THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2016

Today’s edition of our summary highlights news of the Liberian Government needs for more than 7 million United States Dollars to fully immunize its citizens against the Hepatitis B Virus; the Government of Morocco’s launch of a new initiative to mobilize US$30 billion for African agriculture sector to transform and adapt to changing climate and the celebration of President Sirleaf’s 78^th birthday anniversary in Julijuah.    

Over US$7M Needed To Fight Hepatitis B in Liberia 

The Liberian Government says it needs more than seven million United States Dollars to fully immunize the country’s four million people against the Hepatitis B Virus. The Deputy Head of Liberia’s Expanded Program on Immunization, Mr. Adolphus Clarke, believes Hepatitis B is becoming a serious growing concern. He said the right time is now for Liberia to curtail this advancing health problem. According to him, every single Liberian needs three shots or standalone dose of the Hepatitis B Vaccine to get fully immunized, according to the In Profile Daily.

Morocco to Raise US$30bn For African Agriculture Sector

The INQUIRERnewspaper says the Government of Morocco has launched a new initiative that seeks to mobilize US$30 billion to assist Africans in the agriculture sector to transform and adapt to changing climate. The daily quotes the media advisory on the 22^nd sittings of the conference of the parties (COP22) discussions will center on how to implement the new idea at a comprehensive gather of high-level experts in African agricultural adaptation at this year’s sitting in Marrakech, the Kingdom of Morocco.  

Pres. Sirleaf Boasts In Jesus 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has attributed her “good old age” to relying on Jesus; adding: “Through it all, I learned to press on Jesus.” She, however, stated that throughout those many years there were hills and valleys as she thanked God for another milestone. Speaking to journalists on her farm on October 29, during the celebration of her 78th Birthday, President Sirleaf said she dedicated her birthday to the 13 years of peace the country continues to enjoy. She appreciated the security forces including the army, the police and other institutions for being able to keep the peace, something she insists she would be able to boast of upon the completion of her term of office. President Sirleaf said the celebration gave her the opportunity to sit down with friends and associates and all her people from all over, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Ellen Warns of More Difficult Times

The New Dawnnewspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has cautioned Liberians that the country is in more difficult times than people know, but she remains confident in her citizen’s resilience to rise above difficult times. “These are difficult times; more difficult than you know. But once again Liberians have been able to meet difficult times and to rise above it. And I know that this time together, we will do the same,” she said on Friday, 28 October at the First United Methodist Church on Ashmum Street in Monrovia during intercessory service for her 78th birthday. Upon her return from Durban, South Africa, she appealed that Liberians everywhere “look at your city and be so ashamed of it that you will join the government” to [do] a cleanup. She urged every Liberian to reach out to each other and those who are disadvantaged to offer kind word to make the kind of friendship that will be able to achieve the collaboration that “we all want to see.”

Ellen Challenges Graduating Tailors

The New Dawnnewspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has challenged the first batch of graduating class of 56 tailors and seamstresses from JuliJuah Vocational Training Center (JVTC) in Bomi County to go into their communities and form their own little companies and produce clothes for their areas. “When we drive around, there are too many kids who are naked. There are too many kids who are wearing bad clothes. This program is meant to address that problem,” President Sirleaf said on Sunday, 30 October in JuliJuah. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, a class of 11 males and 45 females were the first graduates on Sunday from JVTC, which is directly funded by President Sirleaf in her native town of JuliJuah in Tehr District, with students from different towns in Bomi County.  

Rivercess Gets US$46.3k To Build Vocational Center 

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the Forest Management Contract (FMC) in Monrovia has presented a cheque of US$46,341 to Rivercess County Superintendent Matthew Zoegar Daniels for the construction of the first public vocational training center in the county. FMC Chairperson Matthew Walley said the Center will be constructed in Yarpah Township, Nyorwein District based upon a decision reached by citizens of the District. According to him, the cheque was made available from the Social Development Fund through the Benefit Sharing Trust Board of the Forestry Development Authority to construct the facility for the benefit of the community.  

Regional Confab Aims to Control, Eradicate Sheep, Goat Disease 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) has ended a two-day cross-border meeting in formulating a sub-regional approach to the control and eradication of the Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease that is affecting the livelihood of a very significant portion of the population’s food security, income generation, industry development and job creation. PPR is a highly contagious disease of sheep and goats caused by a morbilli virus, closely related to rinderpest virus, one of the most damaging livestock diseases in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The meeting aimed to formulate a sub-regional strategy to engage the Mano River Union countries to take ownership of the Global Strategy for the Control and Eradication (GCES) of PPR and work in a harmonized and synchronized way in the fight against the disease. The sustainable and efficient development of the small ruminant sector is highly threatened by this devastating “sheep and goat plague” that is already reported in 70 countries and need an urgent action taken now. Ambassador Tunde Ajisomo, ECOWAS Representative to Liberia, said it is important for all member states of the Mano River Union (MRU) countries to formulate a regional approach in tandem with ECOWAS Agriculture Policy (ECOWAP) to facilitate effective control and eradication of PPR in region. According to the Daily Observer, the meeting focused on the prevention and control of trans-boundary animal diseases (TAD) at border points to avoid the continuous infestation from one country to another, asserts the Daily Observer.

At Palm Groove Cemetery: Broh Gives Ultimatum To Collect Bones, Debris

The FOCUS newspaper reports that the Director-General of the General Services Agency (GSA), Madam Mary T. Broh has given a four-month ultimatum to relatives and loved ones of those buried at the Palm Grove Cemetery (Center Street) to now begin to collect their bones and other debris.

Fire Destroys Radio Kakata

According to the Daily Observer, fire over the weekend gutted the building housing Radio Kakata in Margibi County and completely destroyed US$25K worth of valuables to ashes. The Station Manager, Samuel O. Borbor, said the fire has caused a serious setback to the people of Kakata. He said six desktop computers, 10 plastic and 11 wooden chairs, a studio and eight office desks, five computer monitors as well as US$230 and L$26,000 went up in flames. Mr. Borbor said the station’s 1,000 watt transmitter was donated to the people of Kakata by the station’s partner, Henry Costa, a popular talk show host. The actual cause of the fire is yet to be established but most eyewitnesses blame the situation on electrical fault.