The United Nations Children Funds UNICEF, last Friday, April 30, 2010 handed over 20 motorbike ambulances to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in efforts to help reduce some of the biggest challenges remote communities face especially accessing timely health services.
Several districts in about six counties including Grand Gedeh, Gbarpolu, Bomi, Grand Bassa, Maryland and Lofa are expected to benefit from state-of-the-art motorbike ambulances which are capable to reach more remote communities and transport sick people and pregnant women to health centers as compare to cars.
Ms. Isabel Crowley, UNICEF Representative to Liberia, officially handed over the motorbike ambulances to Dr. Brenice Dahn, Deputy Minister for Health, who proxy for Dr. Walter Gwenigale at the UNICEF warehouse, Sawmill Community on Busrod Island.
According to Ms. Crowley, the motorbike ambulances are intended to create access between villages and main clinics and hospitals in other for women and children to be able to get to facilities that is available for them.
“As you know it is very difficult on access and transportation between villages and main clinics and hospitals and we hope this will in some way help to enumerate that, and help women and children get to the facilities that are available for them,” she said.
The UNICEF Liberia boss pointed difficulties for transportation in the rural parts of Liberia had cause people to die while being taken to the hospitals.
She indicated the efficiency of the motorbike ambulances which could maneuver to reach inaccessible communities and its less economic constrains because of its low petroleum consumption.
Ms. Crowley averred that trainers would soon arrive in the country to train people how to ride the motorbikes and how to maintain them because it is a little different from the ordinary bikes in town.
She hoped that in a while women will have access to health centers in order to reduce maternal mortality which is still plaguing the many society especially rural communities.
For her part, Deputy Minister for health, Bernice Dahn, thanked their donor for the motorbike ambulances and promised to deploy them in the communities that they are most needed urging those communities to take proper care of them.
“I will like to thank UNICEF for these motorcycle ambulances. I can recall when we were doing the planning process ambulances and something within the communities that could bring to the clinic, especially in areas that are very difficult to reach,” Dr. Dahn said.
In further elaborations Dr. Dahn said her Ministry and its partners have been planning to reduce maternal motility and child death which has been a major challenge for the ministry.
“Maternal motility is one of our challenges in the country right now,” the deputy minister acknowledged, “ it is one of the highest in the world, and we have plans called the ‘reach every woman approach, that is to reach pregnant women to be able to help them to have a save delivery . So initiative is part of the reach every woman approach.”
Dr. Dahn professed that the bikes will be taken to the identify communities this May and by the 21st a ten days training will commence to provide riders with basic knowledge on how the bikes operate.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
“Gays and Lesbians have Equal Dignity”
-Says Most Reverend Jefferts-Schori
The most reverend of the Episcopal Church, Katherine Jefferts-Schori, in a press conference at the Trinity cathedral on broad street upon her visit to the country addressed one of the most burning issues of gay and lesbian within the Anglican Church.
The Episcopal most who visit was intended to strengthen the relationship between the Liberian and the America Episcopal Church said that the issue of gay and lesbianism have been under discussion for nearly 50 years.
Most Rev. Jefferts-Schori said that God created every person differently and therefore every one have the right to have equal dignity.
“I believe that all Gods people was Created differently and have the right to have equal dignity,” Most Rev. Jefferts-Schori said.
She said of her visit to Liberia as presiding bishop was a physical massage that men and women are equally dignified in the eyes of God and hope that Liberian women in the Episcopal Church will understand that.
The visit of Her Grace to Liberia marks the first time in the history of the Episcopal church of Liberia that a Presiding Bishop has come to visit the diocese.
The Episcopal church of Liberia (ECL) was established by the American church in 1836 when the first missionaries were sent to what is now known as Maryland and for most of its existence is was just another diocese of the church until 1982 when the ECL became a full member of the Anglican Church of the Provence of West Africa (CPWA).
It was during the episcopacy of the late Bishop George D. Browne, the first indigenously elected Bishop of the Liberian Church that the church became a full member of the CPWA.
