The Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP) and its partners last Saturday launched an Ebola Community Action Platform (E-CAP) project in Gbarnga, Bong County with a call for concerted efforts from citizens to fight the deadly virus.Launching the program, Deputy Minister for Research Planning & Development at the Ministry of Health, Yah Zoila, said Liberians must continue their efforts to fight against the virus which has claimed over 3000 lives in the country.Though there has been a considerable decline of infections in the country, “we need to work together to see to it that the virus is totally eradicated from our country,”Ms. Zoila said.She encouraged over 500 participants attending the program to ensure the prevention of the virus in their communities.Also speaking, the program manager at EQUIP Liberia, Emmanuel N. Kemen, said grassroots community engagement is the best approach to educate Liberians about eradicating the Ebola virus from the country.He added: “As a lead agency in the E-CAP program, EQUIP-Liberia is committed to building the capacity of grassroot and national organizations to improve community health and effectively address crosscutting community development challenges in Liberia.”The EQUIP executive called on Liberians to focus on eliminating the virus from the country and do away with stigmatization, rejection and discrimination against those who have survived the virus.Speaking through an interpreter, Daikpanah Chief Flomo Barror assured Liberians of the commitment of chiefs and elders of the country to spread the message of prevention and control in the respective areas under their supervision.He said: “On behalf of all the chiefs and elders of Liberia we are happy for this important launch in Gbarnga and we want to assure you we will do our part to ensure that this deadly Ebola virus disease is driven out of our country.”The launching program was marked by a parade through Gbarnga and climaxed with an in-house program at the Administrative Building.Meanwhile, Crusaders for Peace Executive Director Madam Julie Endee said the cost of the E-CAP project is US$12million, funded by USAID and developed by Mercy Corps, Liberia.She said: “The US$12 million is not coming to the Crusaders for Peace. We are just a partner in implementing what the money is being used for which is to ensure that the virus leaves Liberia.”Madam Endee added that the campaign is spread out among various organizations for implementation in seven of Liberia’s fifteen counties. They are Bong, Nimba, Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, and Lofa.Moreover, she said community engagement is crucial to ensure that people in all corners of Liberia remain vigilant and know what to do in the case of an outbreak.She explained that partners working on the project are Shalom in Grand Bassa, ADII in Bong, Bomi and Montserrado and RHG-L in Bong and Montserrado.Other partners are Taruma Aid International in Nimba, Give Them Hope in Nimba, AFROMD in Bong and Montserrado, CHANOL in Bong and EQUIP Liberia in Montserrado and Nimba Counties.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
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