Monrovia – As Liberia joined other countries around the World to celebrate former South African President, Nelson Mandela’s birthday, the Liberia Chemical, Biological, Radiological Nuclear and explosive (L- CBRNE), in partnership with LifeSpan Liberia has launched a risk mitigation Initiative in Liberia under the theme: “CBRNE Risk awareness, An Action Against Poverty”.
Report by Augustine T. Tweh – [email protected]
The event took place on Tuesday July 18, 2017 at the Paynesville City Hall, Paynesville City Montserrado County, Liberia.
Giving the overview of the program, L-CBRNE National Coordinator, Martin Scott Tabi said L-CBRNE is a risk mitigation platform linking line-Ministries, Agencies of Government, the Manufacturing Industries, NGOs and INGOs involved in the training and handling of CBRNE related materials in the country.
He said the objective of the CBRNE is to identify and lessen risk nationwide through the implementation of effective programs to create awareness of detention and the prevention of high risk CBRNE materials and to facilitate as well as respond to the recovery from CBRNE accidents.
Professor Tabi added that the CBRNE platform has implemented four projects among which are: project 35; which deals with the management of hazardous chemicals and biological waste, and Project 41, designed to strengthen national capacity for the management of high risk chemical installation in Liberia.
“The United States Government’s Biological Safety-staff of the Department of states qualified the Republic of Liberia on the 13th of November 2016 to become the 176th state party to the biological and Toxins Weapons Convention with all the privileges and rights,” he said.
Speaking further, the National Coordinator of L-CBRNE also noted that if Liberia should be develop, every Liberians should be an agent of positive change, stressing that if we don’t do positive things something will certainly do us.
He said July 18 of every year is celebrated as Mandela’s day in honor of the late South African President Nelson Mandela who spent his life fighting for social justice, equality and democracies, adding that people around the world are encouraged on the day to spend at least 67 minutes doing something positive for their communities.
“Nelson Mandela International Day aims to inspire a ripple of good deeds by encouraging individuals, communities, governments and non-profit organizations to take small step towards the larger leap of positive transformation,” he averred.
Also speaking at the event, the Project Director of LifeSpan Liberia, Patience Kun said Life Span Liberia was founded April 2015 due to the high death rate in Liberia during the Ebola crises.
She said her institution is actively involved in advocacy in the Area of Hygiene and Sanitation (Environmental Health), Primary Healthcare, Education, Agriculture and in all areas that affect the health and welfare of the adolescent girl, the elderly and children.
LifeSpan Liberia project Director further noted that the institution is also charged with the responsibility to establish and monitor health centers and programs that will mitigate the spread of tropical diseases in the country.
For his part, the Director General of the Liberian Foreign Service Institute, Dr. Augustine Konneh said Mandela’s Day is a call for taking action and inspiring change by making a difference in our various communities.
He also added that the youth are the future leaders, urging them to commit themselves to community service and leaderships.
“You have the ability and responsibility to change the world for the better. “
“The Mandela Day today is an opportunity for you to take action and to inspire change in your communities. “
“This day is a call to action that is celebrated with the idea that each and every one of us has the power to change our environment by making meaningful contributions to the needs and aspirations of your people,” he asserted.
Esther Davie, a participant at the Mandela’s Day celebration said the day is a unique day set aside to celebrate one of Africa’s freedom fighters, calling on the future leaders of Africa to be a good example of the fallen freedom fighter.
Madam Davie noted that if Africa should be developed, the future generations of the continent need to take pride in their culture and home, like their ancestors.
“This day is set aside as an awakening call to Africa to rise up and fight the illness in our society, to stand for a cause in the interest of the people, to be truthful, committed and demonstrate loyalty to develop mama Africa,” she asserted.