MONROVIA, September 8 (LINA) – Information Minister Lewis G. Brown has said that though the government appreciates working with international partners, “it is its duty to take care and provide for its citizens at all times, whether under normal or abnormal circumstances.”

Minister Brown reiterated that the Government of Liberia will not surrender its responsibility of caring for Ebola patients to any other person or organization.

In recent times, there have been calls from some quarters, including the National Legislature, for the government to outsource the management of the Ebola crisis to international partners, on grounds that it lacked the capacity to fight the Ebola virus.

The critics are recommending the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), among other organizations, to manage the Ebola fight.

Speaking at the daily Ebola Update in Monrovia Monday, Brown said the government is facing a medical emergency and, as such, the country needs the global public health community to help deal with the crisis, adding “No option is off the table”.

He added that Liberia is not the only country on the globe with such disease, noting that “it is an international crisis of epic proportion, and all ideas should focus on eradicating the disease from the world and not for Liberia to shift its responsibilities to friends.”

Meanwhile, Minister Brown is warning against continued denial of the existence of the Ebola disease, urging Liberians to adhere to the preventive measures set by the Health Ministry to contain the disease.
LINA WTD/GDJ/TSS/PTK