However, the relationship between the two churches has remained intact defined by a Covenant agreement that is continually reviewed and updated by both churches. The Bishop of Liberia is a non-voting member of the TEC house of bishop and delegates of ECL attend the General Conventions of TEC.
Her Grace Jefferts-Schori was elected as the 12th female presiding of a church that comprises dioceses in not only the United States but also in Asia, South and Central America, the West Indies and West Africa.
The most reverend of the Episcopal Church, Katherine Jefferts-Schori, in a press conference at the Trinity cathedral on broad street upon her visit to the country addressed one of the most burning issues of gay and lesbian within the Anglican Church.
The Episcopal most who visit was intended to strengthen the relationship between the Liberian and the America Episcopal Church said that the issue of gay and lesbianism have been under discussion for nearly 50 years.
Most Rev. Jefferts-Schori said that God created every person differently and therefore every one have the right to have equal dignity.
“I believe that all Gods people was Created differently and have the right to have equal dignity,” Most Rev. Jefferts-Schori said.
She said of her visit to Liberia as presiding bishop was a physical massage that men and women are equally dignified in the eyes of God and hope that Liberian women in the Episcopal Church will understand that.
The visit of Her Grace to Liberia marks the first time in the history of the Episcopal church of Liberia that a Presiding Bishop has come to visit the diocese.
The Episcopal church of Liberia (ECL) was established by the American church in 1836 when the first missionaries were sent to what is now known as Maryland and for most of its existence is was just another diocese of the church until 1982 when the ECL became a full member of the Anglican Church of the Provence of West Africa (CPWA).
It was during the episcopacy of the late Bishop George D. Browne, the first indigenously elected Bishop of the Liberian Church that the church became a full member of the CPWA.
However, the relationship between the two churches has remained intact defined by a Covenant agreement that is continually reviewed and updated by both churches. The Bishop of Liberia is a non-voting member of the TEC house of bishop and delegates of ECL attend the General Conventions of TEC.
Her Grace Jefferts-Schori was elected as the 12th female presiding of a church that comprises dioceses in not only the United States but also in Asia, South and Central America, the West Indies and West Africa.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
‘It’s a mistake for a woman to lead’
NVP Kiadii told Students
The standard bearer of the National Vision Party (NVP), Bishop Dr. George Kaidii, last Saturday April 17, 2010 told students at the Vision International Christian College of Liberia (VICCOL), that it was a mistake for a woman to rule.
He said this at the induction ceremony of the newly elected students’ government at VICCOL where he served as a guest speaker.
As he spoke with a preaching rhythm, Dr. Kaidii said a lot, stating that the country was build on falsehood and said that the first civil rights abuse of indigenous Liberian took place in 1847, the same the country got its independence.
“The first civil rights abuse of indigenous in this land, took place in 1847. The book of isaih says because of the lack of knowledge the people of the nation perish,” he said.
During his hour plus elaboration the NVP standard bearer raised one of his famous choruses that the land reform policy of the government was not in the interest of the indigenous Liberians.
He described the efforts of the land reform as malicious and intends to take away lands from indigenous Liberians in the rural areas who understand little of the meaning of document that is being provided to them.
“It would not be too long when we can not locate the graves of our great grandparents in our villages, - Because the tyrant have driven up some sort of malicious, descriptive amendment for people to go in our areas and start claiming our land. Yesterday I have spoken and declared that; the land reform is not in the interest of the indigenous; because the indigenous has nothing but tribal certificates. A tribal certificate does not legitimize ownership of the land you must have a deed,” he said.
The standard bearer of the National Vision Party (NVP), Bishop Dr. George Kaidii, last Saturday April 17, 2010 told students at the Vision International Christian College of Liberia (VICCOL), that it was a mistake for a woman to rule.
He said this at the induction ceremony of the newly elected students’ government at VICCOL where he served as a guest speaker.
As he spoke with a preaching rhythm, Dr. Kaidii said a lot, stating that the country was build on falsehood and said that the first civil rights abuse of indigenous Liberian took place in 1847, the same the country got its independence.
