UNMIL Today - Vol. 84, Issue 06

December 2012 - January 2013 - UNMIL Today - 1

A Star is BornBy James S. King

After months of competition, the finale of A Star is Born talent hunt in late November 2012 at the Cen-tennial Memorial Pavilion was a scene of remarkable performances by six young Liberians, including three

females. Allen Jallah, 19, a student of the University of Liberia, looked stunned as he was named winner of the competition by the judges.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf entertained the audience with “OBAA This is Our Time” - a song originally composed and sang by Miatta Fahnbullah, one of Liberia’s famous female singers. She said “I am glad that I am not one of the judges, every per-former who came up stage I thought would be the winner because of their excellent competitive performances,” said the President as she thanked the organizers of the event, particularly UNMIL, UNICEF and Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tour-ism (MICAT).

“You are the future of your country, your professionalism and talents are examples of all”, SRSG Karin Landgren told the contestants and reminded them that “music is a powerful means of communication that unites people and expresses their hopes, dreams and desire for a peaceful future.”

UNMIL’s collaboration with the Government of Liberia (GoL) in staging A Star is Born over the years was underlined by the SRSG as a “proud” undertaking. “Liberia’s progress over the last several years and past successes of A Star is Born events give UNMIL the confidence that Liberia and its partners are ready to take over the supporting roles UNMIL had provided over the last several years,” Landgren said.

The SRSG also praised efforts which have helped UNMIL reach every Liberian with messages of peace, reconciliation, sex-ual exploitation and abuse (SEA), HIV/AIDS and rape. She said A Star is Born competition had produced young talented Liberi-ans including Bill Yarsiah, Moses Swaray (who performed at the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference and later became Cli-mate Change Ambassador), and Princess Gbor. They have since become role models for other young Liberians.

The other contestants included Maima Myers, Wilma Mensah, Gus W. George and Raquel Hadge. The grand finale attracted hun-dreds of Liberians.

The Under-20 talent hunt project began in 2006 and winners have been active in working with the UN family and partners in sensitizing Liberians on pertinent social issues. The 2012 winners have also pledged to work with the Community Outreach Unit of UNMIL for a better future of all Liberians.

UNMIL

TodayDecember 2012 - January 2013 Volume 09, Issue 06

Inside this Issue: Around LiberiaSRSG Visits Lofa .......... Pg. 8

Around LiberiaBreaking the Silence ....... Pg. 3

Beyond WorkVolunteers in Action ...... Pg. 9

2 - UNMIL Today December 2012 - January 2013

From the Editor

Yet another star was born in December at the grand

finale of the under-20 talent hunt that has now become a prominent fixture on Liberia’s cultural scene. More details in our cover story.

As usual, peace-keepers have been busy

spreading holiday cheer among the local population

with various philanthropic and mentoring activities. Med-

ical outreach by Jordanian Level III hospital in Monrovia benefited

over 500 patients in December while their FPU counterparts in Voinjama treated over 70 disabled persons. Medics of the Indian FPU 2 Level 1 Clinic in Zwedru reached out to the Tuzon commu-

nity with free medical assistance while a similar outreach by Pak Engineer 18 in Montserrado County benefited over 650 patients. PakMed Level 2 hospital in Harper, meanwhile, organized a free cataract surgery camp in Pleebo which benefited several patients facing problems with eye sight.

UNMIL’s Human Rights and Protection Section helped ren-ovate the female cell of the Voinjama Central Prison leading to more hygienic and safer living environment for female inmates. A new police station constructed under the Quick Impact Project in Jarwodee, Grand Gedeh County, was handed over to the national authorities.

UNMIL Today welcomes the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Consolidation of Democratic Gover-nance, Aeneas Chuma, and Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Leon-ard Muriuki Ngondi, and wish them the very best in their new assignments.

Read on.

Mathew Elavanalthoduka

Let’s do more with less, SRSG urges

The Special Representative of the Secretary-Gen-eral, Karin Landgren, held town hall meetings in early December to give staff at both PAP and Starbase sites an opportunity to hear an update

of the mission’s status, and to put questions to her and Hu-bert Price. The meetings were also broadcast live to allow county staff to hear the exchanges.

Personnel matters loomed large. UNMIL has not down-sized its civilian staff since its 2003 inception. Recruitment is currently frozen and meaningful training is a key com-ponent to equipping UNMIL personnel. UNMIL is open to ideas and suggestions, said Hubert Price.

