Liberia: Health Workers Complain of Limited Supply of PPEs, No Medication for Confirmed Coronavirus Victims
There is a looming fear among health workers that if the appropriate measures are not put in place to curtail the Novel Coronavirus, the country would slip back in that era. At the 14 Military Hospital, health workers who asked not be named expressed disenchantment over lack of sufficient PPEs. This, they say, is making it difficult for them to attend to the confirmed and high-risk cases there. But responding to FPA inquiry during a press briefing on Thursday, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Francis Kateh refuted allegations that health workers are short on PPEs. According to him, because of the heat the PPE generates, the health workers only go in to those quarantined twice a day, wearing the PPE on each occasion and taking it off after.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 04:41 UTC
Liberia: Margibi Court Releases Oliver Dillon on Bail
Judge Tarr-Chenoweth on Thursday said the granting of bail to Defendant Dillon was triggered by the failure of the state represented by the Solicitor General Cllr. Saymah Syrenius Cephus to appear in court to argue prosecution recent Motion for Recusal filled in the case against her (Judge Madea Tarr-Chenoweth). “The idea of the Solicitor General not giving the court any deference shows an affront to this Honorable Court. Since the Solicitor General is not here, neither did he send anybody, this court will now grant the defendant Oliver P. Dillion bail until the state is ready to carry on this case,” Judge Tarr-Chenoweth ordered. She ordered the Clerk of Court to enter the record of the transfer of the case and transmit all records to Clerk of the Margibi Court.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 04:30 UTC
Arik Air Joins SN Brussels, Air Maroc Suspends Flights to Liberia Due To Coronavirus Outbreak
Two cases of the coronavirus have already been confirmed in Liberia by health authorities, with dozens others suspected. The latest suspension of flights by Arik Air brings to three the number of airlines that have suspended flights to Liberia as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. “Given the extraordinary circumstances caused by the worldwide Coronavirus crisis, Brussels Airlines has decided to temporarily suspend its flight operations from 21 March 2020. Also, on March 15, 2020, the Moroccan airline, Air Maroc, announced the indefinite suspension of all international flights. “Pursuant to the decision of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, Royal Air Maroc announces the suspension, until further notice, of all its international flights,” the airline announced.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 04:18 UTC
Liberia: 4Kids International Suspends Launch of Fundraising Program Due to Coronavirus
MONROVIA – 4Kids International a United States-based registered non-governmental, non-political and non-for-profit organization suspends the launch and fundraising program in the middle of Coronavirus threats. We are hereby suspending the plan Launch and Fundraising program of 4Kids International which was to be held on March 20, 2020 at the Monrovia City Hall in Monrovia, Liberia. We hereby divert plan activity objective to National Awareness and Preventions of the Coronavirus across schools, communities and institutions in the counties. This is a global epidemic and a national emergency, as such; we are joining the government in the fight against this virus in buttressing the effort of government. Citizens, foreigners and partners are strongly encouraged to keep all hygienic and sanitary Practices as advised in order to stay healthy and safe.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 04:18 UTC
Liberia: Court Reserves Ruling in Former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai’s Economic Sabotage Case
Monrovia – Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge Yarmie Quiqui Gbeisay has reserved ruling in former Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai’s Economic Sabotage case. Judge Gbeisay reserved ruling into the case on Thursday, March 19, after the final arguments between both the prosecution and the defense team. Nwabudike also argued that bank records show that the defendants withdrew monies from the AFL account 11 times. However, the government paying back the money used from the AFL account does not exonerate the defendants for the money they stole,” Nwabudike argued. Wright further argued that all the monies withdrawn from the AFL account were used on the welfare of the soldiers.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 04:18 UTC
Liberia: Gbalewein Town in Sinoe Poised to Embark on Development Projects
SINOE COUNTY – Citizens of Gbalewein Town in Sinoe County have confirmed receiving their share of the revenues from their forest resources. MANDRA Forestry Liberia Communications Director, outlined the rehabilitation of existing hand pumps, construction of roads, bridges, clinic and two Schools in the concession areas. The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Quality Control Officer James Mulbah said sustainable management of Liberia’s natural resources is a top priority. The EU has a long partnership with Liberia and has been supporting its development programs since 1973. Eight young professionals vetted to review impacts of EU support to Liberia are currently crisscrossing the country and visiting project sites.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 04:18 UTC
Liberia: “I’m Ready to Join in the Fight against Coronavirus” -Former UNMIL Community Outreach Officer, Sabato J. Neufville
The former UNMIL Community Outreach Officer showing FrontPageAfrica some of the outreach equipment that they used for UNMIL against the Ebola and other campaignsMonrovia – Former United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Information Associate with the Community Outreach Unit, Mr. Sabato J. Neufville, has expressed his willingness to help prevent the coronavirus disease from wrecking untold suffering on Liberians as did Ebola did a few years ago. Also, we produced flyers, posters and billboards with Ebola messages.”“Those very basic materials we used in the fight against Ebola during UNMIL time, we still have all of them. I worked with UNMIL for 16 years in getting former combatants to disarm and join the DDRR process. He took FrontPageAfrica on a tour of all the equipment that UNMIL left in his care. He also personally have more than four vehicles, which he said he is ready to roll out should the government include him in the fight against COVID_19.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 04:07 UTC
Liberia: Police Officer Allegedly Rapes 16-Year-Old Girl
