THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016

News of the signing of the MOU between the Liberian Government and the Japanese Ebola Counter measure Medical Group to establish a world-class, state-of-the-art Center for Detection of Infectious Diseases, and Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara’s meeting with ECOWAS Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Babatunde Olanrewaju Ajisomo, are all highlighted in today’s summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Gov't Signs MOU With Japanese Medical Team

The New Dawn newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that the Liberian Government and the Japanese Ebola Countermeasure Medical Group (JECM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under which the parties have committed themselves to working exclusively together to establish a world-class, state-of-the-art Center for Detection of Infectious Diseases, with special emphasis on the Ebola Virus Disease. Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara signed on behalf of Government while the Executive Director of the JECM Group, Dr. Yasuhiro Yamamoto, signed for his Group on Thursday. In brief remarks after signing the MOU, Liberia’s Foreign Minister thanked the Japanese Group for the hectic and productive engagements with the Liberian Government especially the discussions they held with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf prior to signing the MOU. The Foreign Minister particular praised the Japanese team for honoring the President’s invitation to come to Liberia to build collaboration with Liberian medical professionals. She also paid a special tribute to the country’s Ambassador accredited to Japan, Her Excellency Ms. Youngor Telewoda for her farsightedness and for the level of engagement and collaboration to bring the Japanese medical specialists to Liberia for such a meaningful and technical venture that would enhance the Ebola recovery process. For his part, Dr. Yasuhiro Yamamoto, who is also the Executive Director of the Japanese Association of Medical Logistics for Disaster, thanked the Liberian Government for the productive engagements with health officials and other stakeholders since their arrival and up to the signing of the MOU. He applauded Foreign Minister Kamara and Liberian health officials for the cooperation and pledged to work with them to fulfill their side of the MOU. Under the MOU, the Japanese have committed to provide high standard methods of early detection, care, training and research under the guidance of scientific methods, well established and highly recommended by the Japanese Scientific and Medical Technology Societies, closely working with the JECM. The JECM will provide, exhaustively explain and submit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comprehensive documents on the medical technology of the highest standards to prevent occurrences and re-occurrences of the deadly outbreak of the infectious diseases, including Ebola. The parties also agreed that the cooperation between the JECM Group and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs be strengthened to focus on specific key elements including: development of infrastructure for the National Public Health Institute; provision of medical logistics; the establishment of a National Public Health Reference Laboratory; and human resource capacity building, focusing on training in the following areas: disaster response and pandemics preparedness; infectious diseases specialists; emergency medicine specialists; and public health specialists in epidemiology, virology emergency preparedness, and research methodology. Under the MOU, the JECM Group and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also focus on laboratory specialists in support to National Reference Laboratory, bio bank and blood safety; emergency medical services (EMS); emergency medical education; and establishing an exchange program between Liberian and Japanese specialists to engage in learning research and training.

Related Captions: GoL Signs MOU With Japanese Medical Group (The ANALYST), GoL Signs MOU With Japanese Medical Group (FOCUS), Japan To Build  Reference Lab For Ebola, Other Diseases; Foreign Minister Kamara Signs MOU With Japanese Medical Group (Daily Observer), GoL Signs MOU With Japanese Medical Group (Heritage)

