Liberian President George Manneh Weah is expected to give his second address to the nation, in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic later today (Wednesday, April 8, 2020) at 12 Pm GMT, after appointing Madam Mary Broh to coordinate the COVID-19 national response.
In his first address in March, the President announced that Liberia had recorded its first confirmed Coronavirus case, with the patient being the suspended Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Nathaniel Blama. And he announced measures to fight the spread of the virus.
It’s not known what exactly President Weah will be telling Liberians in his address later today, but it will be coming after calls from some quarters for the CDC government to take several economic stimulus measures to ease the hardship on many Liberians and business people, amid COVID-19 restrictions.
The address to the nation comes, as three persons have already died from the virus, with the number of confirmed cases gone up to 14, with hundreds of contacts being pursued.
Last evening, President Weah appointed with immediate effect Madam Mary Broh to serve as the National Response Coordinator for the Executive Committee on Coronavirus (ECOC) in Liberia.
An Executive Mansion press release on April 7, 2020 said: “In this role, Madam Broh will provide supervision toward a single set of national strategic objectives for defeating the Coronavirus disease. She will also coordinate the National COVID-19 multi-sectorial response plan, in coordination with the United Nations (UN), donor partners, Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL).
The President has also appointed Finda Bundoo as the National Compliance Manager of ECOC. Madam Bundoo is charged with the responsibility of monitoring the overall allocation and disbursement of the response logistics and resources.
In consultation with the National Response Coordinator, Madam Bundoo will ensure timely delivery and accounting for supplies directed to the fight against Coronavirus in the country.
Both appointments, which have a term of nine months, became necessary following recommendations made by the United Nations, in particular the World Health Organization, which were aimed at further enhancing the national response as cases begin to spike. It is also based on a decision from a consultative meeting held between the Special Presidential Advisory Committee on Coronavirus (SPACOC) and partners.
During the discussions, a decision was made to move away from the current system of advisory and consultative meetings to operational and community-oriented outreach. Both persons have the full support and backing of the UN.
Madam Broh and Bundoo are required to liaise with health authorities on the Incident Management Team and heed their counsel, where necessary. The appointees will report directly to the President.”