Executive Director of LIHEDE - Dr. Syrulwa Somah

He said the work of LIHEDE should not in any way be seen as a flimsy effort be cause his vision is that God is going to do something great for the people of Liberia.

The poorly attended rally was well planned for even more than 250 people. The culture performances were fantastic and soccer match between veterans of Liberia and England was a - must see event.

But of course, there were some disturbing numbers revealed at the rally which if considered and analyzed by us all, we will hasten to say that LIHEDE has just begun, and that the road to a successful eradication of malaria in Liberia is long and rocky.

It is long and rocky when to this day, malaria is claiming life in Africa every 30 seconds. Long and rocky when DDT is being heavily discouraged in Africa by the west. The road is long and rocky when less than US$500M is used annually to fight the disease in Africa and other third-world countries while of course, people around the world are spending US$15 Billion to download the ring tones for their cell phones.

But as one of the speakers said, "It is a long road but we can get there."

For questions and comments, email us at:  editor@runningafrica.com

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Although public corporations have been a part of our national life, they remain basically unproductive and obscure in the general policy approach toward national development, a status they no doubt find convenient. While toiling in obscurity, they manage communication, power generation, airport and seaport, petroleum, agriculture, housing and insurance. Public Corporations remain an important partner in reconstituting Liberia’s economy and in many ways the bedrock for economic stimulus. I am confident that Six Sigma can play an important role of reducing variations and defects in various processes and improve operational excellence at all levels. 

Although public corporations have been a part of our national life, they remain basically unproductive and obscure in the general policy approach toward national development, a status they no doubt find convenient. While toiling in obscurity, they manage communication, power generation, airport and seaport, petroleum, agriculture, housing and insurance. Public Corporations remain an important partner in reconstituting Liberia’s economy and in many ways the bedrock for economic stimulus. I am confident that Six Sigma can play an important role of reducing variations and defects in various processes and improve operational excellence at all levels. 

Although public corporations have been a part of our national life, they remain basically unproductive and obscure in the general policy approach toward national development, a status they no doubt find convenient. While toiling in obscurity, they manage communication, power generation, airport and seaport, petroleum, agriculture, housing and insurance. Public Corporations remain an important partner in reconstituting Liberia’s economy and in many ways the bedrock for economic stimulus. I am confident that Six Sigma can play an important role of reducing variations and defects in various

 

Posted October 5,  2006


Measuring The Success Of LIHEDE'S Anti-Malaria Campaign

By Gabriel Gworlekaju

The September 30th pre-conference rally in the American city of Greensboro, North Carolina for the LIHEDE anti-malaria campaign can by no means, be measured up to the kind of success the organizers anticipated. It was expected to bring together prominent individuals from across the United States, and to include policy makers and health professionals.

But it turned out, a few Liberians from Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Georgia who saw the true need to combat a curable, preventable and transferable disease that besieged the horn of Africa decades, if not centuries, made it at all cost to meet at the North Carolina Agriculture and Technical University in Greensboro to contribute to the worthy cause.

The presentations were magnificent and really needed to get across to a world-wide audience. some great poems were read, wonderful research analyses presented and the need for will and commitment preached.

The Executive Director of LIHEDE, Dr. Syrulwa Somah made it clear that something was just wrong for Africa's people to die at an alarming rate from a disease that is curable and can even be prevented.

But even further, Dr. Paul Dressen, Senior Policy Advisor for the Congress of Racial Equality laid out a compelling case for the use of DDT - the first best known pesticide which was banned in the United States several decades ago after a 1962 publication of Rachel Carson's book - Silent Spring. By then, DDT had already helped to eradicate malaria in most of the developed world including the United States. The use of the solution is still being argued today and more people around the world remain divided over its use. In Liberia, we used what was commonly called "Mosquito Coil" and sometimes used the spray which temporarily got rid of the mosquitoes.

Most speakers at the conference gave testimonials on the deadly disease and called for commitment of Africa's people in the fight. The renowned Liberian clergy, J. Samuel Reeves who addressed the Dinner, was candid and more forceful in calling for people to unite against malaria. He used the occasion to challenge Liberians to follow the example of Abraham who by faith responded to God's call  to leave his home town to take up assignment in another town.

 

 

 

 

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