 |
| A picture taken on July 24, 2014 shows staff of the Christian charity
Samaritan’s Purse putting on protective gear in the ELWA hospital in the
Liberian capital Monrovia. (credit: ZOOM DOSSO/AFP/Getty Images) |
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has launched the National Action
Plan presented to the National Task Force on Ebola by the Ministry of
Health and Social Welfare in partnership with the World Health
Organization.
As an initial contribution to the National Action
Plan, the Government of Liberia has provided US$5 million to begin the
immediate implementation of the plan.
According to an Executive Mansion release,
President Sirleaf made the statement when she addressed the Nation in
the Foyer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with additional measures
aimed at containing the spread and caring for the afflicted with the
goal of “No New Cases.”
Among the stringent measures, the Liberian leader
announced that though she was expected to have attended the ensuing U.S.
- Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D. C., U.S.A. next week, the
Vice President instead will lead the delegation that will include a few
cabinet ministers whose presence are absolutely necessary.
She also announced that henceforth, Government
travels will be seriously restricted and limited to only those that are
determined to be absolutely necessary and critical.
The Liberian leader also directed that all
non-essential staff, to be determined by the Minister or Head of Agency
are to be placed on a 30-day compulsory leave and that Friday, August 1,
is declared a non-working day and is to be used for the disinfection
and chlorination of all public facilities.
“All borders that are to remain opened are to be
directly supervised and controlled by the Bureau of Immigration and
Naturalization whose duties it shall be, working with the assigned
health authorities, to ensure strict adherence to announced preventive
measures including preliminary testing for fever,” President Sirleaf
directed.
Other measures without exceptions are that “all
schools are ordered closed pending further directive from the Ministry
of Education.
“All markets at border areas including Foya, Bo Waterside, and Ganta are hereby ordered closed until further notice.
“As previously directed, video clubs and
entertainment centers must have improved sanitation including facilities
for the washing of hands prior to entering and exiting as well as to
restrict opening hours, and the number of individuals permitted to enter
those facilities,” she emphasized, adding that “all citizens are
seriously advised to avoid public amusement and entertainment centers.”
The Liberian President warned that any increase in
prices of sanitation commodities used in the fight against Ebola Viral
Disease will be treated as an offense against the people of Liberia. As
such, she has directed the Ministry of Commerce to enforce this order
and that all such commodities including chlorine, soap, sanitizers,
fliers and buckets are to be imported duty free.
She also indicated that several communities are
being considered to be quarantined based upon recommendations from the
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other relevant authorities.
“When these measures are instituted, only health care workers will be
permitted to move in and out of those areas. Food and other medical
support will be provided to those communities and affected individuals,”
the Liberian leader said.
“The Ministry of Health and relevant agencies are
also to consider the cremation of all victims of the deadly Ebola virus.
This measure is intended to avoid tampering with the dead and
contaminating water sources,” she also directed.
She announced that the security forces, under the
directive of the Ministers of Justice and National Defense, are again
ordered to enforce all of these measures announced by the National Task
Force on Ebola.
President Sirleaf reiterated that the Ebola Viral
Disease has over-tasked the country’s public health facilities and
capabilities as the nature of the virus and its rapid spread throughout
Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, attacking, as it has, the way of life
of the people of the Mano River Union Basin have posed national,
regional and international threats to public health and safety of the
gravest proportions. “This is unprecedented,” she emphasized, referring
to the World Health Organization which has upgraded the outbreak to
Grade 3 Emergency, the highest in its response category.
President Sirleaf acknowledged that this is not
only a Liberia problem, and cannot be seen as a problem of the Mano
River sub-region; but an international problem with which all must
engage in the fight.
She expressed Government’s gratitude to the
Medecins Sans Frontiers, and their partner, the Samaritan Purse who, at
great personal risks, has continued to assist in the difficult fight
against the epidemic. She also thanked the Center for Disease Control
and the National Institute of Health of the United States for the much
needed technical support.
President Sirleaf again reminded Liberians that
Ebola is real, it’s contagious and it kills. “All of us must all take
extra measures announced by the Ministry of Health to keep ourselves
safe. The government will do its part. But you must do yours,” she
urged, adding, “Denying that the disease exists is not doing your part
to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Hiding sick persons is not
doing your part to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Ignoring the
signs and not reporting it to the health care authorities are not the
ways by which we keep ourselves safe,” she said.
The President reminded all Liberians that the sooner all
Liberians unite in fighting this disease, as I know
she knows they can,
where each of us will play our part, the sooner we will overcome this
disease and return ourselves to how we have always lived.