Foreign Minister Kamara Meets ECOWAS Ambassador

The Daily Observer reports that Foreign Affairs Minister Marjon Kamara received in audience ECOWAS Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, H.E. Mr. Babatunde Olanrewaju Ajisomo, when he paid her a courtesy call on Thursday, April 7, 2016.  According to a Foreign Ministry release, Ambassador Ajisomo congratulated Minister Kamara on her preferment and briefed her on developments taking placing within the sub-regional organization including political, social, economic, and security issues. On welcoming the ECOWAS envoy Minister Kamara thanked him for the courtesy visit and extended gratitude to ECOWAS for all the humanitarian assistance it continues to render the Government and people of Liberia, reflecting on the civil crisis and the Ebola outbreak. Minister Kamara applauded the ECOWAS envoy for the comprehensive overview he provided her on ECOWAS’ activities in the sub-region. She indicated that she is aware that the regional body is going through a transition, acknowledging that former vice president of the commission, Dr. Toga McIntosh, had already returned to Liberia after a successful end of his tenure. Minister Kamara expressed confidence that the country’s recent nominee to the ECOWAS committee on infrastructure, Dr. Antoinette G. Weeks, would ably represent Liberia on her new assignment. On the issue of ratifying the ECOWAS treaties and protocols, Minister Kamara assured Ambassador Ajisomo that she will work closely with other relevant government institutions to have these instruments ratified. Madam Kamara also added that under her stewardship as Foreign Minister Liberia will tap into rewarding areas of maximum benefits in ECOWAS. She further applauded ECOWAS’ initiatives in member states including the organization’s role in maintaining peace and security, humanitarian and political affairs in the region; as well as, the introduction and use of ECOWAS passports by its citizens which she observed is now being circulated worldwide. Ambassador Ajisomo recounted the strategic and historical role Liberia played during the formation of ECOWAS dating back to 1975 when Liberia signed the ECOWAS Protocol affirming its membership to the regional body. The ECOWAS Ambassador thanked Minister Kamara for the warm reception and granting him the audience to meet with her, which he said was intended to apprise her of ongoing developments taking place in ECOWAS. He stressed that considering the strategic role Liberia played at the formation of the ECOWAS, it would be prudent for the country to maximize its benefits of integration and minimize its risks since integration is always associated with risks and benefits. He also added that ECOWAS is now at the stage of transition in terms of statutory appointments where preparation is underway for the ushering in of a new president of the ECOWAS Commission who he said hails from the Republic of Benin. The ECOWAS Ambassador also used the occasion to congratulate Liberia for nominating a well-seasoned and experience candidate to head the Infrastructure Committee of the ECOWAS Commission in the person of Dr. Weeks. He further disclosed that the vice president’s position previously occupied by Dr. McIntosh has now been given to The Gambia while the presidential slot of the Commission is being occupied by the Republic of Benin which he noted are expected to take office in Abuja, Nigeria shortly. He further said that ECOWAS’ Heads of State and Government, during one of their deliberations, took a firm position on the presidential tenure. According to him, ECOWAS leaders agreed that no leader in any of its member states should elongate his/herself in power, likewise, officials of the commission are not to also elongate themselves to office. He indicated that those holding current positions at the Commission will continue to serve up to 2018 so that by 2018 the Commission would consider rotating positions among member countries. The envoy also informed Minister Kamara that the Commission looks forward to seeing her participate in all ECOWAS ministerial meetings like her predecessor who he hailed for proactively participating at all levels of ECOWAS’ meetings in order to maximize benefits of integration. The envoy, however, called on the minister to prevail on other relevant stakeholders across the Liberian government bureaucracy to ensure that the over 14 treaties and protocols submitted by ECOWAS for ratification are ratified, saying “Liberian has benefited from some of these treaties and conventions.”

Related Caption: Foreign Minister Meets With ECOWAS Ambassador (FOCUS), Foreign Minister Meets ECOWAS Diplomat (The NEWS)

OTHER STORIES

Liberian Foreign Minister Craves SDGs Implementation

Foreign Minister Amb. Marjon V. Kamara has called on Liberians to engage in a genuine national effort to transform the country through implementation of the 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “We must take ownership of the 17 Goals enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as we do with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and our own Vision 2030, Agenda for Transformation (AFT),” Kamara stressed. She made the call in remarks after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf conferred upon her the Liberian Distinction with the Grade of Dame Great Band in the Humane Order of African Redemption in the C. Cecil Dennis Hall at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia recently, the FOCUS newspaper reports.

Ellen Dedicates, Turns Over Peace Dormitory to Presbyterian Todee Mission School

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dedicated and turned over a dormitory named “Peace Dorm” to the Presbyterian Todee Mission School. She extolled the commitment and courage of Mrs. Ophelia F. Johnson, Board Chair of the Presbyterian Todee Mission in Montserrado County for her excellent role played in reactivating Todee Mission, which was destroyed as a result of the 14-year-old civil war. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the commendation at the dedication and turning over ceremony of a ‘Peace Dorm’ on Thursday, April 7th, 2017, in Goba Town, Todee District where she officially turned over a dormitory she built in Todee District, Montserrado County.  She said: “There are two things that impress me; the commitment of Mrs. Ophelia F. Johnson and the Kids from the villages that go to school free, except those who come from far” She emphasized. The Liberian leader used the occasion to pay homage to all those who put in their time in building the Todee Presbyterian Mission School. President Sirleaf said her desire to construct the dormitory was aimed at directing what Jesus Christ has blessed her with to be shared with others. For her part, Mrs. Ophelia Johnson, Board Chair of the Presbyterian Todee Mission School praised President Sirleaf for the support to the Mission and said the President’s selection of Todee as one of the places to construct the dormitory amounts to sowing into the God Kingdom’s, according to the Heritage newspaper.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Dedicates, Turns Over Peace Dormitory To Presbyterian Todee Mission (FOCUS)

