambassador to UN Meets President Sirleaf(The Analyst), U.S. Acknowledges Reduction in Ebola… Pledges More Support(The Inquirer), Together We’ll Defeat Ebola US Envoy(New Democrat), US Ambassador Hits Out At Countries Failing To Help West Africa(The New Republic), U.S Envoy To UN Samantha Power Visits Liberia(Heritage), U.S Ambassador To The U.N. Samantha Power Meets With President Sirleaf(The Reporter)

Ebola Virus Disease Materials Arrive From Kuwait

According to FrontPage Africa, a consignment of medical equipment and accessories to aid Liberia’s fight against the deadly Ebola virus has arrived in the country from the State of Kuwait. A dispatch from the Liberian Embassy near Kuwait City put the value of the medical supplies at over forty-five thousand United States Dollars (US$45,000.00). The dispatch said 470 boxes of medical items were donated, including Non-Woven Surgical face mask-ear loops, disposable N 95 face mask, non-woven surgical face mask-ties, medical gloves powered small and alcohol swab pad among others. The medical items are expected to help reinforce government’s effort in its fight against the deadly Ebola virus. Liberia’s Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, H.E. Konah Blackett negotiated and procured the items from Dr. Sanad Rasheed Al-Fadala, Chairman and CEO of Taiba Hospital &IMS last month and conferred with Dr. Nabel Abdul Rahem,a Kuwaiti engineer consultant, who handled the shipment.  The Liberian Embassy near Kuwait City is expressing profound gratitude to Dr. Sanad Rashed Al-Fadala and Dr. Nabeel Abdul Raheem for their humanitarian gestures to Liberia during this critical period of our national existence.  FrontPage Africa

Related Captions:Ebola Materials Arrive From Kuwait (The Inquirer), Ebola Materials Arrive From Kuwait(INSIGHT), Ebola Materials Arrive From Kuwait(Heritage)

Nigeria To Send 250 Volunteers To Ebola-Affected Countries

Having conquered the Ebola virus within its borders, Nigeria has offered to take the fight to countries still struggling with the deadly disease. Nigerian Health Minister, Khaliru Alhassan,  while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Nigeria’s efforts in containing the spread of the virus in the West African sub region; explained that the 250 volunteers are among over 500 registered, fully trained health workers awaiting final approval to be deployed. The Minister also allayed fears that the lives of the volunteers were at risk given the situation in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, In Profile Daily reports.

Related Captions: Nigeria To Send 250 Volunteers To Ebola-Affected Countries(INSIGHT), Nigeria To Send 250 Volunteers To Ebola(FOCUS), Nigeria To Send 250 Volunteers To Ebola-Affected Countries-Affected Countries(Heritage)

3-Day Fast & Prayer Against Ebola Starts Today

As the fight continues against the deadly Ebola virus disease in country, the Chairman for the National Christian Taskforce on Ebola (NCTFE), Pastor David G. Benitoe, has announced a three-day fast and prayer for the eradication of the deadly disease from the country. The man of God said the three-day fast and prayer is expected to begin today October 29 and will end on the 31^st of October across the country. According Pastor Benitoe, the devil has chosen to take advantage of such a demonic virus in the country as the result of the iniquities of the people for which Pastor Benitoe said the three days fast and prayer would be held at the end of which the country will be returned back to God, the Analyst reports.

Related Captions: 3-Day Fast& Prayer on Ebola Commences Today(New Democrat), A Three-day Nationwide Fast, Prayer Begins Today(INSIGHT)

Another Drop In Petroleum Prices

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in close consultation with the management of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, (LPRC) has announced that there will be reductions in the pump prices of gasoline (PMS) and fuel oil (AGO) by twenty five (25) cents each. This means, the wholesale price for gasoline is US$3.63 cents and fuel oil is US$3.68, while the pump price for gasoline is US$3.81 /LD$325 and fuel oil is US$3.86 /LD$330. The reduction takes immediate effect on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. The circular was signed by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Axel Addy and LPRC Managing Director, T. Nelson Williams, II. This is the third month in a row that the prices of gasoline and fuel oil have dropped, pens the Inquirer.

Related Captions:LPRC, Commerce Ministry Announce Drop In Petroleum Price(FrontPage Africa), Another Drop In Petroleum Prices(The New Dawn), Petrol Prices Decreased-LPRC (Daily Observer), LPRC, MoC Announce Reduction In Petroleum Prices(INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES

Ellen Warns Against Early Excitement - Chinese Military Team Arrives

According to the New Dawn newspaper, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has warned against early jubilation over news of reduction in the infection across the country with news of less than 400 cases nationwide. The Liberian leader is cautioned citizens and residents against a repeat of a scenario in March this year when people got “too happy too soon” over decline in Ebola infection, thereby giving room for the virus to resurface by June when preventive measures were largely downplayed. “Yes we feel good, but we want to be cautious. We don’t want people to get happy too soon; we got to continue this fight, and we got to continue it with everything that we got,” President Sirleaf said Tuesday in Monrovia when she received an advance Chinese military delegation of 15 personnel to build ETUs here. Judging from previous scenario, she warned, “This time we want to be careful, we’ll not be satisfied until we aredeclared that the last Ebola victim has been cured and isfreed of this disease.” President Sirleaf’s warning comes as government prepares to conduct a mid-term election for 15 senators in December. 

