MONROVIA, September 18 (LINA) - Information Minister Lewis G. Brown has urged Liberians to galvanize resources at home and the Diaspora to support the efforts of the international community in response to the Ebola crisis.
Minister Brown said Liberians should also establish cordial working ties with members of the U.S. army and other overseas NGOs coming to assist the country from crumbling under the Ebola disease.
The minister was speaking at the Ministry of Information weekly news conference held at the ministry in Monrovia Thursday.
He observed that Liberia lacks the necessary logistical support and equipment to engage the menacing Ebola disease, noting that it will be prudent for Liberians to support those adhering to the call of the country.
The minister added that Liberia’s response to the help of the rest of the world should invoke a spirit of unity thereby signaling to the world that Liberians are a people free from the stigma of the past.
“Government is doing all it can to make sure that the world responds quickly to our troubles, but the question yet unanswered is, ‘what can we do to help ourselves,’ because all the international support and resources will not help this country if we bind our hands and do nothing,” Brown indicated.
He cautioned Liberians not to see the availability of more treatment units in the country as a means to recklessly ignore preventive Ebola measures but as a signal that more work needs to be done within various communities to prevent people from contracting the virus.
Meanwhile, the Information Minister has called on political leaders, health workers, religious communities and every citizen to embark on a robust campaign to educate the people on ways to help stop the spread of the virus.
“Let us not use this situation for our usual bickering, the people are now interested in outcomes not excuses, this virus has taken the lives of many of our people, businesses are closing, we have shut down schools, we have only one choice, that is to win this fight,” the MICAT boss added.
LINA WSG/TSS/PTK