THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014

Dominant stories in our summary of the local dailies today include the Chinese Government’s dedication of what President Johnson Sirleaf says looks like “first class” ETU, the Brazilian Government’s pronouncement of over seven million US Dollars donation towards the Ebola fight for three worse affected African nations, U.S Ambassador to Liberia Deborah Malac’s commendation to partners in the Ebola fight for their collaboration in the fight and the Senate’s rejection of the newly appointed Health Minister, George Werner.

DOMINANT STORIES

China Dedicates ‘1st Class ETU’

The first and only Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) constructed so far by the People’s Republic of China has been dedicated in Monrovia, with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf describing the facility as what “looks like first class” treatment for the people of Liberia. The Chinese ETU is a 100-bed facility that will be operated by a medical contingent of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The ETU, according to the Daily Observer, will run for six months to isolate suspected Ebola patients and treat confirmed patients including United Nations staff who may contract the virus. The facility was dedicated by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who was accompanied by an array of government officials, including outgoing Health Minister, Dr. Walter Traub Gwenigale, and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Information, Youth and Sports, among others. Heading a high-level Chinese delegation from China for the dedication ceremony was the Vice Minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the PRC, Cui Li, and the Director-General of Health Department, General Logistics Department of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Ren Guoquan. The head of the Chinese delegation, Cui Li, said the ETU mirrors the long-lasting friendship between China and Africa, which have shared the weal and woes over the past 50 years, and also represents the implementation of China’s Africa policy of “Sincerity, Real Results, Affinity and Good Faith,” proposed by the President of China, Xi Jinping. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, extended heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for the partnership and friendship.  She said she looked forward to the service that will be rendered by the team at the new100-bed ETU. “All of this could not have been done except with the endorsement and support of the Chinese Government led by the President,  Xi Jinping, who gave full endorsement through the Ambassador and his staff,” she said, requesting Amb. Zhang Yue, to convey to President Xi Jinping and the Premier Li Kequiang, thanks and appreciation on behalf of the Liberian people. President Sirleaf recalled “the difficult days of July, August and September when Liberia was confronted with this unknown enemy, where some of the brave doctors and nurses, without proper equipment, tried to respond and ended up dying. She noted that China was one of the first to respond immediately when the Liberian government began to appeal for global assistance. She described the newly constructed ETU as “exemplary” and commended China for this exceptional response. “As I look at the quality of the construction and the quality service that will be rendered, this looks like first-class treatment for our people,” President Sirleaf said, adding, “This is something commendable and exemplary, for which we will always be grateful”. She also commended the Chinese medical contingent of the People’s Liberation Army for their diligence and hard work in being able to construct the facility, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: China Dedicates US$41m ETU In Liberia(FOCUS), “This Looks Like First Class Treatment For  Our People”-Pres. Sirleaf Describes New  100-bed ETU(INSIGHT), Ellen Impressed With Chinese ETU(The Inquirer), Chinese Opens 100 Beds ETU(The Informer), “This Looks Like First Class Treatment For  Our People’, Says President Sirleaf, As Chinese Opens 100-Bed Ebola Treatment Unit(Heritage), Ellen proposes to China(The New Dawn)

Brazil Announces U.S.$7 Million Donation to Fight Ebola

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Brazil in Monrovia says the Brazilian Government, in response to the Ebola epidemic that has deeply impacted Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone since the beginning of the year, has announced the donation of US$ 7,142,546.00 as Humanitarian Cooperation to the fight against the virus in the three countries. The FrontPage Africa newspaper writes that the Brazilian Government extended congratulations to the people of Liberian and foreign health workers for their outstanding work in the line of duty, and to manifest its solidarity and long-standing friendship to the People and Government of the Republic of Liberia.

Related Captions: Brazilian Gov’t Announces Over US$7M Donation To The Fight Against Ebola(Heritage), Brazil Gives US$7M To Combat Ebola In Affected Countries(Daily Observer)

US Ambassador Praises Partnership Efforts

The FOCUS newspaper reports that United States Ambassador to Liberia Deborah R. Malac  has praised the international community for working together to combat the Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa during an inspection tour of an Ebola Treatment Unit being built in Zwedru. “I think what you see here on the ground in Zwedru is a great example of the partnership that is going on in this Ebola crisis,” Ambassador Malac observed. “We are all working together, the U.S. government, through USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response Team, is funding Welthungerhilfe to head the construction at this Ebola Treatment Unit here in Zwedru,” she said.   “In addition, we are working very closely with the local Liberians”. Ambassador Malac was accompanied on the trip to Zwedru by DART Team Leader Mia Beers and Joint Forces Commanding General Gary Volesky. 

