THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2015

News of the holding of a one-day consultative forum by authorities and citizens of Bong County targeting 3000 beneficiaries, the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding meeting with state actors to present a Book of Proceedings to gather citizens’ input on the pending decentralization and local governance framework and the University of Manchester School of Nursing and Midwifery Board game designed to help African Midwives aimed at preventing women from dying in childbirth are stories  dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Anti-Vulnerability Confab Ends

Several local government authorities including Commissioners, Paramount Chiefs, Clan Chiefs, women and youth leaders, as well as eminent citizens from various districts in Bong County have ended a Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) day long district level consultation forum in that part of the country aimed at ending economic vulnerability. Speaking last Saturday at a one-day district level consultative forum, Bong County Assistant Superintendent for Development, Anthony Sheriff told stakeholders that they have an essential role to play in the selection of beneficiaries for the program, For his part, SCT Administrative and Finance Officer Varney Benson, while explaining the necessity of the program to the district stakeholders, said besides the reduction of poverty, government also aspires to use the program to reduce starvation and labor constraints among households and others,  writes New Democrat newspaper.

Related Captions: Chiefs, Women End Social Cash Transfer Forum (The News), In Bong County: Chiefs, Women, Others Conclude Social Cash Transfer District Consultative Forum (Heritage), Social Cash Transfer Targets 3000 In Bong (The New Dawn)

CEMESP Starts Decentralization Lobby

The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding, (CEMESP) hosted state actors at the level of the Legislature, the Governance Commission and Decentralization Secretariat to present a Book of Proceedings as by-product of the Open Space Tool employed to gather citizens input on the pending decentralization and local governance framework. According to a CEMESP release, this event marks a key milestone in the OSIWA funded project in generating citizens input on the decentralization and local governance law in Liberia. The Chairman of the Legislative Committee on God Governance Larry Nyounquoi said what CEMESP has initiated is innovative, the News newspaper writes.

 Related Captions: CEMESP Starts Decentralization Lobby…Presents Open Space Book Of Proceedings To State Actors (Heritage), CEMESP Starts Decentralization Lobby (In Profile Daily)

University Of Manchester Board Game To Train African Midwives

University researchers have created a board game designed to help African midwives prevent women dying in childbirth. The game, called Progression, has been made by the University of Manchester’s school of nursing and midwifery. It has been designed to help in the use of a chart which many midwives find difficult to complete. Prof. Dame Tina Lavender, who led the project, said: “the crucial benefit of using this game is that it allows midwives to make mistakes without endangering lives, Daily Observer reports.

Related Captions: University Of Manchester Board Game To Train African Midwives (The News), University of Manchester Board Game To Train African Midwives (Heritage), University of Manchester Board Game To Train African Midwives (The New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES

Ellen Congrats CAR, Chad

The Daily Observer quoting a Foreign Ministry release as saying that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has sent a congratulatory messages to the Government and People of the Central African Republic (CAR) on the occasion commemorating the 55th Independence Anniversary of that country. She also sent a congratulatory message to the Government and People of the Republic of Chad. In her message to Madam Catherine Samba Panza, President of the CAR, President Sirleaf remarked: “It gives me immense pleasure to extend to you, and through you, to the Government and People of the CAR, warmest congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia, and in my own name,” the President remarked. President Sirleaf further noted that as the people of the CAR celebrate another year of Independence, she entertains the hope that the two countries will continue to collaborate in the promotion of International Peace, Economic Integration and Social Development. President Sirleaf assured her Government’s determination to continue to strengthen the cordial relations subsisting between the two countries for the mutual benefits of their respective peoples. She prayed that God Almighty will continue to endow President Panza with wisdom as she leads her compatriots on the path to peace and economic stability. In another development President Sirleaf has sent a congratulatory message to the Government and People of the Republic of Chad on the occasion commemorating the 55 Independence Anniversary of that country. In her message to her Chadian counterpart, General Idriss Déby, President Sirleaf remarked: “It gives me immense pleasure to extend to you, and through you, to the Government and People of the Republic of Chad, warmest congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Liberia, and in my own name”. The President further noted that as the People of Chad celebrate another year of Independence, she entertains the hope that the two countries will continue to collaborate in the promotion of international peace, economic integration and social development. She assured President Déby of her government’s determination to continue to strengthen the cordial relations subsisting between the two countries for the mutual benefits of their respective peoples. President Sirleaf further wished that for the Almighty Allah will continue to endow Mr. Déby with wisdom as he leads his compatriots on the path to peace and economic stability.

