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Bong County: NEC Office Upgraded Ahead of 2020 Polls
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has dedicated the National Elections Commission (NEC) office in upper Bong County. The UNDP Liberia Elections Project supports the rehabilitation of 12 out of 20 NEC’s Magisterial facilities throughout the country.
The modification of the office includes the construction of the modern warehouse and a concrete fence.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony in Gbarnga, UNDP Liberia Resident Representative, Pa-Lamin Beyai, reminded citizens about the importance of a successful Special Senatorial Elections and the National Referendum, describing it as critical to the consolidation of Liberia’s democracy and the public trust in future elections.
“NEC cannot do it alone without the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, national government, partners and you the Liberian people,” Mr. Beyai said.
He then praised the long-standing partnership with NEC, the government, and bilateral partners including Sweden, Ireland, EU, Canada, among others, for helping to consolidate the country’s democracy through credible and inclusive elections.
The UNDP Boss stressed that cost-effectiveness of the electoral process is critical as well as proper cataloging and maintaining assets are key to ensuring sustainability of elections.
NEC Executive Director, Anthony Sengbe, thanked UNDP and partners for the overwhelming support to the Commission.
Hon. Sengbe added, “What a transformation UNDP Elections Project has brought to our magisterial facilities across the Country. We are overwhelmingly grateful.”
He then encouraged residents of the county to take ownership of the project to ensure proper care and maintenance of the facility.
For his part, NEC Upper Bong County Magistrate, Daniel G. Newland thanked UNDP and said the absence of a fence and the lack of a spacious and conducive warehouse were major challenges for the commission activities in the county.
Grand Gedeh County: Index Case Released
Grand Gedeh County first confirmed COVID-19 patient has been released from the 14 Military Hospital in Margibi County.
The 52-year-old man was discharged on August 2, making it the first recovery from the county. The county has a total of four confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The Medical Director of Martha Tubman Memorial Referral Hospital who is also the case management pillar lead of the county, Dr. Vanmuyan A. Kromah, said 20 people including a nurse, who came in contact with the index case, are in the precautionary observation center.
He disclosed that all the 20 persons specimens were taken for the first time and result proved negative, but the second test results are pending. He added that when the second results are negative, they will be released from quarantine.
Lofa County: Electrification Project Imminent
County Superintendent William Tamba Kamba has held a mass stakeholder meeting with citizens to unveil development plans and other key issues of concern to the county including the electrification of Voinjama City.
The meeting, held at the William V.S. Tubman hall in Voinjama on August 4, 2020, brought together heads of key government sectors, women group, the media, youth, and members of the civil society.
At the meeting, Hon. Kamba disclosed plan for the electrification of the city of Voinjama, adding that his leadership has entered a memorandum of understanding with a private contractor to oversee the electrification and distribution of electricity across the city.
He said citizens will pay minimum amount for the current which will boost local revenue generation for the county.
“When we took over, we met a generator that has not been in use. But after several efforts, we have repaired it and will use it to electrify Voinjama,” he told residents.
The Superintendent said the county leadership has set up a committee to start mobilizing funds and other support for repair of major spots on the Lofa road.
“As you know last year, the road became so worst. To mitigate this, we have set up a team to start working immediately in that direction”, he said. ” We don’t experience what we went through last year”.
Grand Bassa County: LAC Hospital Shut Down
The County Health Team has shut down the Liberian Agriculture Company hospital located in District Three due to the increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the hospital. Over 20 health workers were recently tested positive for coronavirus, among them 17 from the LAC Hospital.
“We are closing the hospital due to the increase of the cases at the hospital,” said Dr. Anthony Tucker.
“All the confirmed cases are health workers and so we have to ensure that we do the proper contact tracing.”
The closure of the hospital creates a massive vacuum in the provision of public health service to over 10,000 people living on Liberia’s second largest rubber plantation as well as several thousands more living in communities around the plantation. The hospital is one of the major health facilities in District Three, which is regarded as the second most populated area in the county.
The county has recorded 45 confirmed cases with eight recoveries and no death as of August 6.