Related Captions: Amb. Malac Praises Ebola Partnership Effort(INSIGHT), U.S. Ambassador Hails Partnership…Visits Ebola Treatment Unit Site In Zwedru(The Inquirer), U.S. Envoy Hails Collective Partnership In Ebola Fight(The Informer), Ambassador Malac Praises Partners’ Efforts(Daily Observer), U.S Envoy Upbeat Over Collective Partnership In Ebola Fight(Heritage), US Envoy Praises Ebola Partnership Efforts(The News)

Minister Rejected

According to the New Dawn newspaper, members of the Liberian Senate have overwhelmingly rejected the newly appointed Health Minister, Mr. George Werner. The Senate took the decision based on the confirmation report from the Health, Gender and Social Welfare Committee headed by former Health Minister, Dr. Peter Coleman now senator of Grand Kru County. In Tuesday’s sitting of the plenary of the upper house of the Liberian Legislature, the committee in its report said that Mr.  Werner lack proper qualifications to serve in such position especially with the country at war with deadly Ebola Virus.  Mr. Werner, formerly head of the Civil Service Agency or CSA was appointed to that position by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, replacing aging former Health Minister, Dr. Walter Gwanigale who served in that position since the inception of the term of the Unity Party led government.

Related Captions: Senate’s Rejection Syndrome(FrontPage Africa), Rejected –Senate Cites Credential Problems(The New Republic), Senate Rejects New Health Minister(INSIGHT), Senate Rejects Health Minister Designate(The Inquirer), Senate Rejects Health Minister-Designate(Heritage), Senate Rejects Health Minister-Designate(The News), Senate Rejects MOH Nominee Werner -Says He Lacks Requisite Qualities(Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES

Labor To Enforce Regulation Number 17

The Ministry of Labor has announced a plan to begin the enforcement of Regulation Number 17, Section 2, Category B of the Labor Practices Law of Liberia promulgated in 2009 to govern the issuance of Work Permit to ECOWAS Citizens operating or working within the informal sector.
According to the FOCUS newspaper, the Regulation categorizes Non-Liberians applying for work permit into three, namely: Non-African aliens, African aliens and ECOWAS Citizens. The Labor Minister, Atty. Neto Zarzar Lighje, Sr. made the disclosure on Thursday, November 20, 2014, when he met with the heads of the various ECOWAS citizen groupings in Liberia as part of his ongoing consultations with stakeholders of the labor sector of Liberia. The Minister said that the exercise is intended to 1) Implement Regulation Number 17 that legitimizes the status of ECOWAS-citizen working within the informal sector of Liberia and, 2) to encourage the transition from the informal to the formal sector.  He noted that ECOWAS citizens operating and working within the informal sector must meet the threshold of LRD 200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Liberian Dollars) annual turnover and above in line with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Petty Trade Regulation.

Related Caption: Labour To Enforce Issuance Of Work Permit To Ecowas Citizens(The Informer)

Red Cross To Receive US$30,000 Donation Today

Pacific Lines through its agents here, Necotrans-Liberia will today, November 26 donate US$30,000 to the Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS). The Heritage newspaper quotes a release from the Pacific International Lines as saying the money is intended to support the efforts of the LNRCS in the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The organization disclosed that the ceremony marking the donation of the US$30,000 will be held at the compounds of the LNRCS in Monrovia.

MYS Gets UNFPA's Donation

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-Liberia has donated a Land Cruiser Jeep to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Presenting the vehicle Tuesday, UNFPA-Liberia Officer-in-Charge, Dr. Remi Sogunro said the donation was intended to enhance the work of national youth volunteers who have been deployed in the 15 counties to create awareness on Ebola virus. Dr. Sogunro said over the past eight years, UNFPA has been working with the Ministry of Youth and Sports on several programs and projects geared toward the empowerment of young people. He pointed out that empowerment of young people is key to the growth and development of Liberia. In response, Youth and Sports Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe commended UNFPA for its continuous support to the Ministry. He assured that the vehicle would be used for the intended purposes, the News newspaper reports.

World Aids Day Program Earmarked

The National AIDS Commission (NAC) and partners have planned series of programs to mark the commemoration of this year's World AIDS Day in Liberia. This year's World AIDS Day celebration is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. According to NAC release, World AIDS Day 2014 will be used to discuss strategies needed to prevent and control the spread of HIV and the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which is currently causing threat to the country's health sector and hampering the nation's response to HIV and AIDS and other diseases. The release said a mass media campaign on stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and Ebola survivors will be launched during this year's celebration. This year's celebration will be held under the Global Theme: "Close the Gap" and the National Theme: "Addressing the Impact of Ebola on the National HIV Response”. According to NAC, this year's World AIDS celebration would only feature an official indoor program with Vice President Joseph N. Boakai serving as keynote speaker, according to the News newspaper.