Other concerns included how Liberia will handle fu-ture security threats after UNMIL’s military reduction. The SRSG pointed out that the LNP has for some time now been “the first responder of problems” dealing with secu-

rity issues that are now more crime orientated, that more Formed Police Units (FPUs) are coming in, and that there would still be a military facil-ity to deal with conflicts threatening national peace and security.

UNMIL will now place more focus on national reconciliation, constitutional reform and decentral-ization, without forgetting the other important issues of governance, rule of law, borders and human rights. Staff at the county levels will be called to play greater roles whilst the Heads of Field Office and Public Information will report directly to the SRSG’s office.

Chief of Public InformationIsabelle Abric

Editorial TeamRuby Ofori

James S. KingVanessa Curney

PhotosStaton Winter

Emmanuel Tobey

Design and GraphicsPaddy Defoxy Ilos, II

Thomas S. Blidi

www.unmil.unmissions.org

UNMIL TodayPublished by the Public Information Office, UNMIL

Head of PublicationsMathew Elavanalthoduka

www.facebook.com/unmil2003www.twitter.com/unmilnews


creation (especially for Liberia’s young people), consolidating a still fragile de-mocracy, and improving the country’s economy even further, he adds.

The Deputy SRSG also said that there was an appreciation for the UN’s part in bringing peace and security to Liberia. Even as UNMIL military troops are reduced, there would be an increase in trained Liberian police and armed forc-es, whilst institutions such as the Bureau of Immigration would be strengthened. “This is a very well-drawn, calibrated withdrawal; a managed process agreed between UNMIL and the Government,” insisted Chuma, with continuing dia-logue and collaboration between Liberia and its neighbours.

Aeneas Chuma has held senior posi-tions within the United Nations system in Eastern and Southern Africa, the Arab States and at headquarters in New York. Most recently he was the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya.

By Vanessa Curney

Newly appointed Deputy SRSG for Recovery and Governance, Aeneas Chuma told journalists on 9 January, at UNMIL’s first

press conference of the year, that his first impressions of Liberia have been favour-able: “I landed on 11 December and must say I am extremely impressed with the little I have seen so far. Taking into account the years of war and terrible suffering, I find the progress of the last ten years of peace rather remarkable,” he said, adding that “over 155,000 Liberians returned home with cash assistance from the United Na-tions. Their return is a strong signal of con-fidence in Liberia’s peaceful future.”

Based on his initial meetings with the Government and civil society, Chuma feels that there is a “general air of optimism - the sense that for Liberia the worst is over…along with the recognition there is still work to be done.” That work includes job

New Deputy SRSG for Consolidation of Democratic Governance Arrives

New Force Commander Visits RegionsBy James S. King

UNMIL’s new Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Leonard Muriuki Ngondi, says the mission’s transition and the gradual hand-over of security responsibilities to Libe-rian security agencies is a “positive move”

that empowers Liberians. “UNMIL rightsizing is a positive move because

UNMIL troops will eventually hand over the security responsibilities of Liberia to Liberian authorities,” he said in an interview with UNMIL Today. He added that the “maturity” gained by Liberians during nine years of peace could enable them handle their own security with an “expectation that they continue to co-operate with UNMIL in order to take over the destiny of their own country in the absence of UNMIL.” He assured Liberians that troop withdrawal will leave no security vacuum as Liberian security personnel will occupy positions of UNMIL troops.

The new Force Commander toured various regions of Liberia in January to acquaint himself with the work of the contingents. He reiterated the mission’s commit-ment to help build the capacity of government institu-tions as the mission gradually transitions responsibility to Liberian security authorities.

On a one-day working visit to Sector A1, Bomi county, Maj.-Gen. Ngondi interacted with the Nige-rian Battalion, Military Observers, Nepal Formed Po-lice Unit, Pakistan Engineering Contingent -18 , UN-POL and civilian staff members in Tubmanburg, Bomi

County, and the Nigerian Battalion -30 D-COY in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County. He called on personnel to continue to work hard with professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity, to maintain the good image of UNMIL and ensure the success of the mission.

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“Together We Can Break the Silence,” says Former DSRSGBy Ruby Ofori

The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Rule of Law, Louis Aucoin, has hailed the launch of a nationwide campaign to fight child rape as a momentous step in efforts to fight “a terrible scourge.”

