The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017

Today’s edition of our summary highlights news of President Sirleaf issuance of a proclamation declaring Tuesday, April 25, World Malaria Day, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Dr. Mark R. Dybul’s two-day visit to Liberia and the Launching by the Press Union of Liberia of the National Media Council, among others.

 ‘World Malaria Day’ Observed Today

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by proclamation declared today, April 25, as as a working holiday in observance of “World Malaria Day”. The Daily Observer reads that this year’s observance which is the 10th World Malaria Day, is being celebrated under the global theme is “End Malaria for Good” and the national slogan is, “Pregnant Women Go to the Clinic for Your Malaria Medicine.” According to a Foreign Affairs Ministry release, President Sirleaf has requested the Ministry of Health and other government agencies, as well as international organizations and partners concerned, to initiate and execute appropriate activities and programs befitting the occasion. The proclamation indicates that in Africa, malaria deaths have been reduced by one third within the last decade and overall child mortality rates have fallen by approximately 20 percent in countries where access to malaria control interventions have improved most significantly. The proclamation notes that continued investment in malaria control will propel malaria-endemic countries along the path in achieving the 2015 Millennium Development Goals, especially those relating to improving child survival and maternal health, eradicating extreme poverty, and expanding access to education.

Related Caption: Today is World Malaria Day (INSIGHT)

Global Fund Executive Director On Two Days Visit

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), Dr. Mark R. Dybul is expected to begin a two day visit here today (25th- 26th April 2017.) During his visit, Dr. Dybul will meet with Her Excellency President of the Republic of Liberia Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is also Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments and other key actors of the HIV response in the country. He is expected to express thanks and appreciation to the President of Liberia for her level of commitment toward ending AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and for her critical support as the Global Champion.   During his visit, Dr. Mark R. Dybul will meet with both developmental and national partners including representatives of UN Agencies and International Organizations, as well as, officials of the Ministry of Health and other government lines ministries. He will also meet with the Liberia Coordinating Mechanism, the National AIDS Commission and associations of the Liberia Network of Persons Living with HIV (LIBNEP+).

PUL To Launch National Media Council

The Press Union of Liberia has launched the National Media Council and Revised Code of Ethics for Liberian journalists.  The National Media Council (NMC) is established To Self-regulate media accountability and professional conduct in Liberia, pursuant to the journalism Code of Ethics. The Council is the modified successor of the Media Complaints Committee of the PUL. According to the INSIGHT newspaper, the Revised Code and the Media Council were adopted at the 3^rd tri-annual Congress of the PUL in Ganta, Nimba County on November 18, 2016.

Boost For Farming…As WFP Executive Lauds ESLRF, Others For Progress

The Regional Director of the United Nationals World Food Program (WFP) for West and Central Africa, Abdou Dieng, has praised the Emma Smith Life Recovery Foundation (ESLRF) through WFP-Lib, Oxfam Green, among other beneficiaries for the level of work done by the foundation and its partners. He cautioned the farmers to remain engage with food development if Liberians must rise above poverty. According to the INSIGHT newspaper, Mr. Dieng made the statement during his tour of WFP and the Government of Liberia-supported projects in Montserrado county.

Gender Ministry Applauds IRC

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection says the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a true partner of the Liberian Government in helping to bridge a viable children and parents relationship in the country. The INQUIRER newspaper reads that the Supervisor for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Ophelia J.N. Appleton who deputized for Deputy Minister Lydia Mai Sherman, said the Ministry is happy for the Parents Make the Difference (PMD) Project embarked upon in slum communities by the IRC and indicated that it is a boost to the Ministry as there is a special unit at the Ministry that do not only cater to the welfare of vulnerable families but also focuses on their empowerment.  Mrs. Appleton who spoke on the theme:  “the Successful Parent”, spoke at the close of a ten weeks parenting and child protection training program for slum dwellers held in Monrovia under the theme:  “Help Your Child To Be the Best”.

DEA Arrests 2 with Cocaine

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the Drugs Enforcement Agency detachment in Nimba County has arrested a 34-year-old Nigerian with 32.99kgs of Cocaine that has a street value of one thousand, one hundred and twenty United States dollars (US$1,120.00) and a 29-year-old Liberian with Cocaine value US$452.000, respectively. DEA Nimba County Commander Col. Julius suspect Friday Ukweni, a Nigerian, was arrested in Dehkehmie Community, while suspect Kendrick Bee, a Liberian, was arrested at the Sanniquellie parking lot, both in Ganta City, Nimba. Col. Kanubah said the DEA along with the Ganta Magisterial Court carried out a search and seizure in Ganta on Monday, April 24, during which the arrests were made. Meanwhile, the two suspects have been charged and sent to court for trial.