Pres. Sirleaf Meets Japanese Medical Team

According to the New Dawn newspaper, a High-power delegation of the Japanese Emergency Medicine Association and the Towa Hospital in Japan on Thursday met and held discussions with President Ellen Johnson at her Foreign Ministry Office in Monrovia. The delegation was headed by Mr. Ryo Chida, who is also Director of the Japanese Association of Medical Logistics for Disaster and Japanese Ebola Countermeasure Medical Group. President Sirleaf informed the visiting Japanese delegation that since the incidence of the Ebola Virus Disease, the country has been strengthening its infection control effort and system and would welcome the Japanese contribution and support to the enhancement of the initiative. She recalled the specialized training received in Japan by the late Dr. Borbor and urged the visitors to ensure that other Liberian Doctors can also be trained to fill the vacuum left as a result of Dr. Borbor ‘s death. President Sirleaf praised the association for a great job and expressed the hope of holding talks with the Prime Minister of Japan during the TECAD Summit, which takes place in Nairobi in August of 2016. “I am aware that you have been holding discussions with our team that includes the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health and I look forward to the signing of a Memorandum that will direct and guide the collaboration and partnership”, President Sirleaf told the visitors. For his part, Dr. Ryo Chida told President Sirleaf that Japan has a unique system and capacity for infection disease and disaster management and plans to work with the relevant sector institutions to build an infection control system for the country’s healthcare delivery system. He also indicated that Japan will announce a big package for health-related assistance for countries affected by diseases and disaster, noting that Japan’s experience is great due to many cases of disaster and disease outbreaks that have confronted the Asian nation.

BIN Women Hold Retreat

The Bureau of Immigration Women Association (BINWA) over the weekend held a one-day retreat at the Bureau's offices in Sinkor, Monrovia. Speaking at the retreat, BIN Deputy Commissioner for Naturalization, Asatu Kenneth, said BIN women should be ready to take key positions within the institution. She also said immigration women should improve themselves if they are to play key role at the institution. For her part, Cllr. Abla G. Williams, who served as keynote speaker said the retreat was intended to look back at the progress made thus far and where they as immigration officers want to be in the future. Cllr. Williams, who once served as Commissioner of Immigration, stated that BINWA was organized to cater to the needs of female officers. She called on BIN women to remain focused and professional in the discharge of their duty. In remarks, Col. Moses K. Yebleh said BIN women should be ready to improve themselves by taking advantage of all trainings that would be offered by the Bureau so that they can be on par with their male counterparts, reports the NEWS newspaper.

Journalists Complete Training On Human Trafficking

World Hope International has completed a one-day educational round table for media practitioners on trafficking in persons. World Hope International (WHI) is a non-for profit charity and development organization working with vulnerable and exploited communities to alleviate poverty, suffering and injustice through education, enterprise, community health through innovative sustainable program that attacks the roots of these problems and creates lasting result. The educational round table on human trafficking attracted about twenty radio and newspaper journalists at the Eugene Cooper Conference Room of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) on Crown Hill, Broad Street. Princess Taire, Deputy Program Manager of WHI said the training was intended to increase and improve the understanding of the media on human trafficking in order to strengthen case reporting, creating of public awareness, advocate for victims' assistance and protection, and move the public to action in the fight against the crime, writes the NEWS newspaper.

Orange Completes Acquisition Of Cellcom--1.4M Liberian customers to enjoy

The Daily Observer reports that Orange announced last Thursday that it has completed the acquisition of 100 percent of Cellcom, one of Liberia's leading mobile operators, through its subsidiary Orange Côte d'Ivoire. Less than three months after signing the agreement with Cellcom Telecommunications Limited for the acquisition of its Liberian subsidiary, Orange has obtained all the official approbations necessary to complete the transaction. Cellcom Liberia has 1.4 million customers, a release said. Liberia will now become the 20th country in Africa and the Middle East to join the Orange group. Orange will provide its marketing expertise and world-class technical capability to further strengthen the operator's established network and enhance customer service. This acquisition is part of the international development strategy of Orange, which aims to accelerate growth by entering new emerging markets with high potential. This will enable Orange to strengthen its positions in Africa, where almost one in ten people are already customers. The project will include Orange’s subsidiaries in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo; all core network and platform services for all Orange affiliates in sub-Saharan Africa. The facility will be opened on a build, operate, transfer basis by a third party and once built will be partly transferred to Orange Cote d’Ivoire.

Related Caption: Orange Completes Cellcom GSM Acquisition Liberia Is 20^th Country In Africa And The Middle East To Join The Orange Group (The ANALYST)

WHO Commits Technical Support to Prevent, Control Diabetes

The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged its continued commitment to providing technical support to develop and implement policies and strategies to prevent and control of diabetes in the African region. WHO made the pledge during celebrations marking World Health Day held under the theme: Prevention and Control of Diabetes. Speaking Thursday, at the Ministry of Information press briefing, the WHO Representative to Liberia, Alex Gassasira, alarmed that diabetes has risen from four million to 25 million within the African Region, the FOCUS newspaper reports.