PRESS STATEMENT The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), through its National President Hon. Gaye D. Sleh wishes to express its profound thanks to all Liberians in the Diaspora for the massive mobilization of financial and other resources towards the fight against Ebola in our homeland. The Union expresses particular gratitude to its member organizations that have led both in gathering materials and other essential supplies and also creating awareness in their various communities, bringing the Ebola issue to the knowledge of American public policy makers and officials, health care professionals, philanthropist, and other key institutions. Similarly, the Union expresses special thanks to the various Diaspora groups that are vigorously working to eliminate Ebola out of Liberia. These groups include the Diaspora Liberians Ebola Crisis Response Campaign Committee, Liberians United against Ebola, The Diaspora Ebola Task Force, the FELMUSA Medical Mission to Liberia, national county associations, and all other Liberian groups who have joined this fight. Through the efforts of these organizations, huge quantities of medical supplies such as gowns, gloves, hand sanitizers, and many others have been collected across the Diaspora with some already to ship to Liberia, while others are pending shipment. As the battle rages on, ULAA encourages all of these groups to continue their efforts until Ebola is finally removed from Liberia. The Union also welcomes recent steps taken by the Government of Liberia such as the allocation of funds and creation of a special account to fight the disease, closure of borders, testing at border posts, and other legitimate actions intended to combat the spread of the diseases. Meanwhile, the Union is alarmed at news reports that the Government of Liberia has expended $12m dollars over the period covering April –June in the Ebola fight. ULAA is baffled that with such a huge expenditure of public funds, issues such as personnel protective gears for health care workers, establishment of additional isolation centers, testing, treatment, contact tracing, and the prompt and dignified retrieval of fallen citizens’ corpses still pose major challenges to the government. Bodies of the dead still remain uncollected for days in the various homes and communities of our country. Further, the few isolation and treatment centers that exist are near capacity, leading to citizens who appear for test, isolation, or treatment to lie in open spaces under tree cover around hospital facilities. Clearly, the Liberian people are asking: How this $12million dollar was spent? Accordingly, the Union is calling on the government of Liberia to provide clarification on the $12M expenditure, and also a detailed and transparent account of all funds allocated by the government and also received from friendly governments and international organizations to contain the spread of the virus. . The Union believes that such accountability will build confidence in the Liberian people and international community, and ensure that essential supplies and services are available to the people during this critical period. The Union further calls on the government to show a sense of seriousness in meeting the needs of the people. We can no longer tolerate the appalling failure of the government that has exacerbated the spread of this disease leading to the untimely death of so many Liberians. It is clear that the ineffective response of the Government has placed the nation in a state of danger. Today, our country is near isolation as all major airlines have pulled out, and or suspended flights to the country. Liberians cannot seek refuge in neighboring countries for fear of spreading the virus. The people are under a state of emergency, isolated and trapped in their homes and communities while prices of basic commodities are skyrocketing. ULAA believes that these conditions should impose a sense of urgency on the Government to confront this disease in a thorough and systematic manner that inspires hope and confidence in the people. Clearly, our people cannot live under a perpetual state of emergency with its accompanied hardship while the government seems incapable of leading the way. ULAA therefore wants to make it categorically clear to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Government of Liberia that if the Government continues to remain docile and ineffective in the face of this plague inflicted on our people, the Union working with its member organizations, partners, national and international stakeholders, will mobilize to create the necessary awareness where Liberians will make “FUNDAMENTAL DECISIONS” regarding the issues of governance, peace, and security for the Republic. It is now clear that the most critical challenge facing Liberia is no longer lack of funds or resources, but rather the diminished level of patriotism, leadership, competency, efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the governance process of the nation now lay bare by the arrival of this horrible disease. Finally, the Union calls on Liberians to continue to remain fully engaged in the fight to eliminate Ebola from Liberia and to also hold the Government accountable regarding its stewardship of the Liberian nation in this critical period of our history. PLEASE STAY TUNED TO ULAA PRESS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE EBOLA FIGHT. THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF ULAA IS ULAALIB.ORG. ULAA Motto: Together We Struggle for a Better Liberia
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 01:02:24 +0000
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