THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

News of the Japanese Government’s seven ambulances donation to the Liberian Government in support of the fight against the Ebola virus and the World Bank’s additional US$100 million pledge to the fight against the Ebola virus are stories dominating our summary of today’s local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Japan Donates 7 Ambulances To Liberia’s Ebola Fight

In Profile Dailyquotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that the Government of Japan has donated seven ambulances valued at over four hundred thousand United Sates Dollars as additional support to the fight against the Ebola virus in Liberia. The seven ambulances arrived in Liberia on Thursday, October 30, 2014 on board a chartered cargo flight at the Roberts International Airport.  According to a Foreign Ministry release, Assistant Foreign Minister for International Corporation Hon. Dehpue Zuo and Assistant Health Minister for Administration Hon. John N. Linga received the ambulances on behalf of the Government of Liberia. In a brief remark, Assistant Minister Zuo expressed gratitude on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia to the Japanese Government for the continuous support to the people of Liberia. Assistant Minister Zuo emphasized that Japan has been very supportive to the Liberian Government in the fight against Ebola. For his part, Assistant Health Minister for Administration, John Linga said the ambulances will be distributed among counties that don't have ambulances, describing the donation as very timely. Assistant Minister Linga advised Liberians to continue taking all necessary preventive measures in protecting themselves against the Ebola virus, despite the decrease in Ebola cases. The cost of the ambulances donated by the Japanese Government is put at Four Hundred Thousand, One Hundred and Fifty-Nine United States Dollars (US$400,159.00). The arrival of the ambulances followed an earlier donation by the Government and People of Japan of assorted medical items. Japan is also donating six (6) ambulances to the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Related  Captions: Japan Donates 7 Ambulances To Liberia’s Ebola Fight(Heritage), Japan Donates 7 Ambulances(New Democrat), MSF Warns Liberia(New Democrat), Japan Brings In More Ambulances For Ebola Fight(Daily Observer), Japan Donates 7 Ambulances To Liberia's Ebola Fight(INSIGHT), Japan Donates Ambulances to Liberia's Ebola Fight(The New Dawn), Japan Donates 7 Ambulances To Liberia's Fight Against Ebola(FrontPage Africa)

World Bank Pledges US$100M For Foreign Ebola Health Workers

The World Bank Group says it has raised an additional US$100 million funding in its Ebola crisis response to speed up deployment of foreign health workers to the three worst-affected countries in West Africa. The announcement increases the Bank's funding for the Ebola fight over the last three months in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to more than US$500 million. The Bank has already disbursed about US$105 million to the governments of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone to fight the Ebola epidemic. According to the News newspaper, the health workers are needed to treat and care for patients, boost local health capacity, manage Ebola treatment centers, and resume essential health services for non-Ebola conditions.

Related Captions: World Bank Pledges Additional US$100M -Bank President Arrives in Ghana to Hold Ebola Crisis Talks(Daily Observer), WB Pledges US$100M For Foreign Ebola Health Workers(In Profile Daily), World Bank To Pump Additional US$100M Into Ebola Fight(INSIGHT), W/B Pledges Additional US$100 Million For Foreign Health Workers(The New Dawn), World Bank Group Pledges Additional US$100M To Ebola Fight(Heritage)

OTHER STORIES

Ellen Solicits Post-Ebola Support

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is soliciting “active participation” of the Central Bank of Liberia, private banking institutions and the citizenry towards Liberia’s post-Ebola economic recovery program, when she acknowledged this week that Liberia has made “sufficient progress” in the fight against Ebola. Receiving heads of public and private institutions on her 76th birthday at her Foreign Ministry office on 29 October, President Sirleaf said Liberians have past denials and fears, and are truly fighting to the place where the country now feels much more comfortable.
“Let me say that we hope that we’ve made sufficient progress in this fight; thanks to the partnership we’ve received from our domestic entities and more importantly due to the resilience of the Liberian people, who themselves have taken this under their control,” she said after receiving keys to an ambulance donated by the Guaranty Trust Bank. President Sirleaf said she wants to see very active participants in the economic recovery program because that’s where the Country can really be assured that there will be no re-occurrence once government built better health care delivery system, stronger economy  and has higher level of per capita income. Meeting with the Central Bank of Liberia’s delegation headed by Executive Governor Mills Jones, President Sirleaf expressed pleasure over the positive signs in Liberia against Ebola, applauding individual and collective efforts of Liberians and many institutions, including the CBL, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Ellen Hails GTBank for Birthday Gift

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has hailed Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), a commercial entity operating in Liberia, for their numerous contributions to the development of the economy. The Chief Executive lauded GTBank Wednesday, October 29, when the commercial bank contributed ambulance valued over US$55,000 for government’s fight against the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. “I want to thank you for what you are doing, especially for choosing this occasion and day to make such presentation. This contribution is cardinal to the national fight because this is where we are in short supplies,” the President told the cooperate institution. She further indicated, the ambulance would be turned over to the General Services Agency (GSA) for use by the National Task Force on Ebola, the Daily Observer reports.

Related Caption: Ellen Hails GTBank(The News), Ellen Observes 76^th Birthday Quietly…Receives Donations From GT Bank, BWI Alumni(The Inquirer)

President Sirleaf Congratulates Indonesian President And Promises To Expand Cooperation

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has congratulated Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia on his inauguration as President of the Republic of Indonesia.  In her massage to President Widodo, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf extended hearty congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia, and in her own name, for his preferment. The Liberian President indicated that Mr. Widodo‘s victory is a clear manifestation of the confidence the Indonesian People have in his ability to lead them. President Johnson Sirleaf further asserted that as Mr. Widodo assumes the office of President and endeavors to empower all Indonesians, her government looks forward to working closely with the Indonesian leader in further cementing the longstanding ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and peoples, reports Heritage newspaper.

MediaAid Foundation Warns Liberians

With latest reports that Ebola spread is reducing in Liberia, MediaAid Foundation welcomes the disclosure but urges Liberians to remain careful. In a statement released Thursday, 30 October 2014, MediaAid Foundation says the reported reduction in the spread of the deadly Ebola virus as confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) is a result of the growing public awareness and adherence to preventive measures. The non-governmental organization, MediaAid Foundation however cautions Liberians not to be complacent of the reported improvement in the fight against Ebola spread before Liberia slips back into deepening Ebola crisis, report the FOCUS newspaper.

Commence, 2 Others Sign MOU

According to the Inquirer newspaper, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI), Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) and the National Petty Traders Union of Liberia (NAPETUL) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to assist petty traders in the Country. Speaking at the signing of the MOU that was held at the Monrovia City Hall, MOCI Minister Axel Addy said the MOU that was signed between MOCI and NAPETUL will help empower petty traders in the country.

PUL, UNESCO Host Forum To Commemorate Journalists Safefy

 The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) will on Monday, November 3, join counterparts across the world in commemorating for Crimes against Journalists. The Liberian edition will be in the form of national symposium under the theme “Breaking the Culture of Impunity: Creating a Safe Climate for Journalist in Liberia”. The Symposium is in response to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/163 of December 18, 2013, which declared November 2 each year as International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against journalists for simply performing their role, reports Heritage newspaper.