“The first civil rights abuse of indigenous in this land, took place in 1847. The book of isaih says because of the lack of knowledge the people of the nation perish,” he said.
During his hour plus elaboration the NVP standard bearer raised one of his famous choruses that the land reform policy of the government was not in the interest of the indigenous Liberians.
He described the efforts of the land reform as malicious and intends to take away lands from indigenous Liberians in the rural areas who understand little of the meaning of document that is being provided to them.
“It would not be too long when we can not locate the graves of our great grandparents in our villages, - Because the tyrant have driven up some sort of malicious, descriptive amendment for people to go in our areas and start claiming our land. Yesterday I have spoken and declared that; the land reform is not in the interest of the indigenous; because the indigenous has nothing but tribal certificates. A tribal certificate does not legitimize ownership of the land you must have a deed,” he said.
Liberia to Submit REDD Readiness Plans
The Government of Liberia is now developing a Readiness Plan (R-PP) and the purpose of this workshop was to create space for NGOs, Government, private sector and other stakeholders to discuss and develop a list of priority issues that should be addressed in the R-PP.
The government and partners have expressed commitment to broadening stakeholder participation and input to the development of the R-PP and to take into account the views of communities.
During the function which was held in the conference room of the Family Planning Building on 18th Street in Sinkor, several issues about the REDD R-PP were raised.
Some of the issues discussed at the workshop were about the components of red and how could civil society organizations participate the dialogue of the R-PP.
Though the REDD program is intended to help reduce deforestation and degradation as well as carbon emissions emitting from them, question was also raised about those Liberians who are dependent on the forests and their various products for their livelihoods.
The meaningful reduction of carbon emissions could also support pro-poor development by helping biodiversity and secure vital ecosystem services.
The attendants at the workshop agreed that to achieve these multiple benefits, REDD will require the full engagement and respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and other forest-dependent communities.
Though REDD is an emerging concept in the context of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its activities in developing countries must complement deep cuts in developed countries’ emissions.
The concept promotes the use of forests as carbon sinks as a critical action in the global efforts to combat climate change and slow down global warming.
The discussions on REDD/ REDD + (REDD plus) within the UNFCCC is concerned with how to reward efforts to address deforestation and forest degradation, how this relates to other measures such as drastic emission cuts, and a financing mechanism.
According to the overview of the workshop the UNFCCC talks in Copenhagen in 2009 failed to deliver an agreement. However, talks will resume this year with the hope of concluding a legally binding agreement on climate change.
But this is challenged by resistance to drastic emission reduction in US, Europe and other major polluters including China. Discussions on REDD have now been broaden to include plantations and sustainable management of forest (including logging).
Road Projects Doubts Clear
MONROVIA -President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf yesterday, April 20, 2010, during a press conference held in the C. Cecius Dennis auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address national issues clarified that road projects taking place in the country were not solely a World Bank’s undertaking.
Though there have been speculations around town that road projects being carried out in the country was a World Bank’s project, President Sirleaf disclosed that the world bank was only managing funding that it as well as other donors have provided through the Liberia infrastructure funds.
The Liberia Infrastructure Fund was established in line with the PRS; through the World Bank, at the major donor conference held 2007 in Berlin, Germany.
“That trust fund is managed by the world bank. Any donor and we encourage all donors supporting our infrastructure to put that money into that fund. Under our PRS, base upon consultation with the people, we have said in infrastructure, roads are our number one priority,” Madam Sirleaf said.
This statement came in wake of a question posed to the president by a member of the press who was to take credit for the road projects.
According to president Sirleaf in her elaboration, some of the roads in the country was being undertaking by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as well as the government of Liberia using taxpayers money but the rest was being funded by the trust fund.
The president pointed out the road to Roberts port, Cape Mount County, and Todee as a project funded and undertaken by USAID according to their policy.
Other projects such as the S K D Boulevard and the A B Tolbert Road among others undertaking by the Government of Liberia and funded with taxpayer money.
