MONROVIA, February 26 (LINA) - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says Liberia has now taken back its future that was once threatened by the Ebola Virus Disease that plagued the country.

She attributed the success in the fight against the disease to the resilience of the Liberian people who took ownership of the fight at the community level and the support of international partners led by the United States.

“Your role was also very crucial in providing the much needed support that enabled our people in the towns, villages and communities who were the victims to take ownership of the fight. The US has been a great partner,” the Liberian Leader remarked.

According to a dispatch from the United States, President Sirleaf made the remarks when she met with the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Rajiv Shah, and Senior US Government Inter-Agencies officials in Washington DC Wednesday, as part of her on-going official visit to the country.

“Today our kids are back in school, the curfew has ended, the borders are opened, the markets are full again - what more can we say, but thank you,” Pres. Sirleaf said, earning a thunderous applause from the USAID staff.

The Liberian Leader said the challenge now for Liberia haven’t turned the corner against Ebola, was to see how the US could continue to remain engaged not just in helping to eradicate the disease, but also to play a lead role in the Liberian Government’s efforts to get back on track with the national development plan - the Agenda for Transformation – in the post-Ebola era.

Earlier in a meeting with the USAID Administrator and other senior US Inter-Agencies officials, President Sirleaf welcomed the news of the new approved US Givernment funding towards the final push against Ebola.

She said the government’s Roads to Health program, upgrading the health sector to withstand future disease outbreaks, improving the agriculture sector with a focus on storing, preserving and processing as well as support to the provision of basic social services were all vital areas such funding could go towards.

The USAID Administrator and other officials lauded President Sirleaf for her brilliant leadership role and cooperation with the US in the fight against Ebola.

They committed to work with the Liberian Government to first ensure that Liberia reaches the zero case benchmark and to also remain engaged with Liberia so that the country not only gets back on track with its national development program upset by Ebola, but also explore new areas of cooperation.

President Sirleaf was accompanied to the meeting by Cllr. Seward Cooper, Legal Advisor to the President, the Ministers of Finance and Development Planning and Information,  Amara Konneh and Lewis Brown as well as Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States Dr. Jeremiah Solunteh.
LINA