THOUSANDS AWAIT MERCYSHIP TO LIBERIA

The humanitarin medical ship, Mercyship is expected to arrive in Liberia soon, to cater thousands of medical cases. During its stay here last year, J. Cholo Brooks featured its works as the story seen below:

"The hospital ship which arrived in Liberia for the first in March of last year with a crew of over 370 professional medical staff is said to be making a tremendous strive in rescuing thousands of Liberians who have been victimized by various illnesses, including the restoration of their deformities.The Mercy Ship Anastasis which is currently being docked at the Free Port of Monrovia is providing free specialized surgeries, development assistance, and educational programs, given thousands of Liberians the opportunity to benefit from its humanitarian programs and services.When our Liberia Correspondent visited the Ship at the National Port of Authority in Monrovia to witness its numerous humanitarian medical services on board, hundreds of children and the elderly were seen trooped aboard the ship to seek proper medical treatment, some of which could not be handled by local medical practitioners due to the lack of modern technology and the professional medical know-how.Taken our Correspondent on a tour of the ship, its Media Liaison Officer, J. Todd Sorrell said the ship grouped 31 nationals from around the world who are voluntarily contributing their humanitarian services to the Liberian people who are drowning in the health situation, especially in the health sector of countries visited over the years.He said Mercy Ship Anastasis global humanitarian services is not only limited to health care services; its highly skilled surgeons perform thousands of operations to remove tumours, correct cleft lips and palates, align crossed eye, repair fistulas, give sight to the blind, as well as provide a wide range orthopedic operations.Stressing further Mr. Sorrell said the following professional medical checkup such as eye surgeries, eye laser, eye consultation, plastic surgeries, dental care and the distribution of prescription of glasses were also been looked at, others include Church empowerment; renovation of schools, training of teachers, workshops, the distribution of Bibles, HIV/AIDS awareness and the holding of church leadership conference.Speaking further on board the Ship, the Executive Director of the M/V Anastasis (Mercy Ship), Madam Solfrid Quist said the mission of the crew to Liberia did also focus on training; the training of traditional birth attendants, baby feeding education, Community Health care education and the training of local surgeons.“Presently we are carryout a renovation of one of a school in the Royesville area, and also we are involve in water and sanitation; the drilling of 4 wells, the construction of 20 latrines and the constructing of bridges in rural Liberia”, the Mercy Ship Executive Director stressed.During the tour of the ship several persons were seen making effort to receive the “free medical gift” from their visitors, the Mercy Ship professional medical crew who were also seen humanitarianly taken care of their Liberian patients, “Mercy Ship provides medical care, relief aid, community development and long term-sustainable change in developing nations”, the ship promotional leaflet handled over to our Correspondent on board the ship read.Also speaking to our Correspondent, the Program Officer of the M/V Anastasis (Mercy Ship), Chris Guilebeau, an American said they were overwhelm of the reception being accorded them from the Liberian leadership headed by Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who praised the entire management of the ship during her visit on board the ship, followed her visit, the Vice President of Liberia Ambassador Joseph Boakai also made a brief visit.Many of the patients interviewed by our Liberia Correspondent praised the staff of this global medical ship, “ words are inadequate to express, these guys are indeed good, can you imagine I have been suffering for over fifteen years with swollen face and crossed eye, but since I came over on board this ship my problem has been solved. Thank God for Mercy Ship,” a lady who just finished with her operation prior to our Correspondent’s on board the ship said.This lady was among 100 others who had gone on board the ship for treatment, some of the patients said they were being isolated in their communities due to severity of their illnesses, “With God being on my side, Mercy Ship is my savior, I will never forget them”, expressing her joy, one of the ladies, perhaps in her late 40s speaking to our Correspondent on board the ship said.The patients including elderly and children were seen on the ship with deformities, seeking the professional medical assistance of the Mercy Ship crew, “My child has been suffering from swollen eye, many in our community rejected him because of his condition, but as God could have it, I brought him over to the Mercy Ship people, he has gone through the operation, everything is okayed with him”, another Liberian in a joyous mood following an eye operation on her nine years old son.The work of the medical crew of Mercy Ship was indeed amazing as our Correspondent glanced at some of the patients mostly kids some of whom in their early teens, the smiling faces of most of the workers on board this ship impressed him as he went on with his tour on the ship. “Everyone here are God fearing people who belong to a God believing Church; as volunteers we put God first in our doing”, one of the girls on board ship, perhaps in her early twenties from the United States said."

