LIBERIA: Act-Alliance Liberia Forum Buttresses GOL Efforts
…….Donates to ETU, Ebola Affected Communities – By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – A faith based organization, Action by Churches Together (ACT-Alliance) has presented several food and non-food items to Ebola affected communities in Grand Cape Mount and Bong counties.
Donation in Mawa in Fuamah District, Lower Bong County by ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum
Donation to the ELWA-2 Ebola Treatment Unit by ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum
Donation to the Grand Cape Mount County Heath Team by ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum
Donation at Bo Waterside, Grand Cape Mount County by ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum
Donation in Jenewonde, Grand Cape Mount County by ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum
Communities benefitting from the donation In Grand Cape Mount County include Tiennie , Bo Waterside and Jenewonde a town hard hit by the virus, including the County Health Team based in Sinje and Mawa in Fuamah District, Lower Bong County.
Presenting the items over the weekend on Behalf of ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum, the Executive Director of the Lutheran Development Service in Liberia (LDS), Joseph S. Binda disclosed that at the start of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, the Liberian Forum communicated with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switerzerland, about the Ebola crisis.
Mr. Binda pointed out that they were advised to take the necessary action to intervene in the Ebola crisis.
As the result, he said it was required of the group to intervene in communities hard hit by the virus, emergency also a focus of the Forum.
As an organization, Mr. Binda asserted that the primary objectives of ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum include Development, Advocacy & Emergency, and supporting Ebola affected Communities is part of his Organization’s Emergency Agenda.
He stressed that ACT-Alliance has been supportive in combating the Ebola virus by also assisting hospitals and Ebola survivors around the country providing them with the necessary care and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for especially health care workers.
Mr. Binda said the intervention of ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum is intended to buttress the efforts of government and partners in containing the Ebola virus.
The LDS Boss disclosed that the Relief intervention will run for a year with one million been targeted as funding for the relief activities.
He said though the full amount of the one million United States dollars is still pending, ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum continues to assist health centers, communities, residents and health care workers with needed materials including food and non-food items, and training opportunities in Ebola Awareness and Prevention.
He urged beneficiaries to always take serious the fight against Ebola, assuring them that ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum will continue to remain a true Partner in the National Ebola Response.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Grand Cape Mount County Health Team, the County Health Administrator, Mansary Jallah commended ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum for its farsightedness.
Mr. Jallah said the donation of the food and non-food items will enable the Health Team perform its duty effectively, urging other organizations to emulate the good example of ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum.
For beneficiaries in Bo Waterside, they praised ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum for remembering them in the Ebola Crisis, adding that the donation is a source of encouragement for their community, especially Ebola survivors.
They also want other organizations join the band wagon to assist communities and individuals affected by the Ebola Virus.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Tienni, the former District Commissioner, Clarence Fahnbulleh, said the visit of Act-Alliance has restored the lost hope of residents.
Former Commissioner Fahnbulleh further said the donation and the care shown by the ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum is an indication of a true spirit of humanity.
Also making remarks during the donation in another Ebola affected community, the Town Chief of Jenewonde, “a town hard hit by the Ebola Virus”, Jebeh Sarnoh described the donation as a life venture.
Madam Sarnoh said the donation will go a long way in providing feeding for individuals who have been placed under quarantine by medical workers and the town’s authority.
She called on Government and partners to dispatch a medical team to be assigned in the town to assist contain the Ebola virus.
Town Chief Sarnoh noted that due to the absence of a medical team, it could further exacerbate the situation in the area and undermine the fight against Ebola.
Madam Sarnoh said denial is a factor also attributing to the wide spread of the virus in Jenewonde.
“My people still doubt that Ebola is responsible for all the deaths in this Town”, Madam Sarnoh asserted.
Jenewonde with a population of a little over 600 persons has been hard hit by Ebola, killing at least 25 persons, while 60 persons are currently been quarantined.
The Jenewonde Town Chief is meanwhile appealing to the organization through the Lutheran Development Service to embark on an awareness campaign in the town to provide facts about Ebola, to help residents who still doubt the existence of the virus.
For their part, residents of Mawa in Fuamah District, another town hard hit by the virus in Lower Bong County called on Government and partners to provide them with medicine in their local clinic.
The residents want the clinic open throughout the week and not once a week as it is now.
“It is not healthy and save for us as a town hard hit by Ebola for a clinic to only open once a week” Mawa residents expressed concern during an interaction between them and ACT-Alliance Team that carried out the donation.
The residents also expressed the need for safe drinking water and toilet facilities in the town to also assist in improving their health needs.
The donation of food and non-food items to Grand Cape Mount and Bong Counties, followed similar donation to the ELWA-2 Ebola Treatment Unit in Montserrado County by ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum.
The items were presented by a Member of the Forum, Pewu Subah, on behalf of the other Members present.
The items were received by Dr. I.B. Pass Garnon, Director of the ELWA-2 ETU, who commanded ACT-Alliance for the gesture and assured that the items will be used for the intended purpose.
Action by Churches Together Liberia Forum has a Membership of five, including, Lutheran Church of Liberia, Lutheran Development Service, Finn Church Aid, Church World Service and ECO, with Head Quarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
