Monrovia – The Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Ministry of Health, responsible to print birth and death certificates, has announced the issuance of improved and updated the birth certificate with security features to avoid duplication.
Report by Edwin G. Genoway, Jr., [email protected]
Prince Momolu Kaba, director of the bureau, who succeeded GSA director Mary Broh two months ago, said the current birth certificate is more different from the old ones due to the improve security features being put in place by the bureau.
“It cannot easily be duplicated due to the kind of security features that we have put in place, this new certificate is very different from the old one that was easy to be facsimile by anyone,” he said.
Kabba disclosed that more than seven persons have been arrested for forging the old certificate; something he said prompted the bureau to improve the security features on the birth certificates.
He said the new certificate has more than 20 security features including barcode that contains all of the applicant’s information that cannot easily be falsify.
“Every birth certificate printed by the bureau has its own serial number that when plug in the system will bring out the information of the individual bearing that certificate,” he said.
He disclosed that over 3,000 birth certificates have been printed since the new administration took over less than three months.
“So, if you come today at the birth certificate center and see our workers in their jacket, it will tell you that person is working here and you can talk to them if you need help,” he said.
He assured that acquiring birth certificates is easy and urging the public to take advantage.
“It will only take long time when an individual comes and provide information we think is contradictory and when we notice that we turn you over to the immigration window in this same place, and when the immigration frees you, we have no option denying you certificate,” he noted.
However, a major challenge facing the bureau, Kaba said, is with some Liberians including government officials who make demand to get birth certificate for individuals.
“Let’s take for example, an individual will come here to do birth certificate for someone else that they don’t even know but because of some connections they are fronting for such person and sometimes the individual our brothers and sisters can be fronting for are foreigners,” he said.
“I will not be afraid to do the right thing, if I fail the young people fail because we all been yielding for young to get job and with mine I will work tirelessly to help improve the system and in doing that many people whom my action affect will not be happy but it cannot stops me from doing what is right for the Liberian people.”
Meanwhile, individuals seeking certificates have expressed confidence in the improvement of the process and urged the bureau to continue its hard work.
Marian Williams praised the management for “changing things and making the process easy.”
“I thank them because in the past when people used to come here to do their certificate it took them weeks before getting it. But let me here I came to collect my daughter’s own and it has not even past one week yet hope they continue the great job here,” she said.
Another Liberian praised the work of the bureau for introducing the new certificate.
Paul Lamii said the security features will help protect “The property of Liberia.”
“I want them fix it like the way our computerize ID card looking, it doesn’t means this new one is not good, no! That’s not what I am insinuating here, I am only suggesting and I want the management to look in that direction and take note,” added James Brooks.
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