China To Build Liberia Health System

The Daily Observer reports that the Government of the People’s Republic of China has pledged that as a plan for the post-Ebola period, it will work with other international partners to help build and modernize Liberia’s health sector. The Chinese government through its Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Zhang Yue, said that there is a need to revamp the country’s health system and China will be wholeheartedly committed to that process as it has always done in the past. He spoke with reporters shortly after meeting with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at her Foreign Affairs office where he had gone to introduce an advance 15-man Chinese medical team that arrived in country during the weekend to join the Ebola fight. Ambassador Zhang disclosed that the advance medical team comprises doctors, epidemiologists, designers, engineers and technicians, who he said will prepare for the construction of the ETU, exchange views with Liberian officials and experts and international partners.

Ethiopia To Deploy Health Workers To Ebola-Stricken West Africa

Ethiopia has announced that it is sending health professionals to Ebola-hit West African nations as part of ongoing collective efforts to contain the outbreak of the deadly virus. At a news conference on Friday, Ethiopian Health Minister Kesetebirhan Admassu said the Horn of Africa nation will deploy 200 volunteer health professionals to West Africa. Ethiopia’s decision comes one week after the African Union (AU) appealed to member states to contribute health workers to avert the outbreak, which also has become an international threat, the New Republic reports.

Culture Union Gets Major Recognition

The Mano River Union (MRU) Culture Troop has praised improvements made in the artistic industry among member organizations of Liberia to the high level of nationalism being ensured by the Liberia national Culture Union (LINCU) of recent. Speaking over the weekend during gowning ceremony at Bo Water Side in Grand Cape mount County, the institution’s head mr. Lawrence Magoma urged LINCU  urged LINCU President Kekura Kamara (alias Malawala Balawala) not to be sidetracked but to enhance the dreams of his colleagues, FOCUS reports.

Liberia Begins 2015 Gold Production

The Chief Executive officer of Aureus Mining Company, David Reading has disclosed that his company would begin the production of gold in Liberia by July 2015. Mr. Reading said Aureus Mining is constructing the first commercial gold processing plant in Grand Cape Mount County and would produce 120,000 ounces of gold annually, the NEWS reports.

 Over 40 Ebola Survivors Discharged

The Island Clinic Ebola Treatment Unit (ICETU) has discharged over 40 Ebola survivors on Monday, October 27, 2014. Making the disclosure Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at the Ministry of information, Deputy for Public affairs Isaac Jackson noted that there has been significant progress made at the Island Clinic Ebola center. He added that the head of the center Dr. Atta Umorutu is making huge progress in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus by assisting government in breaking the virus transmission, FOCUS reports.

LRRRC, UNHCR Monitor Operations On Refugee Camp

LRRRC in collaboration with UNHCR recently embarked on a joint monitoring exercise on the Little Wlebo Refugee Camp to enable USAID assess activities on the Camp. According to LPPRC County Coordinator, Harris Karneh, the exercise is necessary in the fight against the deadly Ebola. Karneh commended UNHCR, USAID and DRC for the support rendered to refugees since the establishment of little Wlebo Refugee Camp in 2011 when the crisis in the Ivory Coast was rife, the Inquirer reports.

Gov’t Solicits Funding For Road Maintenance – Deputy Public Works Minister

Deputy Public Works Minister Claude Langley has disclosed that government is soliciting money for the maintenance of the road linking Gbarnga to Voinjama in Lofa County. Mr. Langley told a news conference Friday that the road needs to be maintained, saying the route was rehabilitated by Westwood Corporation, a Liberian firm. The Gbarnga-Voinjama highway, accordingly, is so far the best in rural Liberia and has been in good shape since 2010, the NEWS reports.

Pilgrims Liberia Trip To Israel Gears Up

By February 2, 2015 multitudes of Liberian Christians are expected to travel to Israel for two weeks, elder Dale Rex George has disclosed. Elder George revealed that about 85 Pastors and Christians have already registered to make the trip and Pilgrims Liberia is striving to raise funds for those who cannot afford to underwrite the cost of the trip to be assisted, In Profile Daily reports.

PPCC Unveils Strategic Plans

The Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) Tuesday unveiled a new five year strategic roadmap that would see the commission monitor deliverables concessions. PPCC is an integrity institution established to regulate and monitor public procurement processes.  According to the PPCC’s Interim Executive Director, Charles Collins, if implemented, the new five-year plan will take the commission from a procurement processing regime to monitoring of concessionaires in line with the 2010 PPCC Law, New Democrat reports.

No Official Celebration Of Pres. Sirleaf’s 76^th Birthday

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will not officially celebrate her 76^th birth anniversary today, October 29, due to the national health crisis occasioned by the Ebola outbreak. Making the disclosure at the Ministry of Information daily Ebola press conference held at the ministry Tuesday, Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs, Isaac Jackson, said the President will continue her normal work to help contain the Ebola Virus, INSIGHT reports.