The campaign was launched by the Vice Chairman of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights, (INCHR) Boakai Dukuly, on Human Rights Day, 10 December.

Dukuly said the INCHR will work as part of a coalition of government and civil society organizations including the Liberian Human Rights Defenders, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia and the Ministry of Gender and Development.

“I cannot begin to express my joy when I received the informa-tion that these groups have decided to celebrate this day around a theme that is very close to my heart,” said Aucoin.

Earlier in 2012, Aucoin spearheaded a joint initiative by UN-MIL and the government of Liberia to fight child rape. The UN en-voy chaired a retreat which he said was aimed at “awakening Li-

beria’s civil society institutions to the depth of this problem.” “Today I am very encouraged to see that this is occurring,”

he said. The national theme of the 2012 Human Rights Day was ‘Break the silence on child rape in Liberia’. “One of the reasons why cases involving children are never brought to justice is just because the silence has not been broken,” he said. “Many times, cases of child rape are treated as a family matter and too often a child has to take the blame. Not the perpetrator. The experience can harm the child for life creating a pattern of violence.”

The UN envoy called for a different approach to the care of children who have suffered rape. He said their special needs should be addressed differently from that of adult victims of rape. “We have to see the children, listen to what they have to say and let them take part in the dialogue.”

“Much work remains but being here today, witnessing the launch of this very important campaign with so many actors participating shows that we have come a long way already. To-day we can let the children’s voices be heard. Together we can break the silence,” Aucoin concluded.

By Vanessa Curney

The Liberia National Police and UNPOL on 16 January held the first of what will be a series of press confer-ences this year. “Armed robbery has been reduced and LNP now maintains a no-nonsense approach

toward criminality,” Police Commissioner John Niels-en told journalists at LNP’s headquarters in Monro-via. That zero tolerance would be extended to its own ranks: two senior LNP officers were recently arrested in relation to a bank robbery.

Inspector General Clarence Massaquoi said that the LNP is “prepared to assume its full statutory du-ties from UNMIL.” This was already underway in Foya and Robertsport with other areas on the way. The number of officers would be increased from 4,500 to 8,000, whilst training and recruitment were ongoing, said Nielsen. “With general crime reduced because of professional and aggressive police actions, the quality of life of citizens has increased,” the Commissioner told UNMIL Today.

Among other things, the Inspector General talked about a new building outside the LNP headquarters where people could go to register complaints against

the police; the establishment of new police depots and stations around Liberia; the “successful” deployment of LNP officers along the Ivorian/Liberian borders; LNP’s need for more ‘logis-tics’ such as vehicle and uniforms; and the success of operation ‘Safe Haven’ – the curfew imposed on motorcyclists in Monrovia which has helped reduce crime.

Liberia National Police Begins Transparency Drive


By Napoleon Viban

In a timely intervention by UNMIL, security personnel at the Putu Iron Ore Mining Ltd. (PIOML) in Grand Gedeh County received training in human rights and the rule of law, just as the company’s feasibility studies progressed into Phase 2.

In mid-December some 150 security guards, including 10 women, attended a three-day training programme at the Compa-ny’s field office in Putu, provided by the Human Rights Office in

Sector B3.Welcoming the support, Tarley Dweh of PIOML said the train-

ing was part of efforts by management to promote conventional standards among staff, well before the company starts effective mining.

“In southeastern Liberia, iron ore mining is a new phenomenon and, as the people grapple with its dynamics, our security guards too need guidance to perform within acceptable standards and best practices in the industry,” Dweh told UNMIL Today. “Security personnel are there to protect life and property, but because they sometimes encroach on the privacy of others, it is important that they get to know the rights of people and respect them as such.”

Thomas Mtaisi, Head of the UN Field Office in Grand Gedeh, spoke along the same lines when he opened the programme, stress-ing that business concerns were under obligation to ensure respect for human rights as articulated in international instruments.

On the sidelines of the seminar, Dweh also reacted to the clam-our by locals for employment, arguing that PIOML’s workforce of just over 300 was commensurate with current activities.

“We understand the frustration as everyone wants to get a job, but the company would not be into any extensive recruitment until Phase 3 of the project,” he intimated.