Robert Harrison allegedly raped the 16-year-old while she was being kept in custody at the police depot which he headsMonrovia – The last thing 16-year-old Diana Kollie, not her name, expected was to be raped by a police officer, Robert Harrison of the Criminal Investigations Division at Zone 9, Depot 4, Jacob Town Rehab. She indicated that they are the whip marks she allegedly received from Officer Harrison. According to social worker Ne-Suah Beyan-Livingstone of Rescue Abandoned Children In Hardship, (REACH), a program the victim is part of, she was contacted by one of her volunteers that their 16-year-old student had been allegedly raped by an officer on February 22, 2020. Sources from the Paynesville Magisterial Court hinted this newspaper that Officer Harrison was last week forwarded to the Magisterial Court and charged with statutory rape. The medical report, from Hope for Women, now in FPA possession, reveals that the Diana was penetrated.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 04:07 UTC
'The Economy Terrible for Trained Liberian Professionals'
Irrespective of the projects being fully funded by the Japanese Government through its Commodity Value Fund. Expressing regret over how he has been treated, Mr. Boimah displayed several copies of his monthly report, highlighting one of the contractor’s failure to abide by the standardize construction practices. Struggling to receive his money, Mr. Boimah wrote several communications to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which was directly address to its current Minister, Varney Sirleaf. Regardless of his efforts, writing the county legislative caucus, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Works as well as past and present superintendents of the county, there has been no response. According to records in our possession, this is one of the many debts the government is refusing to pay Liberian professionals, including Mr. Boimah who has been a longtime consultant in Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 04:06 UTC
Liberia: USAID and the Ministry of Education Launch Reading Demonstration Program
The banner announcing the reading event in KakataKAKATA – USAID Read Liberia and the Ministry of Education on Friday, March 13, 2020, kicked off a reading demonstration program to mark International Reading Month, an effort to promote reading, especially for children in kindergarten through second grade. Read Liberia is a five-year Ministry of Education program with funding and technical support from USAID and implemented by RTI International. Read Liberia works with 640 schools in six counties: Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Bong, Nimba and Lofa. “I like Read Liberia program because they gave my children books that they bring home to read,’’ Dunnor said. As part of the program, Read Liberia and the Ministry of Education engaged local businesses to support the program by donating refreshments and prizes for the students, teachers and parents.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 03:33 UTC
Liberia: House of Representatives Summons Health Authorities, Others on Gov’t’s Preparedness to Combat Coronavirus
Plenary also invited several officials of the Executive including Commerce Minister Wilson Tarpeh, Youth and Sports Minister, Zeogar Wilson, Labor Minister Moses Kollie and Minister of Transport, Samuel A. Wlue. In his communication, Rep. Fofana said Prof. Tarpeh should appear and provide information regarding government’s preparedness in terms of the availability of food and other basic commodities on the Liberian market as the coronavirus spreads across the world, including Liberia. The lawmakers in session endorsed Rep. Fofana’s communication through a unanimous vote following a motion by Rep. Alex C. Grant (District #3, Grand Gedeh County). His amendment was rejected by Rep. Grant, and all of the officials were asked to appear on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 10: am. Commercial motorcyclists are requested to wear protective masks and accommodate a passenger per ride, while tricycle should carry two passengers per ride.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 03:31 UTC
Liberia: “After Nyenswah Has Absconded, Has the National Institute of Public Health Still Money to Fight Coronavirus?” – A Rejoinder
It is news that TheTolbert Nyenswah was former Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL). Strangely, it now behooves the Daily Observer to assume the audacity to become ‘judge, jury and executioner’. The Daily Observer is now pontificating religious-cleansing; and is now campaigning religious bigotry. If we must seek compelling solutions to the Coronavirus onslaught, the Daily Observer can prove its independence by making substantive interventions in the fight against Coronavirus. Should Daily Observer be told or get in the business of investigating amid this garbage: “We are told that Finance Minister Samuel Tweah has responded with an allotment of US$1.5 million.”The Daily Observer as an official position should not – ‘understand’.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2020 03:11 UTC
President Weah Did No Wrong to Name Liberia’s COVID-19 Index Patient
Normally, a legitimate public interest in a subject matter or the people involved will outweigh any embarrassment to the one named. FrontPage Africa’s March 18, 2020 Editorial, titled: Calling the Names of Those Coming Down with COVID-19 Is Wrong; Stop the Stigma, Mr. President, Min. Nagbe & NPHIL, for most part, indicated that President Weah made a “fatal mistake” to have named Mr. Nathaniel Blama, Head of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, and Liberia’s index case of COVID-19. To these I ask whether the subject matter and the person involved are of legitimate public concern? Legitimate public concern, like details of an index case of COVID-19, should outweigh whatever degree of embarrassment a victim of such suffered.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 21:56 UTC
A Call to National Duty- Sharing Lesson Learnt from Ebola to Defeat COVID-19
From the inception of Ebola in Liberia, the general message was, “ Ebola is here and it kills”. Furthermore, most of quarantine centers around the country were not equip to contain Ebola victims and this signaled negative message for those who were still home. The country can now boost of the experience we gained from the Ebola crisis and knowledge transfer during the crisis that landed us to defeat Ebola. All quarantine centers must be accessible with enough medical supplies, trained health practitioners and personal protective equipment. In addition this, the government must produce a short video of all quarantine centers to encourage people who are ill to give in for quarantining.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 21:33 UTC
Liberia: Varney Taylor Foundation Donates Fuel, Money to Save Phebe Hospital
However, being touched by the ugly experiences confronting Phebe Hospital, the foundation saw it fit to chip-in with a drum of fuel and the money. God got me here for a reason,” Taylor told a local daily when asked about what motivated him to pay attention to Phebe Hospital. He promised to launch a campaign in the U.S. and other parts of the world, including Liberia, to help Phebe Hospital and other medical facilities in the country. Varney Taylor is a Liberian and Bong County where Phebe Hospital is, is part of Liberia. The Phebe Hospital, located in Suakoko, Bong County (Central Liberia) is a 75-bed hospital that also has a teaching nursing school.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2020 12:22 UTC