Liberia: Former Finance Minister Urges Gov’t to Direct ‘Scare Resources’ to Covid-19 Fight and Health Sector
Monrovia – Former Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan is urging those managing the state of affairs to, at this time, direct government’s scarce resources more on activities and expenditure directly linked to the Coronavirus fight and the health sector in general.
By Alaskai Moore Johnson, [email protected]
The former Finance Minister made the recommendation Thursday, May 21, in an article — Thinking Aloud – My Thoughts on Liberia’s Current Fight against Coronavirus — which is also published on this website.
“Although the World Bank has committed to providing a little upwards of US$15 million to directly assist with our fight against the virus, that amount pales in comparison to the gargantuan resource requirement for a more effective response against the virus. To flatten the curve or raise the line, we need to improve health care capacity and our mitigation efforts by spending more money on the recruitment and proper remuneration and incentivization of more contact tracers, case investigators, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), and Community Engagement Volunteers (CEVs),” Mr. Ngafuan, who also served as Liberia’s last Director of the Budget when it was an autonomous agency, said. The Bureau of the Budget is now merged with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
Because of his incredible good performance at the Bureau of the Budget, he went on to become Minister of Finance of the Republic.
Further in his recommendation to the government, Mr. Ngafuan also stated: “We also need to direct more money to improve our testing capacity across the country by establishing some county or regional testing centers with the proper testing machines and adequate cartridges for such machines as well as fuel to power the required generators. We also need to recruit and train more laboratory technicians to man our testing labs. Of course, we need to purchase enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for our health workers across the country; procure more beds for treatment centers and other regular hospitals and health centers as well as additional ambulances to be stationed in the counties.”
He also called for the need to ramp up spending on Coronavirus awareness and sensitization campaigns, using multiple modes of communication, including the radio and the social media.
“Before the onset of the Coronavirus crisis, news of the lack, or inadequacy, of fuel, drugs and other critical supplies at some hospitals and health centers was common. Directing more of government’s own resources to the Coronavirus fight and the health sector in general is akin to robustly fighting the enemy at the frontlines,” he said.
We also need to direct more money to improve our testing capacity across the country by establishing some county or regional testing centers with the proper testing machines and adequate cartridges for such machines as well as fuel to power the required generators. We also need to recruit and train more laboratory technicians to man our testing labs. Of course, we need to purchase enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for our health workers across the country; procure more beds for treatment centers and other regular hospitals and health centers as well as additional ambulances to be stationed in the counties
Former Foreign/Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan
Mr. Ngafuan, who also became Minister of Foreign Affairs after he left the Finance Minister post, thinks that the above will also greatly improve confidence in the society that whatever progress the nation is making is sustainable, and not just a fluke.
In his article, he made other recommendations, including calling on President George Weah to relax the ‘go home or stay home time’ from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. instead of from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Earlier on Friday, May 22, the government announced an additional two weeks of the stay home intended to halt the spread of Covid-19.
The government, however, added: “During the ensuing period, the public is now required to be indoors at 6 p.m., instead of the previous 3 p.m.”
When he was contacted for comment on the latest development, former Foreign Minister Ngafuan said, “I commend President Weah for relaxing the lockdown as recommended by me and, I am sure, many other Liberians and friends of Liberia, including some officials of government. The Coronavirus fight is a Liberian fight, not just a government fight. Therefore, implementing recommendations from non- members of the ruling party and non-officials of government when such recommendations are in the best interest of the country, is deserving of commendation. President Weah and his team are encouraged to continue on this path as doing so will encourage many Liberians across different lines to contribute more robustly to the forward march of the country.”