OFFER BY CONTE FAILS TO END GUINEA STRIKE

BBCNEWS

The general strike in Guinea is continuing despite President Lansana Conte's offer to name a new prime minister - a key union demand.
Thousands of people have held protests in the eastern town of Kankan, reports the AFP news agency.
Talks are also continuing, focused on how much power the president would hand over to the prime minister.
Almost 60 people have died in 16 days of protests, organised by unions who say Mr Conte should step down.
Officials now say that at least 49 people were killed in the capital, Conakry on Monday - 16 more than were previously said to have died.
AFP says the authorities did not try to stop the Kankan march, while there are fewer police than in previous days on the streets of Conakry.
The talks are attended by trades union leaders, members of the Supreme Court and religious leaders.
Action
The trades unions said they wanted first to see concrete action from President Conte before ending the strike.

Strongman feels the heat
"The people of Guinea do not want any more promises. They want something concrete," said Abdoulaye Sow, one of the leaders of the Syndicated Union of Workers of Guinea (USTG).
"It is an agreement in principle. Now it is necessary to put it into practice," he said.
There is no word from the government on the outcome of the talks.
Mr Conte seized power in a 1984 coup but has since won three elections.
The strikers accuse Mr Conte, who is his 70s and suffers from diabetes, of mismanaging the economy and personally securing the release from prison of two men accused of corruption.
This is the third general strike in a year.

MAN WHO RAPED 50 WOMEN BREAKS JAIL IN LIBERIA

A renowned women rapist who reportedly raped 50 women in the Western Liberian Provincial City of Tubmanburg, Bomi County has broken jail in that County. Varney Gararmah broke jail at 9:30 Tuesday Night along with six other inmates. Due to the seriousness of this notorious criminal’s action, a team of police investors has left Monrovia for the County. Varney Gargamah was reportedly tried and convicted for ten years on charge of rape. He was due to have been transferred to Monrovia today. Thousands of Women in the County are said to be calliung on the Central Government to speedily re-arrest Varney Gargamah

Crisis In Guinea: President Conte Accepts Demand, Agrees To Name Prime Minister

BBCNEWS

Monday's clashes left at least 33 people deadGuinea's President Lansana Conte has agreed to name a new prime minister - one of the key demands of trade unions to end a general strike, mediators say.
They say he made the concession at talks attended by trade union leaders, members or the Supreme Court and religious leaders.
But the trade unions say the strike, that began on 10 January, will continue until all their demands are met.
On Monday at least 33 people died in clashes between police and protestors.
Etienne Leno, one of the religious leaders who met Mr Conte on Wednesday, told Reuters news agency that the president was ready to listen to the people.

"He is even in agreement that, if the people want one, there should be a new prime minister," Mr Leno said.
"Now we must find a credible candidate."
But the trade unions said they wanted first to see concrete action from President Conte before ending the strike.
"The people of Guinea do not want any more promises. They want something concrete," said Abdoulaye Sow, one of the leaders of the Syndicated Union of Workers of Guinea (USTG).
"It is an agreement in principle. Now it is necessary to put it into practice," he said.
There is no word from the government on the outcome of the talks.
Mr Conte seized power in a 1984 coup but has since won three elections.
The strikers accuse Mr Conte, who is his 70s and suffers from diabetes, of mismanaging the economy and personally securing the release from prison of two men accused of corruption.
This is the third general strike in a year.

GNN Gives Top Liberian Investment Companies International Exposure

The Management of the Global News Network (GNN), publisher of one of Liberia's informative news magazine, THE STAR Magazine has begun profiling major companies in Liberia regarding their services to the Liberian people.

According to the CEO of GNN, Mr. J. Cholo Brooks, the objective of this exercise is to help promote these companies that are helping to restoring Liberia's economy image after years of civil strive.

Mr. Brooks said targeted companies the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC), the Salala Rubber Corporation, Weala Rubber Corporation, the Liberia Beverage & Bottling Company, the MANCO and several other more.

Meanwhile, Mr. Brooks and his team of journalists are today leaving Monrovia to Tubmanburg, Bomi County to start the project, looking at the newest company, the Liberia Beverage & Bottling Company which is producing for the first time in Liberia a natural mineral drinking water in they country.