- MONROVIA
SRSG lauds humanitarian community for 'good work in Liberia'
At an extraordinary meeting of the Humanitarian Action Committee, the outgoing Special Representative of the Secretary General to Liberia, Mr. Alan Doss, thanked NGOs, UN agencies, faith-based organizations, the Humanitarian Coordinator's Support Office and all those who helped to address humanitarian needs in Liberia. He stressed that although the country was now on the path to recovery and development, there was still much to do in addressing remaining humanitarian needs in the country.
Mr. Doss expressed the hope that access to humanitarian and development assistance would be enhanced in the coming months through improved road access, especially in previously inaccessible areas. He announced that the UN has awarded a grant of US$ 15 million under its Peace-building Fund to help consolidate the peace in Liberia. Representatives of the Management Steering Group (INGO consortium) and faith-based organizations thanked Mr. Doss for his support during his stay in Liberia. They expressed their desire to see peace, justice and development as the theme of the recovery and development process in Liberia.
Dynamic Atlas for humanitarian and recovery activities ready for distribution
HCSO has finalized the production of CDs for the second edition of the Dynamic Atlas on humanitarian and recovery activities in Liberia. Distribution of the CDs will start next week. The HCSO is considering doing a second round of tutorial sessions in Monrovia and in the counties on the use of the Dynamic Atlas and the data package.
The first version of the Dynamic Atlas (released in January 2007) was well received by the UN, NGOs and the Government. Suggestions from the tutorial sessions and consultations with stakeholders were included in the second version. The Dynamic Atlas covers activities reported by UN agencies and international and national non-governmental organizations as at August 2007. A total of 24,000 activities have been recorded in the database, including information on project types and locations, beneficiaries, donors, implementing partners, status of completion of projects, among others.
One good feature of the Dynamic Atlas is that allows the user to overlay needs as enumerated in surveys with basic social services provided and infrastructure so that gaps can readily be identified and targeting improved.
2. FIELD COORDINATION
Outbreak of diarrhoea in Maryland County
The Maryland County Health Team (CHT) announced that since 3 December, 18 people in two localities in Harper City have been affected by an outbreak of watery diarrhoea, which has also led to the death of one female and the hospitalization of five persons. A specimen was sent to Monrovia for testing. The CHT also reported on 12 December the case of a patient suffering from acute watery diarrhoea in Kookudi - a community close to the border with Cote d'Ivoire.
The causes of these cases are not known. In response, the Danish Refugee Council and ICRC provided chlorine for the chlorination of open wells. Health authorities are also ensuring that all open water wells in Harper District are protected from infection. The CHT conducted health and hygiene promotion campaign and distributed Oral Rehydration Salt packages to local communities.
Grand Kru County gets new medical equipment
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has provided medical equipment to the Rally Time Health Centre in Grand Cess, Grand Kru County for use in minor surgeries. The equipment will reduce the number of referrals for minor surgeries from Grand Kru County to the J. J. Dossen Hospital in Maryland County and will lead to an improvement in case management in the County.
HCSO hands over WATSAN coordination to local authorities in Lofa County
During the week, HCSO handed over responsibility for coordinating water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities over to the Development Superintendent of Lofa County pending the appointment of an officer by the Ministry of Public Works. HCSO took on the responsibility for coordinating the activities of the WASH sector when the there was no agency in Lofa County to undertake such task. The handover is part of the process of a gradual handover of coordination to the Government.