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

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.

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.

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.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf sworn in for a second term .

President Sirleaf and vice President Boakai at the inauguration ceremony.

Liberia’s president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was sworn in Monday for a second term in a ceremony attended by several world leaders, and the U.S secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"We inaugurate a new beginning -- a rebirth of our democracy," Sirleaf told the crowd of thousands, as supporters blew horns. "Today we can say with conviction that our country has turned the corner. Liberia is no longer a place of conflict, war and deprivation. We are no longer the country our citizens want to run away from."

In her inaugural address, Sirleaf directly addressed those who felt she has not done enough to lift them from poverty.

"To all who have yet to feel the hands of progress touch your life, your time has come," she said, as cheers erupted. "We have laid the foundations for peace and prosperity, and must now hasten our true mission: Putting people -- especially young people -- first. And lifting the lives of all Liberians."

And she responded to the opposition's claim that she was not listening to the country's disenfranchised youth: "The youth of Liberia are our future and they have sent us a message," she said. "Let me say to them: We heard that message. It is our solemn obligation to ensure that their hope will not be in vain."

Hillary Clinton (left) meets Liberian Foreign Minister Toga Gayewea McIntosh on arrival in Monrovia.

Thousands of people, many of them dressed in colorful ceremonial gown, gathered hours before the start of the ceremony in the capital Monrovia. The military fired two cannons Monday and hoisted the flag at the presidency.

Liberia is recovering from 14 years of civil war and conflict that ended in 2003. Sirleaf became Africa's first democratically-elected female president in 2005, and last year was one of three women awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The inauguration ceremony closed with a parade by security forces through the streets of Monrovia and floats representing Liberia's 15 counties.

Why change the pilot when the plane is still in the air?.....

As the countdown to election begins in Liberia, it has become clear that the path Liberians choose on the 11 of October will determine if the country remains on the road to prosperity or the path of uncertainty and chaos.
Winston Tubman and the opposition CDC claimed that the Sirleaf administration has done nothing for the Country, On Friday, addressing some 200,000 of their supporters, Tubman told the crowd "What we know of her is that she brought war and that having now taken power, she hasn't brought unity," we can see nothing in the record about Ellen Sirleaf that tells us that she has been promoting peace, or that Liberia has become any better during her tenure as President.

Liberians should not forget Winston Tubman, is the nephew of Liberia's longest-serving president,William V.S Tubman, these people held power in Liberia for three decades, and what does Liberia has to show for it? absolutely nothing.

President Sirleaf on the other hand, has chalked up a series of economic achievements. She has managed to preside over 6.7% annual economic growth during her short time in office. She has also secured $4.6 billion in debt relief from creditors, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the U.S., the European Union and the African Development Bank. Her government has attracted billions more in foreign investment from companies all around the world.

Liberians should not be fool to think that a miracle will happen when the President is voted out of office, that all of a sudden every Liberians will automatically have a job. Rome was not built in a day, it will take a little bit more of time for people to start reaping the results of the Sound policies the President and her team have laid out.
Lets not forget fellow Liberians that when the Plane is still in the air, you don't change the pilots, Lets be patient and let the president complete what she started.

Congratulation to President Sirleaf and Leymeh Gbowee both of Liberia for winning this year Nobel peace prize..........

I learned with joy and pride this morning that Two Liberians were among the winners for the Nobel peace prize.

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, sharing the award with fellow Liberian, Leymah Gbowee and Yemen’s Tawakkul Karman, for work to promote women’s rights and peace building.

Johnson-Sirleaf, 72, Gbowee and Karman were announced as winners of the 10 million-krona ($1.5 million) prize on Friday by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo. They were awarded the prize for “their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work,” the committee said.

Among those who welcomed this year's award was German Chancellor Angela Merkel, viewed as the most powerful woman in Europe, who said: "This will hopefully encourage many women, but also many men, around the world to campaign for freedom and democracy and against injustice."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "Above all, it underscores the vital role that women play in the advancement of peace and security, development, and human rights."

Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty said: "This Nobel Peace Prize recognizes what human rights activists have known for decades - that the promotion of equality is essential to building just and peaceful societies worldwide.

We congratulate these women on their achievements, today is a day that all Liberians should be proud of.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee of five people chosen by Norway's parliament and is named for Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist and inventor of dynamite.

Nominations come from lawmakers around the world, university professors, previous Nobel laureates and members of the Nobel committee.