Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has
written a heartfelt letter to the world over the
Ebola crisis that hit her country. In the letter
which was read over the radio and
transmitted worldwide, she likened the Ebola
epidermic to the civil war her country faced
11 years ago which killed a lot of Liberians,
crumbled their economy and vital
institutions.
The president called on the international
community to stop all theoretical
explanations on the Ebola crisis and act fast
to stop the spread of the deadly virus. Find
her letter after the cut...
Dear World
In just over six months, Ebola has managed
to bring my country to a standstill. We have
lost over 2,000 Liberians. Some are children
struck down in the prime of their youth. Some
were fathers, mothers, brothers or best
friends. Many were brave health workers that
risked their lives to save others, or simply
offer victims comfort in their final moments.
There is no coincidence Ebola has taken hold
in three fragile states – Liberia, Sierra Leone
and Guinea - all battling to overcome the
effects of interconnected wars. In Liberia, our
civil war ended only eleven years ago. It
destroyed our public infrastructure, crushed
our economy and led to an exodus of
educated professionals. A country that had
some 3,000 qualified doctors at the start of
the war was dependent by its end on barely
three dozen. In the last few years, Liberia was
bouncing back. We realized there was a long
way to go, but the future was looking bright.
Now Ebola threatens to erase that hard work.
Our economy was set to be larger and
stronger this year, offering more jobs to
Liberians and raising living standards. Ebola
is not just a health crisis – across West
Africa, a generation of young people risk
being lost to an economic catastrophe as
harvests are missed, markets are shut and
borders are closed.
The virus has been able to spread so rapidly
because of the insufficient strength of the
emergency, medical and military services that
remain under-resourced and without the
preparedness to confront such a challenge.
This would have been the case whether the
confrontation was with Ebola, another
infectious disease, or a natural disaster.
But one thing is clear. This is a fight in which
the whole world has a stake. This disease
respects no borders. The damage it is
causing in West Africa, whether in public
health, the economy or within communities –
is already reverberating throughout the region
and across the world.
The international reaction to this crisis was
initially inconsistent and lacking in clear
direction or urgency. Now finally, the world
has woken up. The community of nations has
realized they cannot simply pull up the
drawbridge and wish this situation away.
This fight requires a commitment from every
nation that has the capacity to help –
whether that is with emergency funds,
medical supplies or clinical expertise.
I have every faith in our resilience as
Liberians, and our capacity as global
citizens, to face down this disease, beat it
and rebuild. History has shown that when a
people are at their darkest hour, humanity
has an enviable ability to act with bravery,
compassion and selflessness for the benefit
of those most in need.
From governments to international
organisations, financial institutions to NGOs,
politicians to ordinary people on the street in
any corner of the world, we all have a stake
in the battle against Ebola. It is the duty of
all of us, as global citizens, to send a
message that we will not leave millions of
West Africans to fend for themselves against
an enemy that they do not know, and against
whom they have little defence.
The time for talking or theorizing is over. Only
concerted action will save my country, and
our neighbours, from experiencing another
national tragedy. The words of Henrik Ibsen
have never been truer: “A thousand words
leave not the same deep impression as does
a single deed.
Yours sincerely,
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

I am sure the world will do more to help. However it is important to ask what your national leadership and state level leadership have done since the war ended. What is your record on corruption? Or have you only been eating the spoil of high office not knowing or caring that the reason why some countries are ever so progressive is they never stop working and preparing for a difficult time for their people such as an all out epidemic or economic downturn. What is your record since 2005??

.

Make i BOOK space

madamoringo:
I am sure the world will do more to help.

"The world" is reluctant to help because:

1) The cure has not been found: This makes it very risky for medical volunteers to leave their shores. As it stands, medical workers are more exposed to the virus as record shows. (RIP Dr. Adedevoh). The main reason for the reluctance President Sirleaf Johnson's administration is witnessing.

2) Skewed african orientation: Africans believe the "world" (western world) is their enemy. We've read on this forum where ignorant africans want Russia, a country that didn't donate as much as Nigeria in 2010, to defeat the US. For the records, Ethiopia gets 85% of its budget from foreign aids & grants and Russia doesn't donate a dime! So if your people think I'm your enemy, why would I not be reluctant? More ridiculous, some people believe Ebola was "developed" to kill the black race . Extremely skewed mentality!

3) The "world" is also fighting the scourge: Ebola has found its way into the US. It has also killed a priest and a nurse in Spain even after they took Zmapp. If US could swap 5 terrorists to save the life of a soldier, wouldn't they have saved the life of Duncan that died of Ebola if there was a tried and tested cure?

Anyways, we've heard that the Cuban government is sending a team of doctors. Also the UK is gearing up to send medical aids inaddition to the $100m donated by the US. I hope it stalls the spread while the cure is being found.


Frawzey

The woman needs to hurry up and resign - she's failed!

I hope the Nigerian government will do everything within her capacity to continue to assist them in containing this ebola menace. We should not be tired of helping them. As their big brothers, it is our God given role!

Am sure if it was 1 of the western countries that was hit by Ebola the way Liberia is hit they would have acted very fast.

If only liberia will agree and become Nigeria's 37th state, we will manage their Ebola crisis and it will be a thing of the past.

lilprinze:
Am sure if it was 1 of the western countries that was hit by Ebola the way Liberia is hit they would have acted very fast.

