Explaining the operation to journalists at the Ministry of Information regular weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill in Monrovia on Thursday, Defense Minister Brownie Samukai said it is intended to support policy decisions of the National Taskforce on Ebola.
He noted that “Operation White Shield”, which is already in progress, is divided into four taskforces based in designated areas.
He said Taskforce One is be based in Montserrado and Margibi counties to respond to any incident that requires the presence of the force, while Taskforce Two is already based in Lofa County, with its headquarters in Foya, where the Ministry of Health has built an Ebola Treatment Center.
According to the Defense Minister, some personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) will also be assigned at various border points such as Solomba and Mendicorma to ensure that there is no further entry and exit of persons or group of persons not cleared by healthcare workers.
Samukai further disclosed that the operation will also deploy men in Voinjama to support civil administration and the hospital there as well as healthcare workers and will also make its presence felt in nearby areas.
He said Taskforce Three will be posted in Bomi County where it will provide very limited movement outside of the county to identify, trace, and maintain surveillance and in some cases quarantine individuals who may have fled as a result of fear and denial.
Minister Samuka said Taskforce Four is in Grand Cape Mount County, specifically Sinje, Robertsport and Bo Waterside, to also provide support to healthcare workers in those places, making sure they perform their duties.
The Defense Minister urged politicians to avoid political interference in the operations of the military as political interference will not be tolerated by the forces at those places of assignment.
The National Defense Chief said the operation is also intended to provide security to all healthcare workers and institutions by making sure they perform their work unhindered by any person or group of persons and ensure their safety in the discharge of their duties.
According Minister Samuka, part of the mandate of the personnel of the AFL positioned in the localities earmarked is to avoid the influx of people from one place to another whether or not they are infected with the disease.
The Defense Minister said “Operation White Shield” is also intended to support quality decisions, specifically to the containment of the spread of Ebola, in areas identified by the Ministry of Health under the Public Health Law for the common good of the society.
“Our intent is to also support civil administrations in the various localities where we are assigned and to facilitate uninhibited movement of health personnel in the delivery of urgently needed services to our people,” Samukai asserted.
By Prince Nagbe &Wilfred Gortor
LINA PSN/WSG/JGT/TSS/PTK