THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

 News of the Japanese Government’s over two hundred eighty-eight United States dollars worth of medical equipment and the Government of Switzerland’s 15 tons donation of medical supplies to aid Liberia in its fight against the deadly Ebola virus, US President Barrack Obama’s assurance to Ebola burdened nations in West Africa and plans for an ultimatum for lawmakers who have abandoned the country in the wake of the Ebola outbreak to return  and help the fight against the deadly virus are among stories highlighted in our summary of today’s local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Japan Dispatches Medical Equipment

The Inquirer Newspaper Quotes a Foreign Ministry’s release: “The Government of Japan has disclosed the immediate dispatch of an assortment of medical equipment valued at over two hundred eighty-eight thousand United States Dollars (US$288,774.00) to aid Liberia in its fight against the deadly Ebola virus. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the consignment of medical equipment and accessories will arrive in Liberia this Friday, September 5, 2014.  The release named the items to be donated 100 pieces of tents, 500 pieces of sleeping pad, 500 blankets, and 25 generators. Other items expected to arrive include 25 cord reel, 30 pieces of water storage tanks, and 500 pieces of water containers among others. The donation will cover medical facilities in Montserrado, Bong, Lofa counties. The John F. Kennedy Medical Center and the ELWA Hospital are the facilities targeted for the Japanese donation. The Japanese Government’s assistance comes as the country enters a crucial stage in battling the deadly Ebola virus that has claimed hundreds of Liberians’ lives while hundreds more remain sufferers of the virus. Previously, the Japanese Government had extended an “Emergency Grant Aid” in the tone of US$1.5 million to support the Ebola outbreak response in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea that was challenged through the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC)”.

Related Caption:Japanese Gov’t To Provide Medical Equipment to Support Liberia’s Ebola Fight (Insight Newspaper),Japan Provides US$288K Medical Equipment To Support Liberia’s Ebola Fight (In Profile Daily Newspaper), and Japanese Gov’t To Provided Medical Equipment To Fight Ebola (Daily Observer Newspaper)

Switzerland Provides 15 Tons of Medical Supplies To Fight Ebola

According to the Insight Newspaper, the Government of Switzerland has donated to the Government of Liberia 15 tons of medical supplies to be used by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The medical supplies which include sanitizers, masks and gloves are valued at One Hundred and Sixty Thousand United States Dollars (US$160,000.00). The consignment arrived in the country on Tuesday, September 2, 2014, on a chartered flight sent by the Swiss Government. Speaking at a brief handover ceremony at the Roberts International Airport, Mr. Friedrich Steinemann, Director of Cooperation and Counselor Affairs at the Swiss Embassy Office in Liberia said the Swiss Government is glad to assist Liberia. Mr. Steinemann stated that with the constant use of hand sanitizers and personal hygiene, there is hope that Ebola will be kicked out of Liberia. The Counselor furthered that the Swiss Government looks forward to assist if there is more need. For his part, Hon. Rufus Neufville, Chief of Protocol of Liberia, expressed thanks and appreciation on behalf of the Liberian Leader, Her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Government and People of Liberia to the Government and People of Switzerland. Hon. Neufville stressed that Liberia is facing difficulties with what he called a strange virus. The Chief of Protocol elaborated that the Swiss donation will go down in history, as this donation portrays the fraternity between both Switzerland and Liberia and true partnership to Liberia in this difficult situation.  “It is our hope that many of Liberia’s friends in the international community follow”, remarked Hon. Neufville. The medical supplies brings to an estimated amount of One Million, Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$1.6 million) the Swiss Government’s donation thus far towards the fight against Ebola since the discovery of the deadly virus in Liberia in March of this year.

Related Caption: Switzerland Identifies With Liberia’s Ebola Fight… Provides 15 Tons Of Medical Supplies (Inquirer Newspaper),and Switzerland Identifies With Liberia’s Ebola Fight – Provides 15 Tons Of Medical Supplies (Analyst Newspaper).

‘You Aren’t Alone’-Pres.Obama Assures Ebola-Laden Nations

Und States President, Barrack Obama has assured West African Nations affected by the Ebola virus that they are not alone in the fight against the virus. The Analyst newspaper quotes President Obama as saying that along with its partners around the world, the United States is working with the affected countries governments to help stop this disease. “Stopping this disease won't be easy—but we know how to do it. You are not alone. Together, we can treat those who are sick with respect and dignity. We can save lives. And our countries can work together to improve public health, so this kind of outbreak doesn't happen again” according to President Obama.

Related Captions: U.S. President Barrack Obama’s Message to West Africa On Ebola(The Inquirer), You Are Not Alone: Obama Tells Ebola-Hit Nations(FrontPage Africa)

Liberian Lawmakers Abandon Job, Given Ultimatum To Return

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the National Legislature on Tuesday endorsed a motion giving a week ultimatum to lawmakers who have not been reporting to work.  On Tuesday, September 2, during one of their regular sessions, Representative George Mulbah (NPP-District #3-Bong County) raised the issue about his colleagues’ attitude to travel out of the country in the wake of the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus   that has led to the imposition of a state of the emergency. In his argument, the Bong County lawmaker requested plenary to instruct the House Committee on Rules, Orders and Administration to present a listing of all Lawmakers who have legitimate excuses to travel out of the country or into their districts during these periods of state of emergency. Representative Mulbah said: “Mr. Presiding and honorable members it is about time that plenary as the highest decision making body gives a timeline to all lawmakers to return to work and jointly work with the executive to address the current situation in the Country.” In keeping with plenary rules, lawmakers are only allowed to be absent from a session for 14 days with approval from the speaker anything to the contrary is in violation of the plenary guideline. Article 87 (A) of the Liberian constitution calls for the Legislature to immediately convene in special session if they are on agriculture break and remain in session during the entire period of the state of emergency.

