MONROVIA – In the wake of inadequate budgetary support and logistical constraints to the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS), the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation based in Canada in collaboration with the Camp Nou Fire Service has donated a huge consignment of firefighting equipment to the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS).
The group is engaged into supporting neuron-surgical practices in various countries across Africa and other parts of the world.
It donated items including several fire extinguishers, hoses, firefighting PPEs including gears, boots, oxygen tanks, among others to the LNFS at its station on Ashmun Street in Monrovia on Tuesday, April 6.
Making the presentation of the items, the Country Representative of the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation, Dr. Benedict Korlee, put the cost of the items donated at about US$300, 000.
According to him, the items donated will enable LNFS to combat against the outbreak of fire from long range in an effective and efficient manner.
He noted that fire fighters will now be accorded the opportunity to notify their colleagues when there is a danger within a building that has been gutted by fire through the use of the alarm equipment donated.
Dr. Korlee pointed out that the gesture will help ensure that every fire fighter in Liberia has access to at least one firefighting safety gear.
Firefighter lay down their lives
Dr. Korlee further recounted the sacrificial roles being played by fire fighters in Liberia to help prevent loss of lives and properties from fire outbreak across the nation.
According to him, fire fighters are the only group of people who take steps against fire outbreak even though they remain faced with numerous challenges.
“You know the issue of fire. People live right on the earth but they are afraid of internal fire. When there is fire here now, everyone will be running away. The one group of people that run towards fire is the fire fighters. They lay down their lives so that we can be secured”.
He indicated that the oxygen tanks donated to the LNFS will help prevent the high-risk these fight fighters encountered while executing their assigned tasks and responsibilities.
“We realized that some of our fire fighters are not adequately prepared. When the fire is burning there is no oxygen and they go there and some of them risked their lives. We have donated oxygen tanks that our fire fighters can now wear and go into any fire. Even if there is no oxygen in that place, they will be able to breathe normal oxygen”.
He recalled that his group also shipped two 40-footed containers of medical supplies to Liberia, along with two ICU ambulances during the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country.
According to him, the two ambulances donated were capable of ensuring the on-sight resuscitation of patients.
Dr. Korlee pointed out that the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation will also build the capacity of fire fighters to enable them provide first aid or rescue to victims during fire outbreak.
“On behalf of our President, the Board of Directors and the People of Canada, we want to donate these items to the Ministry of Justice to be used to fight fire in Liberia. There is no commercial value to these things we are donating, but the Director and I were just talking and we can give a consecutive estimate of about US$300,000”.
Also speaking, Justice Minister Counselor Frank Musa Dean commended the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation for the items donated.
He disclosed that the donation comes in the wake of President George Manneh Weah’s commitment towards enhancing the capacity of fire fighters to combat against fire outbreak across the country.
Minister Dean used the occasion to call on Liberians to emanate Dr. Korlee and others by being “goodwill ambassadors” for the forward match of their country.
“We are pleased today that these items have been donated. We want to urge every Liberian that Dr. Korlee is a medical doctor and a pathologist but he has not confined himself to that. His colleague is Neuro-Surgeon, but he has not also confined himself to that. They have acted as Ambassadors and we want every Liberian to copy this example. Be an ambassador of goodwill for your country”.
He, however, encouraged the Director of the LNFS, Alex Dixon, to ensure that the items donated are used for the purpose intended to ensure the effective and efficient combat against fire outbreak.
For his part, Director Dixon expressed gratitude to the Foundation for helping to enhance the capacity of fire fighters in Liberia.
He assured that the LNFS remains faced with numerous constraints, including lack of logistical and other supports.
He noted that the Service feels proud and grateful to receive fairly used firefighting equipment in a bid to properly execute its tasks and responsibilities.
“Thank you so much and extend our greetings to the people of Canada. Tell them thank you for us. The medical team will start to do things to ensure that we go about rescuing people”.