President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has launched the National Action Plan presented
to the National Task Force on Ebola by the Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare in partnership with the World Health Organization, though by no
means exhaustive.
As an initial contribution to the National Action Plan, the Government
of Liberia has provided US$5 million to begin the immediate
implementation of the plan.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the
statement when she addressed the Nation in the Foyer of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs with additional measures aimed at containing the spread
and caring for the afflicted with the goal of “No New Cases.”
Among the stringent measures, the Liberian leader announced that though
she was expected to have attended the ensuing U.S. - Africa Leaders
Summit in Washington, D. C., U.S.A. next week, the Vice President
instead will lead the delegation that will include a few cabinet
ministers whose presence are absolutely necessary.
She also announced that henceforth, Government travels will be
seriously restricted and limited to only those that are determined to be
absolutely necessary and critical.
The Liberian leader also directed that all non-essential staff, to be
determined by the Minister or Head of Agency are to be placed on a
30-day compulsory leave and that Friday, August 1, is declared a
non-working day and is to be used for the disinfection and chlorination
of all public facilities.
“All borders that are to remain opened are to be directly supervised
and controlled by the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization whose
duties it shall be, working with the assigned health authorities, to
ensure strict adherence to announced preventive measures including
preliminary testing for fever,” President Sirleaf directed.
Other measures without exceptions are that “all schools are ordered
closed pending further directive from the Ministry of Education.
“All markets at border areas including Foya, Bo Waterside, and Ganta are hereby ordered closed until further notice.
“As previously directed, video clubs and entertainment centers must
have improved sanitation including facilities for the washing of hands
prior to entering and exiting as well as to restrict opening hours, and
the number of individuals permitted to enter those facilities,” she
emphasized, adding that “all citizens are seriously advised to avoid
public amusement and entertainment centers.”
The Liberian President warned that any increase in prices of sanitation
commodities used in the fight against Ebola Viral Disease will be
treated as an offense against the people of Liberia. As such, she has
directed the Ministry of Commerce to enforce this order and that all
such commodities including chlorine, soap, sanitizers, fliers and
buckets are to be imported duty free.
She also indicated that several communities are being considered to be
quarantined based upon recommendations from the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare and other relevant authorities. “When these measures are
instituted, only health care workers will be permitted to move in and
out of those areas. Food and other medical support will be provided to
those communities and affected individuals,” the Liberian leader said.
“The Ministry of Health and relevant agencies are also to consider the
cremation of all victims of the deadly Ebola virus. This measure is
intended to avoid tampering with the dead and contaminating water
sources,” she also directed.
She announced that the security forces, under the directive of the
Ministers of Justice and National Defense, are again ordered to enforce
all of these measures announced by the National Task Force on Ebola.
President Sirleaf reiterated that the Ebola Viral Disease has
over-tasked the country’s public health facilities and capabilities as
the nature of the virus and its rapid spread throughout Liberia, Guinea
and Sierra Leone, attacking, as it has, the way of life of the people of
the Mano River Union Basin have posed national, regional and
international threats to public health and safety of the gravest
proportions. “This is unprecedented,” she emphasized, referring to the
World Health Organization which has upgraded the outbreak to Grade 3
Emergency, the highest in its response category.
President Sirleaf acknowledged that this is not only a Liberia problem,
and cannot be seen as a problem of the Mano River sub-region; but an
international problem with which all must engage in the fight.
She expressed Government’s gratitude to the Medecins Sans Frontiers,
and their partner, the Samaritan Purse who, at great personal risks, has
continued to assist in the difficult fight against the epidemic. She
also thanked the Center for Disease Control and the National Institute
of Health of the United States for the much needed technical support.
President Sirleaf again reminded Liberians that Ebola is real, it’s
contagious and it kills. “All of us must all take extra measures
announced by the Ministry of Health to keep ourselves safe. The
government will do its part. But you must do yours,” she urged, adding,
“Denying that the disease exists is not doing your part to keep yourself
and your loved ones safe. Hiding sick persons is not doing your part to
keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Ignoring the signs and not
reporting it to the health care authorities are not the ways by which we
keep ourselves safe,” she said.
She reminded all Liberians that the sooner all Liberians unite in
fighting this disease, as I know she knows they can, where each of us
will play our part, the sooner we will overcome this disease and return
ourselves to how we have always lived.
