THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016

Today’s News Summary highlights Liberia’s participation in this year’s celebration of World Hand Hygiene Day, today.

The summary also includes news of atwo-man Bangladeshi business delegation’s donation valued US$70,000 to the Protocol Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President Johnson Sirleaf’s Proclamation declaring the month of May as Red Cross Month.

DOMINANT STORY

Liberia Celebrates World Hand Hygiene Day

Liberia joins the world over to celebrate World Hand Hygiene Day today, May 5th. According to the Ministry of Health in Monrovia, the day is being celebrated globally under the Theme “CLEAN HANDS SAFE LIVES.” The New Dawn newspaper quotes the Quality Management Director at the Health Ministry, Dr. Catherine Cooper, as saying that this year’s celebration seeks to support surgical care, improving hand hygiene practices in all surgical services from surgical wards and operating theatres to outpatient’s surgical services. Dr. Cooper added that this year’s celebration is expected to take place at the JFK medical hospital, Redemption and the JDJ Hospitals. She further named the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital, Benson Hospital and in each health facility in the fifteen counties, where hygienic films will be screened to show how hand hygiene is important for a country. 

Related Captions: World Hand Hygiene Day Celebrated Today(In Profile Daily), Liberia Celebrates World Hygiene Day(New Democrat), Liberia Celebrates World Hygiene Day(New Democrat)

OTHER STORIES

Foreign Ministry Receives Items Valued at US$70,000 from Bangladeshi Business Delegation

A two-man Bangladeshi business delegation has donated one mini-bus, four motorbikes with accessories, one modern printing machine and 15 pieces of video conference units valued at US$70,000 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for use by the Bureau of Protocol. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Sakib M. Rahman, and his associate, Mr. R. B. Thakur of the Agrani Holdings Group Limited, visiting the country to also explore business opportunities for their company, said they saw the need within the Ministry and decided to make the donation. Before presenting the items to Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. B. Elias Shoniyin, the head of the delegation, Mr. Rahman, said that they have had separate investment discussions with authorities of the Ministries of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture and authorities at the National Investment Commission (NIC). Responding, Acting Foreign Minister Shoniyin thanked the delegation for the donation and urged them to encourage other entrepreneurs to venture into furniture or biofuel business if they can’t do it themselves according to the FOCUS newspaper.

President Sirleaf Declares May 1 – 31, Red Cross Month, May 8, World ‘Red Cross Red Crescent Day’; To Be Observed As Working Holiday

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has by Proclamation declared May 1st through 31st, as Red Cross Month and May 8, 2016 as World “Red Cross Red Crescent Day” to be observed throughout Liberia as a Working Holiday. The World Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has been committed to rendering relevant and timely services to distressed and needy people throughout the world in time of trouble, sickness, war, natural calamity, and other forms of disasters. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian National Red Cross Society will join the World Red Cross Red Crescent Movement to celebrate the month of May, 2016, under the theme: “Everywhere for everyone.” The events, which will focus on highlighting the universal presence and impact of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in humanitarian service will be held in Liberia’s 15 counties beginning with street parades, and climaxed by indoor programs, community services ranging from general clean-up exercises at public places and donation of relief materials to vulnerable institutions, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: May Is Red Cross Month In Liberia(FrontPage Africa)

South African Ambassador Supports Secular State For Liberia: Recounts His Country’s Gains After 22 Years

The Ambassador of South Africa accredited to Liberia, Ambassador VP Moodley Vanapalan Punjanathan has announced his support for Liberia to remain a secular state. Ambassador VP Moodley said his country, being a secular state by constitution, welcomes the decision by the Liberia Christian Council (LCC) to denounce the Christian State Preposition listed for the much publicized constitutional referendum. The South African Envoy says his views are in no way an interference into the body politics of Liberia, but said people will continue to live in peace and harmony when they feel comfortable in practicing their religions. The FrontPage Africa newspaper writes that Ambassador VP Moodley Vanapalan Punjanathan spoke when he addressed a news conference held at the South African Embassy in Congo Town, outside Monrovia.
 

Fire Service Outlines Challenges

Numerous challenges are affecting the smooth operation of the National Fire Service (NFS), its director, Mr. Warsuwah Barvout, has lamented. In remarks at a program in observance of International Fire Fighter’s Day, Mr. Barvout said the NFS lacks crucial equipment including modern fire trucks that can quickly reach fire outbreaks. “It is obvious we don’t have enough trucks. We also need to have six to seven fire stations not only in the city, but in the counties well equipped,” he stressed. He cannot be done effectively when major equipment are lacking in the service, reports the New Democrat newspaper.

Liberia Validates Global Commitment

According to the New Democrat newspaper, a head of the 2016 United Nations Central Assembly High-level Meeting on Ending AIDS scheduled 8-10 June in New York, Liberians from civil society organizations including the Network of people living with HIV (LIBNEP+) and its associations and representatives of various UN agencies and the government of Liberia have validated 2016 Liberia Global AID Progress Report and provided inputs into Zero Draft HIV and AIDS Political Declaration.

PREVAIL Extends Ebola Vaccine Study to Health Workers

The on-going Ebola Natural History Study (ENHS) under the Partnership for Research on Ebola in Liberia (PREVAIL) is being extended to health workers who often are among people that first come into contact with suspected Ebola patients, an official has disclosed. The head of the Advocacy Pillar of PREVAIL, Mr. Joseph Boye Cooper admonished the over 50 participants, mainly health workers, to always muster the courage and take the rVsV Ebola study vaccine whenever they are in an area of Ebola outbreak, asserts the FOCUS newspaper.