General
Source: The News
The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has expressed joy over the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of Liberia as an Ebola free nation.
WONGOSOL said it believes that the news speaks to the collective efforts exhibited by Liberians, especially the government, health sector, politicians, religious and traditional leaders, media, women groups, youth groups and foreign governments in the fight against the virus.
In a statement over the weekend following a day-long thanksgiving service in Gardnesville, the group said the pronouncement further signifies that Liberians are capable of working together to defeat any social, economic and political problem.
The group commended President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Liberians for the resilience and leadership role demonstrated during the peak of the Ebola crisis.
They noted that the Liberian Government, under difficult condition, was able to attract assistance from the international community to effectively combat the virus.
The group also praised the President for organizing the recent thanksgiving event to celebrate the country's freedom, but emphasized that regional approach to share information, talents, and experiences with Guinea and Sierra Leone is needed.
WONGOSOL said considering the fact that the Ebola virus has a way of recurrence, it is important for the government to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector so as to effectively respond to future outbreaks.
The group said such budgetary allocation must focus on the training of health practitioners in the area of infectious diseases, research study on disease information, formulation of policies to improve the health sector and a strong monitoring and evaluation system to track the expenditure of funds.