- See more at: http://www.emansion.gov.lr/2press.php?news_id=3045&related=7&pg=sp#sthash.em3ejAQa.dpuf
President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has launched the National Action Plan presented
to the National Task Force on Ebola by the Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare in partnership with the World Health Organization, though by no
means exhaustive.
As an initial contribution to the National Action Plan, the Government
of Liberia has provided US$5 million to begin the immediate
implementation of the plan.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the
statement when she addressed the Nation in the Foyer of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs with additional measures aimed at containing the spread
and caring for the afflicted with the goal of “No New Cases.”
Among the stringent measures, the Liberian leader announced that though
she was expected to have attended the ensuing U.S. - Africa Leaders
Summit in Washington, D. C., U.S.A. next week, the Vice President
instead will lead the delegation that will include a few cabinet
ministers whose presence are absolutely necessary.
She also announced that henceforth, Government travels will be
seriously restricted and limited to only those that are determined to be
absolutely necessary and critical.
The Liberian leader also directed that all non-essential staff, to be
determined by the Minister or Head of Agency are to be placed on a
30-day compulsory leave and that Friday, August 1, is declared a
non-working day and is to be used for the disinfection and chlorination
of all public facilities.
“All borders that are to remain opened are to be directly supervised
and controlled by the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization whose
duties it shall be, working with the assigned health authorities, to
ensure strict adherence to announced preventive measures including
preliminary testing for fever,” President Sirleaf directed.
Other measures without exceptions are that “all schools are ordered
closed pending further directive from the Ministry of Education.
“All markets at border areas including Foya, Bo Waterside, and Ganta are hereby ordered closed until further notice.
“As previously directed, video clubs and entertainment centers must
have improved sanitation including facilities for the washing of hands
prior to entering and exiting as well as to restrict opening hours, and
the number of individuals permitted to enter those facilities,” she
emphasized, adding that “all citizens are seriously advised to avoid
public amusement and entertainment centers.”
The Liberian President warned that any increase in prices of sanitation
commodities used in the fight against Ebola Viral Disease will be
treated as an offense against the people of Liberia. As such, she has
directed the Ministry of Commerce to enforce this order and that all
such commodities including chlorine, soap, sanitizers, fliers and
buckets are to be imported duty free.
She also indicated that several communities are being considered to be
quarantined based upon recommendations from the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare and other relevant authorities. “When these measures are
instituted, only health care workers will be permitted to move in and
out of those areas. Food and other medical support will be provided to
those communities and affected individuals,” the Liberian leader said.
“The Ministry of Health and relevant agencies are also to consider the
cremation of all victims of the deadly Ebola virus. This measure is
intended to avoid tampering with the dead and contaminating water
sources,” she also directed.
She announced that the security forces, under the directive of the
Ministers of Justice and National Defense, are again ordered to enforce
all of these measures announced by the National Task Force on Ebola.
President Sirleaf reiterated that the Ebola Viral Disease has
over-tasked the country’s public health facilities and capabilities as
the nature of the virus and its rapid spread throughout Liberia, Guinea
and Sierra Leone, attacking, as it has, the way of life of the people of
the Mano River Union Basin have posed national, regional and
international threats to public health and safety of the gravest
proportions. “This is unprecedented,” she emphasized, referring to the
World Health Organization which has upgraded the outbreak to Grade 3
Emergency, the highest in its response category.
President Sirleaf acknowledged that this is not only a Liberia problem,
and cannot be seen as a problem of the Mano River sub-region; but an
international problem with which all must engage in the fight.
She expressed Government’s gratitude to the Medecins Sans Frontiers,
and their partner, the Samaritan Purse who, at great personal risks, has
continued to assist in the difficult fight against the epidemic. She
also thanked the Center for Disease Control and the National Institute
of Health of the United States for the much needed technical support.
President Sirleaf again reminded Liberians that Ebola is real, it’s
contagious and it kills. “All of us must all take extra measures
announced by the Ministry of Health to keep ourselves safe. The
government will do its part. But you must do yours,” she urged, adding,
“Denying that the disease exists is not doing your part to keep yourself
and your loved ones safe. Hiding sick persons is not doing your part to
keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Ignoring the signs and not
reporting it to the health care authorities are not the ways by which we
keep ourselves safe,” she said.
She reminded all Liberians that the sooner all Liberians unite in
fighting this disease, as I know she knows they can, where each of us
will play our part, the sooner we will overcome this disease and return
ourselves to how we have always lived.
- See more at: http://www.emansion.gov.lr/2press.php?news_id=3045&related=7&pg=sp#sthash.em3ejAQa.dpuf
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