Liberia Heads Group On Disaster Risk Reduction

According to the Daily Observer, Liberia has been elected as Africa’s representative on the African Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has announced. Liberia’s election is part of efforts to reduce disasters in Liberia and Africa at large. The high level meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction issued that the Yaounde Declaration request the Africa Union (AU) to lead Africa’s strategies with the targets outlined in Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It was endorsed last month by the United Nations General Assembly. At a press conference in Monrovia on Tuesday, Deputy Minister for Administration, Varney A. Sirleaf, explained that the participants agreed to work together to achieve substantial reduction in disaster losses over the next 15 years. Minister Sirleaf said the international group will also work to reduce mortality, numbers of people affected and the economic damage caused by natural and human-induced hazards.

UNMIL Officer In Charge On Draw Down Plan

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Officer-In-Charge, Antonio Vigilante says greater national commitment is urgently required in the force’s drawdown plan. Officer-In-Charge Vigilante said such commitment is urgently required to make sure that the critical targets are achieved in the coming months, including passage of the Police Act and other important legislation, the Inquirer newspaper reports.

Related Caption: UN Set To Withdraw More Police, Military Personnel From Liberia Soon-Officer-In-Charge Discloses (INSIGHT)

ADRA Liberia Donates US$1.2M Medical Equipment

The Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA)-Liberia has embarked on distribution of medical equipment valued US$1.2 million to hospitals and health centers across the country. The donation began recently at ADRA Head Office on Smythe Road in Old Road community in Monrovia, Montserrado County. Speaking during the donation, ADRA Emergency Coordinator, Fredi-Tom Wennie, said the exercise will cover Montserrado, Margibi, Bong and Lofa counties, and eventually the entire country. He urged the beneficiaries to only take the kinds of medical equipment needed at their health facilities and to use them for the intended purposes. Mr. Wennie said the equipment were donated by Global Relief to ADRA Liberia. He said the materials distributed will enable benefiting health centers to decrease fees being charged patients, particularly less fortunate ones. The beneficiaries thanked ADRA and promised to use the materials for the intended purposes, write the New Dawn newspaper.

MPW, MCC Plan To Relocate Makeshift Mechanics

The Daily Observer writes that the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) is collaborating with authorities of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) to relocate mechanic garages operating in the city and its environs, MPW official has said. MPW Acting Director of Communications and Documentation, Gregory Stemn, said it is unfair for garage operators to open mechanic garages in just any part of Monrovia and its environs without observing the regulations put in place by the Ministry. He noted that though it does not fall within the purview of the MPW to grant licenses to garage owners, the Ministry is working with the MCC to regulate the growing number of garages in the capital city to give the city a facelift. Mr. Stemn warned owners of mechanic garages that are not properly located that such structures face demolition without compensation. “Let it be clear that we are trying to find a suitable place for operators of mechanic garages in order for them to continue finding their daily bread, but if they fail to comply with our regulation, they have themselves to blame,” Stemn stressed.

Related Caption: MPW, MCC plan To Relocate Mechanic Garages (Heritage)

Angie Brooks International Center Recognized By The U.S. Institute Of Medicine

The Angie Brooks International Center (ABIC) has been recognized by the United States Institute of Medicine (IOM). The IOM is the health arm of the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Cllr. Yvette Chesson-Wureh, Establishment Coordinator, Angie Brooks International (ABIC) for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security, is to serve as a member of the United States Institute of Medicine (IOM) Multi-National Commission, Hot Pepper newspaper reports.

Related Caption: Angie Brook Center Receives US Recognition (FOCUS)

ACF Ends Ebola Project In Bomi County

Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has ended an eight-month Ebola Prevention and Response Project in Bomi Conty. With funding from the United States office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and the German Government (GIZ), the ACF launched the program I December 2014 aimed at responding to the emerging humanitarian needs in Bomi. At the ceremony, ACF Bomi County Field Coordinator, Arnaud Lavergne presented to the Bomi County Health Team, WaSH Packages for use in five Public Health Units of the county, the Transformer newspaper reports.

WAJA Wants Journalists Performance Checked

The President of the West Africa Journalists Association (WAJA) Peter Quaqua wants media training institutions in the country to monitor the performance of their graduates to ensure that they uphold the ethics of the journalism profession. Speaking Monday when he visited the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism, Mr. Quaqua stressed the need for journalists in Liberia to work in unison. The school is named in his honor, the News newspaper reports.