Pre-feasibility studies on the iron ore deposits in Putu started in mid-2010 and continued through October 2012. Definitive stud-ies have only just begun, and will last another two years, while effective exploitation of the concession is not expected to start before 2017.

UNMIL Trains Security Guards in Human Rights

regation.The liaison officer of the Lofa County Association of the Dis-

abled (LOCAD), Momoh Conteh, believed the medical outreach conducted for disabled persons by the JFPU2 showed love and kindness to persons with disabilities. “Their efforts will leave a lasting memory in the hearts and minds of persons with disabili-ties in Lofa County.”

By Siebo Williams

The Jordanian Formed Police Unit Two (JFPU2) in Voin-jama, Lofa County, conducted a medical outreach for seventy disabled persons as part of the activities mark-ing the celebration of the International Day of Human

Rights on 10 December. Lunch was also served the beneficiaries and their families prior to the commencement of the outreach.

Giving an overview of the medical outreach to the disabled persons drawn from the Lofa County Association of the Disabled (LOCAD), UNMIL Human Rights and Protection Section Officer Istvan Lipniczki said the gesture demonstrated by the JFPU2 was laudable.

“Disabled persons should have equal opportunities and rights, and not be discriminated against due to their physical conditions,” Lipniczki noted.

The Commanding Officer of the Jordanian Formed Police Unit Two (JFPU2), Lt.-Col. Jaafreh Amer, said the medical outreach to disabled persons demonstrated their love and value they share with all humans irrespective of their conditions.

Lt.-Col. Amer said the JFPU2 came from Jordan not only to serve the people of Liberia but to also learn from their experi-ences. “Despite the conditions of disabled persons they are deter-mined to contribute to the peace and stability of their country and they also give us hope for a better tomorrow.”

The JFPU2 Commander added his force will be proud upon returning home to tell their families that they have contributed meaningfully to the people of Liberia without prejudice and seg-

Medical Outreach for Disabled Persons in Lofa County

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UNMIL Rehabilitates Women’s Cell at Voinjama Central PrisonBy Siebo Williams

UNMIL has handed over a newly renovated female cell to the staff of the Voinjama Central Prison and its fe-male inmates. Human Rights and Protection Officer in the county, lstvan Lipniczki, said that the handover

of the facilities formed part of activities marking the celebration of the International Day of Human Rights.

The female cell at the Voinjama Central Prison had been van-dalized during a 2010 violent incident that engulfed Voinjama, and inmates had lived under unhygienic conditions ever since.

Lipniczki said that the renovation had been funded by the Hu-man Rights and Protections Section and included external and in-ternal painting, installation of mosquito screens, protective shields

on the windows, fixing the steel iron security and the bathroom doors, and providing hygiene and cleaning materials to the prison, including brooms, buckets, antiseptic disinfectant liquids, tooth-brushes and toothpastes and laundry soaps. The project cost was put at US$ 450.

The acting Prison Superintendent, Moses Saah, thanked UN-MIL and called on all philanthropists as well as local and interna-tional non-governmental organizations for additional support.

Hellen Chikambi, Correction Advisory Unit Monitor in Lofa, said the renovated cell would provide a safer and more hygienic living environment for the female inmates. She also urged the Ministry of Justice to provide funds for rehabilitating the rest of the prison.

within the global UN security management system. Prior to the start of the two-week training course the participants underwent a one-month web-based self-paced learning programme.

John Crawford, one of two training officers who led the course, said that as a result of taking part in this security training programme participants “will have a better grasp of the technical requirements, knowledge of the UN Security management system, policies and guidelines and most importantly, they will be better equipped to carry out their primary task of improving and enabling the delivery of UN programmes and mandates around the world.”

The course was provided by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security and sponsored by UNMIL. This was the 21st pro-gramme to have been staged glob-ally.

By Ruby Ofori

The first ever Security Certification training programme for UN Security personnel in Liberia was completed on 13 December at UNMIL’s Pan African Plaza head-quarters.

A total of 24 security personnel took part from UNMIL , agencies and missions including the World Food Programme, United Nations Support Office for AMISOM , United Nations Political Office for Somalia, Unit-ed Nations Operations in Côte d’Ivoire, and the United Nations Truce Su-pervision Organization.

