The United States government through its subsidiary, the United States Aid International Development (USAID) has provided over US$36 million to combat malaria in Liberia. The amount is in fulfillment of the United States President’s Malaria Initiative for 15 African Countries, including Liberia.

Speaking over the weekend at the official launch of President Bush’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, the Acting Country Director of USAID-Liberia, Madam Lucretia Taylor said the fund will be shared into three categories, that is US$12.5 will be expensed each year over the period of three years, adding that the amount is purely for the support proven interventions for malaria control.

According to her, this is part of the US$27 million, which the United States has committed to the health sector for fiscal year 2008 for Liberia. “Our commitment to helping Liberia tackles malaria and other issues in the health sector are strong and comprehensive,” she said. 

Ms. Taylor said that President Bush’s commitment is unprecedented in the fight against malaria; noting “the goods of PMI are ambitious, reduce by 50% the number of deaths from malaria in Liberia by reaching 85% of the most vulnerable groups, children under five years of age, pregnant women with proven effective prevention and treatment measures.”

She said the PMI is a multi agency working with most countries in coordination with international partners, Ngos faith-based organizations, communities groups and the private sector. She said the US is proud to work together with countries in Africa in the fight against malaria.

“The goal also includes application of effective drugs acts, reaching rural clinics, replacing failing treatments, long lasting insecticide treated beds nets, and reaching the most vulnerable pregnant women and children,” Madam Taylor said

Launching the program, Liberia’s Health and Social Welfare Minister, Dr. Walter T. Gwenigale said the support of the U. S government is based on the friendship between the Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George W. Bush.

He said the U. S President’s visit to Liberia now yielding results. He disclosed that after the visit Liberia first ever to get budgetary allotment in the United States budget all is base on the visit.

3,500 Cocoa Seedlings For Farmers

The Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation (LPMC) and Mercy Crops Liberia, an American based Ngo will shortly begin the distribution of about 3,500 cocoa seedlings to farmers in Compound #2 Grand Bassa County as part their farm extension and rehabilitation project being considered in line with the Memorandum of Understanding signed late last year which the 78.2 acres cocoa farm is being rehabilitated agriculturally at several stages.

Over the weekend, LPMC and Mercy Corps officials including Managing Director Nyahn Mantein and Country Director Tom Ewett, visited the farm and expressed satisfactions over the progress achieved thus far.

Mr. Mantein described the achievement so far gained as very important in the history of LPMC and nation’s produce sector because according to him, “cocoa and coffee play a very essential role in the life of the nation and people”.

According to LPMC release issue in Monrovia, said LPMC’s cocoa and coffee frams would be brought under the economic limelight because in the concept, poverty reduction depends on the vitality and productive capacity of cash crops including cocoa and coffee.

Mr. Mantein paid tribute in as special way to Mercy Corps Liberia for the job well done and assured his open hand and heart to the entity hoping that such gesture would be extended to other parts of LPMCs farms across the country.

Meanwhile, Mercy Corps Country Director, Mr. Tom Ewett has pledged his group preparedness to help LPMC in it’s strive rebirth as far cocoa production is concerned.

Mr. Ewett, praised Mr. Mantein and the LPMC management for the vision to rehabilitate LPMC’s cocoa farms which he said have a good rating considering their organic nature.

At the farm, essential projects including the construction of a palaver are talking place andjobs are being created for several persons. Technicians there predict a very good harvest by the produce season beginning July this year.