U.S. envoy hails global efforts against Ebola
U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Deborah R. Malac, has praised the international community for working together to combat the Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa. Ambassador Malac made the commendation during an inspection tour of an Ebola Treatment Unit being built in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.
“I think what you see here on the ground in Zwedru is a great example of the partnership that is going on in this Ebola crisis,” she observed.
“We are all working together, the U.S. government, through USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response Team, is funding Welthungerhilfe to head the construction at this Ebola Treatment Unit here in Zwedru,” she said. “In addition, we are working very closely with the local Liberians.”
Ambassador Malac was accompanied on the trip to Zwedru by DART Team Leader Mia Beers and Joint Forces Commanding General Gary Volesky. Representatives from Welthungerhilfe, a German non-governmental agency, and the USAID partner leading the construction effort in Zwedru, led the U.S. delegation on a tour of the ETU site which has been under construction since November 1.
Nearly 300 local Liberians, both laborers and engineers, have been hired to build the Zwedru ETU. In addition, the facility is being built using locally procured materials. It is due to be completed within the next few days
Ambassador Malac noted Liberians are doing most of the work in building the facility. “We are putting people to work and at the same time we are helping them to understand that they ultimately need to be the responsible parties to help us get on top of this epidemic.”
Additionally, the Ambassador noted the effectiveness of the partnership between the U.S. military effort and the AFL in providing additional supplies to areas in southeastern Liberia to ensure that construction efforts continue on schedule.
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“Again, it’s very much about partnership,” the Ambassador said. “The U.S. government is very proud to be a part of this effort in support of the Liberian government and with all of our partners across the board because it’s going to take all of us to resolve this epidemic.”