UN security officials say this training pro-gramme is vital for all UN security personnel as a baseline qualification

UN Security Staff Complete Training Programme

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By Maj. Usman Iqbal

“I couldn’t see anything. I could not walk independent-ly. Now I can see and walk on my own,” said Prin-cess William , 20, just a day after undergoing treat-ment at a cataract surgery camp organized in Pleebo

in mid-November last year by the PakMed Level 2 Hospital in Harper. “I am thankful to God and to the Pakistani doctors who

did that to me.”According to

eye surgeon Maj Farooq Ahmed, the young woman lost her vision due to premature cataract formation from an inflammation in both eyes. The hos-pital organized the free cataract eye surgery programme for the local com-munity with Maj.

By Napoleon Viban

It was a big relief for Sergeant Melvin B. Garr last 22 November, when UNMIL officially handed over a newly constructed building

to house the local LNP station in Jar-wodee, a small town in the statutory dis-trict of Gbarzon, Grand Gedeh County.

“With our new office and the ex-pected deployment of more police, I can see significant improvements in our efforts to contain crime here,” Melvin told UNMIL Today at the hand-over ceremony.

For more than a year he singlehand-edly manned the remote police post some 65 km northwest of the County capital Zwedru, with a little support from members of the local Community Policing Forum, a group of troubleshooting volunteers established to help with community security.

“My colleagues from Toe Town came over occasionally to train members of the Forum but, in the absence of a regular police post, I’ve for the most part been on my own all this while,” the sergeant reminisced.

Melvin also depended on community elders for office space in Jarwodee, bothering them now and then for temporal cells in which to hold offenders until he could arrange their transfer to the main LNP constabulary in distant Zwedru.

Constructed under UNMIL’s Quick Impact Projects (QIP), the USD 25,000 LNP depot in Jarwodee comprises four offices, two

Farooq operating on the patients assisted by fellow medics Nasir and Zahid. The team also included John Cooper from the eye care unit at JJ Dossen Hospital.

The initiative was an offshoot of an earlier medical camp in October 2012 during which PakMed observed that many people in the area were losing their vision to cataract, a condition in which the natural lens of the eye gets opaque. The condition is curable with surgery. At that camp, surgery was recommended for such pa-tients but, with no eye surgeon in the whole of Maryland County, the only options left was to travel to Monrovia or wait indefinitely for an eye surgeon to come to town.

Because many do not have the means to seek treatment in Monrovia, PakMed Commanding Officer Lt.-Col. Rab Nawaz Khan arranged the three-day free surgery programme for the lo-cal community. “Our presence here should bring some benefit and comfort to the host community,” Khan told UNMIL Today.

The programme was carried out with support from JJ Dossen Hospital which not only provided intraocular lenses for the surgery but also accommodated the patients for one to two days after the procedure. All patients responded well to the surgery and showed significant improvement in their vision. They all expressed grati-tude to the PakMed Level 2 Hospital for its assistance.

Pakistani Peaceakepers Help Liberians Regain Eye Sight

Boost to Crime-Fighting in Grand Gedeh Countydetention cells and a well fitted with a hand pump.

Notwithstanding his appre-ciation for the modern office Melvin, who is also Deputy Po-lice Commander for Gbarzon, remained concerned about other operational challenges.

“It’s nine hours on foot from here to the main road in Zleh Town, and we do not have mo-torbikes,” he bemoaned. “We really would like for the Quick Impact scheme to consider pro-viding us some logistic support here.”

He also lamented the ab-sence of electricity and accom-modation for LNP officers ex-

pected to deploy in Jarwodee in the coming weeks.Yet another drawback in the District’s judiciary infrastructure

was flagged at the hand-over ceremony by the Superintendent for Gbarzon District, Henry C. Zonweay.

“We need a Magistrate’s Court here to supplement the new po-lice post,” Zonweay pleaded, citing the long trek from Jarwodee to the nearest Magistrate’s Court in Zleh Town, where a second and identical LNP depot was also handed over to the local authorities later that same day.

Thomas Mtaisi, Head of the UN Field Office in Sector B3 ac-knowledged these challenges but cautioned that together with the Government of Liberia, the UN can only scale the hurdles one at a time.

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By Siebo Williams

Special Representative of the Secretary-General Karin Landgren says the Security Council has asked UNMIL to focus attention on issues around reconciliation, de-centralization and constitutional reform. Landgren was

addressing UNMIL peacekeepers during her first visit to Voinjama in early December.

