THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016

Stories on World Food Programme provision of food for new Ebola contacts, and the dedication of a new airstrip in Tappita, Nimba County are the dominant news in today’s selected newspaper.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Liberia Records 97 Ebola Contacts 

According to the New Dawnnewspaper Liberia’s health officials say 97 Ebola contacts including 15 health workers have been recorded, while three confirmed Ebola patients receiving medications in Ebola Treatment Unit or ETU. The latest infection here is said to have resulted from an unnamed 30-year-old woman, who reportedly transported the virus from neighboring Guinea on March 21 before she and two of her kids began showing symptoms in Liberia. Montserrado County Health Officer Doctor Yatta Sackie Wahpoe told Truth FM 96.1 in Paynesville Wednesday, 6 April of the 97 Ebola contacts, while also disclosing that three confirmed cases linked to the lady from Guinea are in ETU. “So they are currently in the ETU [Ebola Treatment Unit] and they are doing extremely well. So as I speak to you, we currently have 97 contacts. At the same time, theWorld Food Programme (WFP) has reportedly delivered food items to the Montserrado County Health Team for distribution among nearly 100 contacts from the new Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases in Liberia.According to a press release, WFP has so far delivered nearly two metric tons of food to be distributed among the EVD contacts currently under precautionary quarantine. WFP was initially requested, during the emergency Incidence Management System (IMS) meeting held on April 1 to provide urgent food assistance for EVD contacts quarantined and placed under surveillance. The consignment of food items, according to the daily include rice, beans, vegetable oil and corn soya blend (CSB), is being distributed through the Montserrado County Health Teams, reports the New Dawn newspaper under the caption WFP Provides Food For New EVD Contacts.

Related Caption: WFP Provides Emergency Relief To New EVD Contacts(The NEWS), WFP Steps In With Emergency Food Assistance to New Contacts(The Analyst)

New Airstrip Dedicated In Tappita, Nimba County

According to FrontPage Africa newspaper, a new airstrip has been dedicated and turned over to the Board of Directors and Management of the Liberia Airport Authority. The airstrip, which is nine hundred kilometers, was constructed by Samaritan’s Purse and Mission Aviation Fellowship. Speaking during the official turning over ceremony which was held on the airstrip, the Country Director of Samaritan Purse Liberia, Mr. Kendell Kauffeldt, said the facility was built to buttress the efforts of the Jackson F. Doe Referral Hospital by easing the many problems associated with transporting patients and medical equipment. Mr. Kauffeldt commended the Liberia Airport Authority for always giving the organization the opportunity to contribute to the development of the aviation sector of Liberia. Receiving the airstrip on behalf of the Government of Liberia, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Liberia Airport Authority, Hon. Gbehzongar Milton Findley, applauded the Samaritan Purse and Mission Aviation Fellowship for jointly working together for the successful implementation of the project. Chairman Findley challenged the authority and citizens of Nimba County to take ownership of the airstrip and work closely with the management team that will be constituted to properly maintain the facility. 

Related Caption:Nimba County Gets Airstrip (Inquirer)

OTHER STORIES  

Foreign Minister, 13 Others Commit to Implement Prioritized Actions 

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that Foreign Minister, Amb. Marjon Kamara, on behalf of her colleagues, have committed themselves to work in a concerted manner as members of the Cabinet to implement the prioritized actions agreed under their respective portfolios for the good of the country; as a strong and inclusive leadership is indispensable to the success of the country’s development agenda. She indicated that under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s inspiring leadership, sound and progressive policies, Liberia has registered significant improvements in its political, legal and economic systems, though there is still much to be done. She furthered that despite the setbacks and serious economic challenges facing the country, they remain confident in the Liberian President’s ability to steer the country on the path to economic prosperity, the paper says.

CSL Graduates Get Startup Materials, Equipment, Cash from UNDP

At least 96 young Liberians who recently acquired specialized vocational skills in general agriculture, electronic/repairs and food processing from the Center Songhai Liberia (CSL) have received supply of assorted materials, Equipment and cash from United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The cash and assorted working tools from UNDP through the Center Songhai skills training program are intended to prepare graduates for future endeavors as they return to their respective communities. The CSL was supported by the UNDP under its project titled: “Support to the Designed and Roll Out of a Youth-Focused Vocational/Life Skills Training Project”, theInquirer daily reports.

Related Caption: CSL Graduates Get Startup Materials, Equipment, Cash from UNDP(The Analyst), CSL Graduates Get Startup Materials, Equipment, Cash…From UNDP(The New Dawn)

GVL’S Grand Kru Workforce Hits 71

The New Dawnnewspaper reports that Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) has announced an increase of its workforce in Grand Kru County, Southeast Liberia by 71, benefiting locals from Gbanken community. Quoting a press release from the GVL, the New Dawn newspaper reports that the move fulfills a memorandum of understanding incorporating social agreement signed with the Gbanken community for oil palm development purposes. “The newly hired employees will be trained in oil operatives and subsequently grow in the company”, the release added. Presenting employment packages to the new employees, GVL human resource officer in Grand Kru, Victor Kaydor, welcomed the new batch of Liberian employees into the employ of Golden Veroleum Liberia and urged them to take their jobs seriously. Mr. Kaydor disclosed that the company has in its employ over 1,220 Liberians in Grand Kru alone and is committed to increasing this number.

Two Off to African Parliamentary Seminar in Tanzanian

The INSIGHTnewspaper reports that Two Liberians have left the country for the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, to attend a two-day Regional African Parliamentary seminar on addressing the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons and Mitigation of Armed Violence. The two are the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security, Senator Steven Zargo, and former Bong County Senator Franklin Siakor. The event is an initiative of the Parliamentarians for Global Action which is aimed at putting an end to illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and to help mitigate armed violence across the globe.