Related Caption: Absentee Lawmakers in Trouble(New Democrat)

Duwolee Nyennue Township Presents MOU Input

The New Dawn reports that citizens of Duwolee Nyennue Township comprised of traditional leaders, including, women's groups, youth and elders on August 25th, presented their MOU inputs to oil palm developer Golden Veroleum Liberia in Panama Town. In a special meeting, with more than 200 persons in attendance, the Township Commissioner Ramsay Snoh on behalf of his citizens presented the inputs to GVL Kpanyan Estate Regional Controller Manohyaran Pillai. Youth leader Tweh Kargeor and women’s representative Jestina Manneh expressed their satisfaction that the agreement has been reached among the township population to develop approximately 2,000 hectares for oil palm development and economic growth. GVL Kpanyan Estate Regional Controller Manohyaran Pillai thanked the people of Duwolee Nyennue for the presentation of their long awaited MOU input.

Related Captions: Duwolee Nyennue Township Presents MOU Input(FOCUS), Duwolee Nyennue Township presents MOU Input(In Profile Daily)

Po-River Chiefdom Signs MOU For Economic Development

According to the INSIGHT newspaper, citizens of Po-River Chiefdom and Golden Veroleum Liberia on Friday, 22 Aug 2014, signed a provisional Memorandum of Understanding and social agreement in Grand Kru County at the bank of the Trehn River. By affixing their signatures and thumbprints to the agreement, the citizens officially signified their desire to build development in their areas. The MOU allocates more than 3,000 acres for oil palm development. In accordance with the signed MOU, GVL began construction of a seven kilometer roadway, connecting Garraway with Po-River. Following completion of the roadway the company has agreed to provide, on a multi-year timeframe, additional construction and rehabilitation projects, along with long-term employment opportunities from the local area.

Related Captions: Chiefdom Signs MOU for Economic Development(FOCUS), Po-River Chiefdom Signs MOU For Economic Development(In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf: ‘Gov’t Won’t Outsource Ebola Fight’ ‘Liberians Can Do It, We Just Need Support’

Amidst many calls for the government of Liberia to outsource to internationally acclaimed health organizations, the fight against Ebola that continues to wreak havoc on the country, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has said that government will do no such thing. Speaking at the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) at the ELWA, where two medical practitioners that were cured of the Ebola virus were presented to her, President Sirleaf said: "There's nobody that cares more for people than the people themselves”. Dr. Sengo Omeoga, a DR Congolese, and Physician Assistant (PA) Kandy Kobah, who were last Saturday released from the ELWA ETU,  were recipients of the Ebola experimental drug, ZMapp. President Johnson Sirleaf stressed that the fact that Liberian doctors and nurses and health practitioners are taking care of their people, as evidenced by the effectiveness and efficiency of the Liberian-run ETU where the two medical practitioners got cured, shows that "we need to give them the support so that they can continue to do the good work”, the Daily Observer reports.

Pres. Sirleaf Assures Health Workers Of Improved Incentives

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has assured health workers of government’s commitment to provide improved incentives for their contribution to the fight against the Ebola virus. President Sirleaf said she recognizes the difficult circumstances and conditions under which Liberian health workers are performing their duties to save lives. The INSIGHT quotes the Liberia News Agency as saying that President Sirleaf gave the assurance at the weekend during an assessment visit to the C.H. Rennie Memorial Hospital in Kakata, Margibi County. She said government was working on the categories of incentives for every health worker in both the public and private sectors to ensure improved benefits for them. According to the Liberian leader, family members of health workers who lost their lives while trying to save lives will also receive some benefits.

Ellen Targets Post-Ebola Programs

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has outlined stalled activities that she hopes her government could embark on when the dry season starts in mid October, as the devastating Ebola outbreak drains the already weak economy here. "It's rainy seasons; yes, we'll use this rainy season with all our power, might, and our resources to fight Ebola. Because when we get into the dry season, we want to go back to building roads, building schools, and bringing power and bringing water," she said on Saturday, August 30. President Sirleaf assured health workers in Margibi County and across the nation that the government will prioritize their needs with the available resources in the Ebola fight. "I don't say the government has everything; the government has resource constraints, both in terms of finance and human; but that which we have, and that which we can mobilize from our partnership, you can be assured that you will be the first one that we have to attend to before anything," she pledged, according to the New Dawn newspaper.

PWC – Liberia Donates To Town Center Community

According to the New Republic Newspaper, the Price Waterhouse Coopers, (PWC) Liberia, an international auditing firm with branch in Liberia has made cash contribution of one thousand United States dollars to the Town Center Community located in New Georgia. The donation, which was made on Friday, Aught 29, 2014 when community and the collection of youth organizations under the banner Associations of Youth Organization launched anti Ebola awareness, is in support of efforts being exerted by the National Taskforce, businesses, private and public financial institutions, international and local non-governmental organizations to contain the Ebola viral disease (EVD) that is ravaging Liberia.