The UN envoy also described bad road conditions as a big challenge. “If people don’t have roads and can’t travel, they will be denied access to justice and security.”

She also disclosed that the Security Council had two big concerns when it instructed UNMIL to go ahead and start the transi-tion. “One is to stick to the calendar and the other is to make sure that Liberia’s security and stability is not put at risk.”

Addressing the outgo-ing Pakistani Battalion, she lauded the peacekeep-ers for all the CIMIC work they have done in Lofa County.

In a meeting with the

county administration and land line ministries, SRSG Landgren said UNMIL’s reduction of troops will be a gradual process and it is a tribute to the advances made in Liberia. She said there remains a lot to do in terms of developing Liberia’s security forces. “They need to have the trust of the population, and the decentralization, which is just beginning, will be a huge challenge.”

She called on all Liberians to play their part for the future peace of Liberia and advised parents to discourage their children from engaging in violence. “The youth must make their contribu-

tion and not engage in violence and mob actions.”

Visiting the Tenth Judicial Cir-cuit Court, Landgren spoke about the UN’s investment in Liberia’s peace and security. “For the past ten years the UN has been supporting Liberia in its journey towards peace and stability. Justice and security is very important as the court system has a vital role to play for dispensa-tion of justice to ensure a brighter future,” she said.

During the visit, Landgren also inaugurated a Pakistani-Liberian Friendship Sports ground construct-ed in Voinjama by the Pakistani peacekeepers as a parting gift for the people of the county and also visited Zorzor and Foya districts.

SRSG Visits Lofa County

By Romeo Togba

“Liberia has a population of about 3.5 million peo-ple and HIV prevalence of HIV is about 1.5 per cent. It affects the well-being of UN personnel and productivity the same way it affects the rest

of the national sector. But the good news is that spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is reversible,” Morris Wei, UN Cares Coordinator, said at the launch of the ‘Friends of UN Plus’ in Monrovia late last year.

UN Plus is the global group of United Nations staff who are living with HIV. The group was established in March 2005 to sup-port on-going global advocacy for staff infected or affected by HIV. In 2008, the UN Plus (UN+) Advisory Group recommended that Chapters of the UN Plus should be established at country lev-el where two or more staff have openly disclosed their HIV status. Alternatively, the ‘Friends of UN+’ should be established where staff members living with HIV are reluctant to openly disclose their HIV status for fear of stigma and discrimination within the UN.

The launch of the Friends of UN Plus brought together UN staff, heads of agencies, government officials as well as members of associations for people living with HIV in Liberia.

Also at the launch, UNFPA Resident Representative Esper-ance Fundira described the initiative as a renewed commitment by

Help for UN Staff Living with HIV/AidsUN staff to provide the needed financial and moral support to col-leagues living with HIV. “We should do this so that our colleagues can feel that they are working and operating in a stigma-free envi-ronment”, she noted. “The UN country team is committed to giv-ing adequate human and financial resources to deliver the services of the UN Plus.”

The Head of the Liberian AIDS Commission, Dr. Ivan Caman-or, praised the UN for the initiative. Duvert Kilembe, UN Cares Regional Coordinator, said the group stands ready to give staff living with HIV all the care and support.

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By Vanessa Curney

Bomi County hosted a number of activities in December including a city clean-up across Tubmanburg City that was orchestrated by the Mayor’s Office in commemo-ration of the International Volunteer Day. This brought

together not only the local community but also the Liberia Red Cross, NGOs, youth groups, NIBATT 28 and the Nepalese FPU. The latter also hosted a medical camp in Bejah Town, Senjeh Dis-trict, which benefitted over 100 adults and children. In addition, the Nepalese police gave students of Bejah Elementary School a

taste of their country’s cuisine by distributing food.“Volunteering builds up the community and helps them to see

that the UN is on their side,” said the Commander of the FPU Tub-manburg and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bharat Khania. “It also helps us to work with them and for them, and makes us more aware of what they need.”

UNV Civil Affairs Expert at UNMIL, Bhuvan Silwal from Nepal, says he comes from a country where service and volun-teerism are held in high esteem. “Serving the community is the purpose of the UN, and these additional services add value. Plus, we get to see the immediate returns of our work.”