Maryland Holds Educational Meeting

A one-day education meeting to strategize and put in place mechanism to curtail mass failure among students in Maryland County has ended in Harper City with stakeholders vowing to do everything necessary to halt the menace. The meeting brought together school principals across the county, District Education Officers (DEOs), Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) chairpersons, and county officials. I was organized by Superintendent Betsy Kuoh Toe as part of her intervention to strengthen the county’s educational system. According to her, she has observed that much has not been heard from school authorities across the county, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

SCV Embarks On Road Rehabilitation Project

The New Dawn reports that a self-help community based organization in Fishtown, River Gee County has embarked on rehabilitation of a 1.5 mile community road in the county. Solar Community Volunteers (SCV) is engaged in the 21-day road rehabilitation project ease constraints faced by villagers. According to Officer-In-Charg, Jerry Hinneh, the road project is part of the organization’s regular community services, which are implemented based on prevailing needs of various communities in the county.

Plan International Dedicates US$6,000 School Building

A non-government organization, has dedicated a modern primary school building to the Government of Liberia. The six classrooms structure includes dining hall, teacher’s quarter, playground, administrative building, and library. Other facilities provided are textbooks and 50 scholarships for less fortunate girls. Speaking to reporters at the dedicatory ceremony recently in Lontou, Twah River district #4, Plan International project officer, Kelvin Leapoe, said the initiative was achieved by Plan International Liberia in collaboration with Plan International Norway with funding from Oslo Katedraskole, Norway; Fyrstikalleenskole, Norway; and Akademiet VGS, Norway respectively, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

ActionAid Gives Voice To Women In The Forest Sector Of Southeastern Liberia

According to the Daily Observer, ActionAid Liberia has launched a nine-month project to promote the rights of women and communities in forest governance and management. The project was recently launched in Polar Town as one of the agency-selected project-communities in Grand Gedeh County. James Pewee, ActionAid-Liberia local rights program manager, said the project is aimed at promoting and increasing women’s participation in forest governance in evidence-based documentation demonstrating the need for inclusion in the sector. Mr. Pewee added that the program also seeks to increase women’s confidence, knowledge and economic independence in order to claim and exercise their rights in the voluntary partnership agreement (VPA) to increase momentum for gender-sensitive forest governance and management.

Armed Robbers Sentenced For Murder

The New Dawn newspaper reports that four armed robbers have been sentenced to various prison terms of 15years and 24 years respectively for murdering victim Musa Kamara during an armed robbery operation executed in Clara Town on 26 March2013 on Bushrod Island. Assigned Criminal Court “B” Judge S. Geevon Smith on Monday, 24 April ruled at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia that the act of defendants Alfred Sayplay, Anthony Sopah, Jerry Pauh and Tommy Nimely “is a gross in difference to the life of Musa Kamara …” But prosecutors appear to be unhappy with the 24 years and 15 years sentences given the convicts by Judge Smith, announcing an appeal against the sentence. Government lawyers appear to be seeking life time imprisonment for the convicts. Judge Smith says defendant Say play is sentenced to 24 years “high imprisonment” at the National Palace of Corrections in Grand Gedeh County, southeast Liberia, while the rest of the convicts get 15 years imprisonment each. “This sentence is retroactive as of the date of the arrest of these defendants”, Judge Smith says and then instructs the Clerk to make an entry of the final judgment and sentence and communicate it with the Executive Branch.

Liberian Becomes Youngest Pilot at Delta Airlines

the youngest captain at Delta Airlines, Gamaliel Marcus Neyor, 31, a son of Christopher Neyor, former president of National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), has praised  the Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the United States school that led to his success in the aviation field. “Southeastern was pivotal in preparing me for my career,” Neyor told Aviation Institute’s campus-based journal. As the youngest captain at Delta Airlines, Neyor says his success stems from timing, luck and being responsive to opportunities when they present themselves. He claims there is no secret formula to success, but says students should always try to improve their professional skills and be ready to take advantage of career boosting chances. According to the Daily Observer, young Neyor keeps in his mind that one day, “I will return to Liberia and contribute to the development agenda.”