The president further pleaded with Liberians to understand, that ‘no donor has any project in Liberia.
“They support us, we appreciate their support, they provide funding to supplement our resources, but it is not their project. It is your project. It is the Liberian project,” she said.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
LPRC Brings Relief to Vickey Community
As popular demand by the over 400 inhabitants of Vickey Community, Logan Town, for places of convenience intensifies, the charity wing of the Liberia Refining Petroleum Company (LPRC) constructed a six-room pit latrine for their use.
The head of LPRC’s Charity Program, Mrs. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, turning over the keys to the facility to Deputy Managing Director Jackson F. Doe, Jr, asserted that the pit latrine, which cost about US$6,500, was constructed owing to a request made by a local group, Citizen for the Reconstruction of Liberia (CRL).
Mrs. Lawrence disclosed that the latrine was constructed in collaboration with the community as a demonstration of LPRC commitment to the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).
The LPRC’s Charity head divulged that the construction of the pit latrine is one of the hundredth undertakings of LPRC since 2006. She added that such undertakings are a way of demonstrating their continued support to the Government’s PRS initiative.
LPRC’s Deputy Managing Director Jackson, on behalf of the Board of Directors and management, thanked the Charity division and advised the inhabitants of Logan Town to maintain and take good care of the pit latrine.
Cutting the ribbon to the pit latrine, LPRC Finance Director Elizabeth Matu Tubman told the community dwellers that there would be a monthly or quarterly inspection of the facility and appealed to them to keep the latrine clean.
Turning over the key to CRL Project Director Nelson Karmie, Madam Tubman reminded them that “cleanliness is next to Godliness.”
Speaking on behalf of the Community, CRL Project Director Karmie thanked LPRC for the construction of the latrine and assured the Corporation that the facility would be kept clean.
“We are grateful for the timely construction of this six-room pit latrine and we can assure you of keeping it clean. This latrine has inserted smiles on the faces of more than 400 would-be users. We are happy because there will be no more ‘plastic flying’ and there will be no feces all around in this community. The latrine, we believe, will curtail sickness,” Mr. Karmie avowed.
The administrator of the pit latrine, George Paye told the Daily Observer that the construction of the latrine is welcoming.
The head of LPRC’s Charity Program, Mrs. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, turning over the keys to the facility to Deputy Managing Director Jackson F. Doe, Jr, asserted that the pit latrine, which cost about US$6,500, was constructed owing to a request made by a local group, Citizen for the Reconstruction of Liberia (CRL).
Mrs. Lawrence disclosed that the latrine was constructed in collaboration with the community as a demonstration of LPRC commitment to the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).
The LPRC’s Charity head divulged that the construction of the pit latrine is one of the hundredth undertakings of LPRC since 2006. She added that such undertakings are a way of demonstrating their continued support to the Government’s PRS initiative.
LPRC’s Deputy Managing Director Jackson, on behalf of the Board of Directors and management, thanked the Charity division and advised the inhabitants of Logan Town to maintain and take good care of the pit latrine.
Cutting the ribbon to the pit latrine, LPRC Finance Director Elizabeth Matu Tubman told the community dwellers that there would be a monthly or quarterly inspection of the facility and appealed to them to keep the latrine clean.
Turning over the key to CRL Project Director Nelson Karmie, Madam Tubman reminded them that “cleanliness is next to Godliness.”
Speaking on behalf of the Community, CRL Project Director Karmie thanked LPRC for the construction of the latrine and assured the Corporation that the facility would be kept clean.
“We are grateful for the timely construction of this six-room pit latrine and we can assure you of keeping it clean. This latrine has inserted smiles on the faces of more than 400 would-be users. We are happy because there will be no more ‘plastic flying’ and there will be no feces all around in this community. The latrine, we believe, will curtail sickness,” Mr. Karmie avowed.
The administrator of the pit latrine, George Paye told the Daily Observer that the construction of the latrine is welcoming.
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