My Broda instead of condemning or comparing liberia,pls give her ideas to curb this deadly virus if u have any....even the western world u re talking , US is at risk of a larger outbreak, or Us no be western country....may God just intervene and help this world be it western ,northern, southern or eastern countries

i dont know what to say because my words cant help yu out.
i wish i culd stop it or help yu out but i'm helpless.
i feel ur pains,i feel what yu re passing thru
i kip praying To God too and when i ask som pple,they mention endtime,
but i dont belive it because my God wil strengthen you,
my God wil save yu
and your country men and women.
Ebola or whatever you re call? Dismiss frm the land of
liberia to liberate
serra leone
and guinea rightnow.amen..
enuff is enuff dos says the lord of host

rubbish,African countries cant help because the woman is a white stooge and together they know the truth about the virus and how they try to spread it from there to other African countries,would you help somebody who is trying to kill her people and other just for cash,that is why we should be careful of this people who work in international organizations.same way Nigeria was making the highest profit,but yet our own Mrs Harvard was borrowing massively from world bank,and yet all organs of government have been crying for funds including the army,i was in a Nigerian embassy and i was made to understand that they haven't been paid for over 4 months,so please ask her where is all the money,where have they gone and why the heavy borrowing,definitely you would quickly conclude she isn't loyal to Nigeria but rather the world bank she came from

ayox2003:


"The world" is reluctant to help because:

1) The cure has not been found: This makes it very risky for medical volunteers to leave their shores. As it stands, medical workers are more exposed to the virus as record shows. (RIP Dr. Adedevoh). The main reason for the reluctance President Sirleaf Johnson's administration is witnessing.

2) Skewed african orientation: Africans believe the "world" (western world) is their enemy. We've read on this forum where ignorant africans want Russia, a country that didn't donate as much as Nigeria in 2010, to defeat the US. For the records, Ethiopia gets 85% of its budget from foreign aids & grants and Russia doesn't donate a dime! So if your people think I'm your enemy, why would I not be reluctant? More ridiculous, some people believe Ebola was "developed" to kill the black race . Extremely skewed mentality!

3) The "world" is also fighting the scourge: Ebola has found its way into the US. It has also killed a priest and a nurse in Spain even after they took Zmapp. If US could swap 5 terrorists to save the life of a soldier, wouldn't they have saved the life of Duncan that died of Ebola if there was a tried and tested cure?

Anyways, we've heard that the Cuban government is sending a team of doctors. Also the UK is gearing up to send medical aids inaddition to the $100m donated by the US. I hope it stalls the spread while the cure is being found.


Frawzey

Ehyah! Just promise the world that your citizens will stop exporting it too

lionduke:
Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has
written a heartfelt letter to the world over the
Ebola crisis that hit her country. In the letter
which was read over the radio and
transmitted worldwide, she likened the Ebola
epidermic to the civil war her country faced
11 years ago which killed a lot of Liberians,
crumbled their economy and vital
institutions.
The president called on the international
community to stop all theoretical
explanations on the Ebola crisis and act fast
to stop the spread of the deadly virus. Find
her letter after the cut...
Dear World
In just over six months, Ebola has managed
to bring my country to a standstill. We have
lost over 2,000 Liberians. Some are children
struck down in the prime of their youth. Some
were fathers, mothers, brothers or best
friends. Many were brave health workers that
risked their lives to save others, or simply
offer victims comfort in their final moments.
There is no coincidence Ebola has taken hold
in three fragile states – Liberia, Sierra Leone
and Guinea - all battling to overcome the
effects of interconnected wars. In Liberia, our
civil war ended only eleven years ago. It
destroyed our public infrastructure, crushed
our economy and led to an exodus of
educated professionals. A country that had
some 3,000 qualified doctors at the start of
the war was dependent by its end on barely
three dozen. In the last few years, Liberia was
bouncing back. We realized there was a long
way to go, but the future was looking bright.
Now Ebola threatens to erase that hard work.
Our economy was set to be larger and
stronger this year, offering more jobs to
Liberians and raising living standards. Ebola
is not just a health crisis – across West
Africa, a generation of young people risk
being lost to an economic catastrophe as
harvests are missed, markets are shut and
borders are closed.
The virus has been able to spread so rapidly
because of the insufficient strength of the
emergency, medical and military services that
remain under-resourced and without the
preparedness to confront such a challenge.
This would have been the case whether the
confrontation was with Ebola, another
infectious disease, or a natural disaster.
But one thing is clear. This is a fight in which
the whole world has a stake. This disease
respects no borders. The damage it is
causing in West Africa, whether in public
health, the economy or within communities –
is already reverberating throughout the region
and across the world.
The international reaction to this crisis was
initially inconsistent and lacking in clear
direction or urgency. Now finally, the world
has woken up. The community of nations has
realized they cannot simply pull up the
drawbridge and wish this situation away.
This fight requires a commitment from every
nation that has the capacity to help –
whether that is with emergency funds,
medical supplies or clinical expertise.
I have every faith in our resilience as
Liberians, and our capacity as global
citizens, to face down this disease, beat it
and rebuild. History has shown that when a
people are at their darkest hour, humanity
has an enviable ability to act with bravery,
compassion and selflessness for the benefit
of those most in need.
From governments to international
organisations, financial institutions to NGOs,
politicians to ordinary people on the street in
any corner of the world, we all have a stake
in the battle against Ebola. It is the duty of
all of us, as global citizens, to send a
message that we will not leave millions of
West Africans to fend for themselves against
an enemy that they do not know, and against
whom they have little defence.
The time for talking or theorizing is over. Only
concerted action will save my country, and
our neighbours, from experiencing another
national tragedy. The words of Henrik Ibsen
have never been truer: “A thousand words
leave not the same deep impression as does
a single deed.
Yours sincerely,
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

sorry but point of correction , Liberians , NOT West Africans !