Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Happy Independence day Mama Liberia.....

Happy birthday Liberia, and happy independence day to all my fellow Liberians and friends of Liberia all around the Globe, as we all gather to celebrate the anniversary of our homeland independence this July 26, let us not forget who we are or where we came from, let us remind ourselves that though we may be of many tribes, we are still one people with one common destiny. May God always continue to shower his many blessings on the peoples of Liberia.
 

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Liberia is now the nation reporting the highest number of new Ebola cases...........


It seems that the people of Liberia just cannot get a break, after almost two decades of devastating civil war, we all thought we have turn the darkest corner of our Country's history and that the country was once again on the path to reclaim its former glory and rejoin the community of nations, but out of nowhere we got thrown another curve ball, this time in the form of the deadly Ebola virus.

 Of all the Countries battling the deadly outbreak, Liberia is now the nation reporting the highest number of new cases in the region, it has become the epicenter of the whole Ebola fight. And because Liberia is the Country suffering the most it is important that our people understand how Important it is to take this deadly disease seriously.Its been reported that some communities believe the outbreak is a lie, and that health care workers have been sent to kill them. In multiple locations around the Country, health care workers spraying chlorine – a cheap and effective counter to the spread of the disease - were attacked.

 I found a wonderful article on Australia's ABC.net.au news site that really explain what Ebola is.....
There are five strains of Ebola: Zaire, Sudan, Tai Forest, Bundibugyo and Reston. The Zaire strain, which is involved in the latest outbreak, is the most lethal with a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent. Humans can catch the virus from animals through close contact with infected animals' blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids. The virus is thought to reside within the region's fruit bat population. The bushmeat trade (the catching and eating of wild animals, including primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees), is thought to play a role in outbreaks of the disease. While cooking infected meat kills the virus, handling of the meat beforehand can cause infection.

Once in the human population, the virus continues spreading through direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids. The World Health Organisation has specifically noted traditional healing and burial practices in rural regions as a factor in the spread of the disease.

Please my fellow Liberians,if you suspect someone you know is sick or is showing symptoms of the virus, it is very important that you not only take every precaution to protect yourself but you should also immediately notify the authorities. Remember your chances of survival is high if you are treated early.

Monday, August 11, 2014

President Sirleaf ordered third county under Ebola quarantine ......



The Liberian army has put a third County under quarantine to check the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf announced Monday.
"Lofa county in the north has been quarantined by the army," Sirleaf said after similar measures were taken in the counties of Bomie and Grand Cape Mount.
"So from now on, no one will be allowed to go to Lofa, no one will come out of there," Sirleaf said in a message to the nation broadcast over the radio.
"We want to protect areas that have not been yet affected," according to the president.
"We have given instructions to the army and we will try our best so that food will be provided to the county constantly, especially when we know that Lofa is one of (the) biggest counties."
In an effort to contain an epidemic that has cost nearly 1,000 lives throughout west Africa, the Liberian government earlier quarantined Bomie and Grand Cape Mount.
It cut off access with military roadblocks and restrictions on travel.
The quarantine has meant that traders have been unable to travel to buy food and farmers cannot harvest their crop, which has in turn caused shortages and sent prices soaring, raising fears people could go hungry.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Government of Liberia Launches National Action Plan against Ebola.........


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

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Liberia to send Troops to Mali.................

Armed Forces of Liberia soldiers stand in formation at Edward Kesselly Military Barracks.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has disclosed that the Government of Liberia will contribute troops to the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).
Making the disclosure at the Roberts International Airport in Liberia, President Johnson-Sirleaf told reporters Saturday, January 19 2012 that Liberia has pledged a platoon that will be integrated into one of the AFISMA peacekeeping battalions in Mali. President Sirleaf said that Liberia's decision to pledge a well-trained and well equipped military platoon to Mali is based on the fact of African solidarity to the people of West African, and to also show appreciation to Mali and its people who helped Liberia during our country's conflict or years of civil war.
President Sirleaf said West African countries have pledged their support fully to France for launching operations in Mali, within the framework of respect for the sovereignty of Mali and that is the International legality to halt the advance of the terrorist and extremist groups. This will be the first time since the 60s that Liberian military personnel will be send for peace keeping duties.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Liberia has ‘turned the corner’ towards lasting peace says President Sirleaf....

President Sirleaf addressing the U.N General Assembly.

Ten years after the end of Liberia’s brutal civil war, the country has made tremendous progress on the path to lasting peace and stability, President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, told the United Nations General Assembly today, while adding that serious challenges remain.
“As Liberia moves toward its tenth year of sustained peace, we can state with conviction that our country has turned the corner,” President Sirleaf said in her address to the Assembly’s high-level General Debate, which began at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
“Liberia is no longer a place of conflict, war and deprivation. We are no longer the country our citizens fled, our international partners pitied and our neighbors feared,” she added. President Sirleaf thanked the UN for being “a very committed and effective partner” with Liberia as it emerged from conflict and embarked on the path to peace, security and development. “We owe the Organization much gratitude for preserving an enabling environment for peacebuilding and state-building.”

 

The UN has maintained a peacekeeping force in Liberia since 2003 to bolster a ceasefire agreement ending a decade of war that killed nearly 150,000 people, mostly civilians. The mandate of the UN Mission in Liberia  includes helping to restore the rule of law and democratic processes, as well as facilitating humanitarian assistance.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

President Sirleaf must take the incident in the Ivory Coast seriously.......


Over the weekend we learned of the deadly attack that took the lives of several United Nations peacekeepers and Ivorian Military personal in the Ivory Coast. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms," saying he was "saddened and outraged" about the deaths of the peacekeepers, all from Niger. He urged the government of Ivory Coast to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Meanwhile hundreds of villagers were fleeing the area near the Liberian border, and U.N. officials said others may have been killed or injured. Authorities have been unable to confirm any additional casualties because of the remoteness of the area near the Liberian border.

This is a serious situation along the border of the two countries, and the governments of the two countries especially Liberia, must do everything to bring the situation under control. We the many concern Liberians at home and abroad urged President sirleaf to not take this lightly, as it has the potential to not only destabilize the entire region, but to drag Liberia back into instability.

 Some Liberian government minsters were denying Liberia's involvement in the incident. But whether they came out of Liberia, or whether they are based in the Ivory Coast, doesn’t matter.  What matters is that there was an incident in Ivory Coast close to our own border that concerns everybody. If our neighbor's house is on fire we should make it our duty to help put out the fire who knows ours could be next. Both countries need to concertedly work together to more effectively weed out this cancer from their common borders, and once and for all send out a message that the days of savages and barbarians using our country to attack another is over. Finally if any Liberians are found to be involved in the incident over the weekend, if caught they should be put to death immediately, we do not want these barbaric people in our Country, enough is enough.