GBARNGA, October 5, (LINA) - Traditional chiefs and elders have called on government to include them on Ebola task forces and empower them with logistics and finance to undertake community outreach initiatives.

They made the statement in a 10-point resolution at the end of a four-day consultative meeting under the auspices of the Carter Center held in Gbarnga, Bong County, on Saturday.

The resolution was signed by heads of chiefs from all 15 counties, approved by Chief Zanzan Karwor, head of the traditional leaders, and presented to Deputy Internal Affairs Minister for Operation, Ranney B. Jackson.

They committed themselves to joining the campaign to disseminate anti-Ebola messages in towns and villages to help curb the spread of the deadly virus.

The chiefs, according to the resolution, requested that the Government of Liberia train traditional midwives and youth volunteers in the management and handling of Ebola-related cases.

“The Government of Liberia must provide needed materials and financial support to all health facilities, including PPEs and ambulances for health workers, midwives, at county and district levels as a means to encourage these practitioners to return to work,” the resolution said.

It also called on government to consider the demand of health workers for risk incentives and increase in salary in order to strengthen the health sector in the fight against the Ebola virus.

The chiefs and elders asked government and its partners to provide mega phones and flyers to enable them disseminate Ebola messages in the language that the people the people understand. 

The traditional leaders called on government and its partners to set up testing and treatment centers at all major health facility in Liberia and provide food and counseling for quarantined communities and people as well as children of Ebola victims.

Following the presentation, Minister Jackson assured the chiefs that the document will be delivered to Internal Affairs Minister Morris M. Dukuly, but noted that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has ensured that taskforces at county and district levels include traditional leaders.

As its initial support to chiefs and elders, Carter Center distributed 75 pieces of mega phone and over 4,000 pieces of flyers to all 15 counties.

Carter Center Chief of Party, Pewee Flomoku, said Saturday distribution illustrates the Center’s preparedness to support the chiefs as they join in the fight to eradicate the Ebola virus from the country.

LINA BK/JGT/PTK