PHOTO: CSOs Consortium Spokesman, Anderson Maimen
A consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Liberia have advanced an eight count recommendation aimed at safeguarding the welfare and rights of people; especially the less fortunate during the state of emergency.
They want government to identify funds and other resources to support mainly women, children, the elderly and people living with disabilities in poor communities.
Such support should include but not limited to safe drinking water, food and other essential items to enable them survive while staying at home, the group said.
They also want those locked down to be timely supplied with electricity and pipe-borne water where they exist.
The group of CSOs include the Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD), Naymote Partners for Democratic Development (NAYMOTE-Liberia), Accountability Lab Liberia and Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL).
The CSOs have also urged the President and Vice President to lead by example in fostering and promoting a national fight that rallies the support of all stakeholders.
“The President and Vice President cannot be running individual projects when they should be leading a Government of Liberia’s actions and efforts, to which all senators, representatives, civil servants and even ordinary citizens and development partners can identify”.
The statement also spoke against the politicization of the fight against the pandemic, while at the same time underscoring the need for the Health Ministry and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia and other relevant bodies to be adequately capacitated to lead the fight, “void of undue political influence and interferences”.
The CSOs strongly believe that the overwhelming role of the Monrovia City Corporation in contact tracing and surveillance with no prior experience and capacity, seriously undermines the roles of the Ministry and the Public Health Institute.
“Non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders and the media played key roles during the Ebola fight and must be recognized by the government and provided the opportunity to contribute. The Leaderships and essential staffs of CSOs must be equally allowed to work, as they play vital roles in creating awareness, proving valuable inputs to government as well as independently monitoring and reporting on key trends and decision-making processes around the fight”, the group said in the joint statement.
Government and commercial banks have also been cautioned against “the payment of loans and interests by creditors to commercial Banks for the period of 3-months. This will alleviate the pressure and economic impact on businesses, many of whom either not operating or doing so not at full capacity”, they noted.
The CSOs have at the same time call on “all Liberians and residents to fully respect instructions from government, health authorities to protect themselves and others during this period”.
They also admonished all to observe the social distancing rules and avoid anything that undermines the fight against COVID-19, which they added, cannot be won without collaborative and well-coordinated efforts of all including government, development partners, citizens, civil society and media and other groups in society.
They said civil society will remain constructively engaged with government in forging a united, concerted, well-coordinated and citizens-driven fight against the deadly Coronavirus in the Country.
The group also lauded government for the steps it has thus far taken including the imposition of the state of emergency to contain the outbreak.
“We join the President and health authorities to admonish Liberians and the public to fully respect and observe all protocols announced as effective means of preventing further spread of the Virus as well as consolidating efforts to eradicate it.
They believe that would with an inclusive and concerted fight, led by the President and institutions with the requisite mandates and proven capabilities and experience, COVID-19 would soon be defeated.