LIBERIA: ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum Holds Strategic Meeting
By: WASH R&E “Media” Network – Action By Churches Together “ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum”, a conglomeration of organizations with the aim of serving humanity has held a Strategic Meeting reviewing the entity’s operations in Liberia, especially its response to the Ebola outbreak.
Group Photo after the Strategic Meeting of ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum
Members of ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum at the Strategic Meeting in Monrovia
(L-R) Chairman of ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum, Allen Lincoln, and Manager of Global Program Coordinator for Disaster Management of ICCO Cooperation, Evert Bodegom
Banner of ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum depicting Ebola Awareness Message
The meeting coincided with the visit of the Manager of Global Program Coordinator for Disaster Management of ICCO Cooperation, Mr. Evert Van Bodegom based in the Netherlands.
Mr. Bodegom disclosed that his visit to Liberia is intended to follow up on projects that are funded and implemented by ACT-Alliance.
He asserted that the organization is working in consultation with partners to ensure that the fight against the Ebola virus becomes successful.
Mr. Bodegom revealed that the Alliance is carrying out an assessment to ensure that available funds are provided to the Forum in Liberia to continue with relief assistance, sensitization and awareness campaign on Ebola.
He described his visit to Liberia as a learning visit with the objective of getting a firsthand information about ACT-Alliance Liberia-Forum activities and to find out how the Alliance can be of service in the West African region.
The Global Emergency Coordinator of ICCO stressed the need for Liberia Forum to be viable and stronger after the emergency period ends, revealing that capacity building is key on the agenda of the Alliance.
Mr. Bodegom said capacity building during the Ebola crisis will enable the Forum in Liberia to be better prepared to respond effectively to any eventuality.
He further said one of the specifics of his visit to the country focused on recovery after the Ebola crisis.
For his part , the National Focal Person of ICCO and Chairman of the Alliance Liberia Forum, Allen Lincoln, said the intervention of the Alliance is intended to bridge the gap in the public health emergency period.
Mr. Lincoln noted that his organization has been concentrated in Bomi, Grand Cape mount, Lofa, Margibi , Bong and Montserrado Counties providing relief of both food and non food items, including hygienic kits in Ebola affected communities.
He said the Forum in Liberia also carried out awareness on prevention and sensitization about the spread of the Ebola virus.
“We also conduct Psycho- Social Trauma Counseling for individuals and families affected by the Ebola virus” Mr. Lincoln further disclosed.
The ACT-Alliance Liberia Forum Chairman disclosed that his organization provided funding for the construction of an Ebola unit at the Phebe Hospital in Bong County, Central Liberia.
Mr. Lincoln said the Forum is buttressing an incentive package for the Phebe and Curren Lutheran Hospitals in Bong and Lofa Counties respectively to ensure the hospitals remain fully operational during the Ebola crisis.