Volunteers in Action across Bomi County

Pakistani Peacekeepers Reach Out to Heal the Sick

A late November free medical outreach organized up by Pak Engineer-18 at White Plains Health Clinic, Montserrado County, had the motto: “If wealth is lost nothing is lost, but if health is lost everything is lost”.

The community was informed of the impending medical outreach through local representatives and officials. Over 650 men, women and children benefitted from medical advice, examinations and treatments. In addition, they were also given free food and gifts

such as sport items and sweets for their children. This was the fourth medical outreach arranged by Pak Engr-18 since arriving in the mission area in May 2012.

The Mayor of Careysburg district, Anna Philips, along with Montserrado County Superintendent, Honorable Grace Tee Kpaan, visited the camp. Both expressed their appreciation for the efforts by the Pakistani peacekeepers.

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By Napoleon Viban

Samuel Roland Doe, a local resident, swears by the treat-ment he received from doctors of the Indian FPU2 Level 1 Clinic in Zwedru when the peacekeepers reached out to the community through a medical camp organized in

Tuzon, birthplace of former Liberian President Samuel Kanyon Doe.

A first cousin to the late President was first in the queue when some 800 men, women and children swarmed the camp at Tu-zon Junior High School last November 26 to get free consultation and treatment from the Indian medics. His recovery from inju-

Indian Formed Police Bring Healing Touch to Tuzonries received in a car crash on the Zwedru-Monrovia road several months back had been slow and painful.

“I can already feel some relief after the first dose of the medi-cine given me by the Indians,” he affirmed minutes after exiting the camp’s make-shift pharmacy. Doe, who brought along two of his children for treatment, sounded convinced that he had finally stumbled on the analgesic that had eluded him for months.

At the local health centre in Tuzon, drug supplies are limited in stock and range. Little wonder the massive turnout at the medi-cal camp after town criers combed the town spreading word of the humanitarian assistance from the Indian FPU2.

“We have long yearned for the kind of medicines we are re-ceiving here from the Indian doctors,” Doe confided to UNMIL Today. For the people of Tuzon, the distance to Zwedru greatly impedes access to better health facilities in the County capital. Hence patients were all praises to the Indian Contingent for reach-ing out to the small community.

As explained by Indian FPU2 Commander Col. Lal Chand Ya-dav, that was the very essence of the medical camp.

“Here in Liberia health delivery in the rural areas is very lim-ited. That’s why we decided to come over and help the people of Tuzon,” Yadav said. He spoke of plans to reach out to other enclaves in Sector B3 with medical assistance, noting too, that the Indian FPU2 clinic in Zwedru is open to the public and receives, on average, 30 patients a day.

The Indian medics were assisted in their outreach by Dr Hatim Hujalahmadi of the UN Level 1 Hospital in Zwedru.

At the camp in Tuzon, they also donated First Aid kits, includ-ing mosquito repellants, to local school authorities and commu-nity leaders.

Jordanian Peacekeepers Give Medical Help to Montserrado ResidentsBy Vanessa Curney

Sonni, 33, is studying at the University of Liberia to be-come a teacher. She loves her calling but there is one problem: she has eye vision problems. It doesn’t stop her from learning effectively but it is an irritant. This is the

first time she has ever been able to see a specialist eye doctor – prior to today she could not afford it.

Sonni was at UNMIL’s Jordanian Level III Hospital medical outreach that took place at the Virginia Christian Academy near River View, Monrovia, on 15 December. Specialist doctors exam-ined over 500 men, women and children for eye conditions and other ailments. They also provided meals to all as well as 300 schoolbags to the children. “This is an expression of goodwill as well as a means of ensuring the good health of the local popula-tion” said Brig.-Gen. Hugh Van Roosen, UNMIL’s Chief of Staff for the Military.

“There are many locals who live below the poverty line who can’t afford their bills, they can’t even reach the only hospital in their areas,” says Grace-Tee Kpaan, Montserrado’s County Super-intendent.

58-year-old Musu was a very active lady - taking her kids to school, selling her goods - right up to the time she got sick. For 14 years she has had back and leg problems and is in constant pain. “The doctor said there is a space between the spinal cord and that

my weight is too heavy, so I must eat more vegetables, rice and bread,” she says as she cuddles her eight month old niece, Julie. The doctor has prescribed painkillers that will last her ten days, but there is only so much that can be done on such an outreach. Serious cases are referred to hospitals.

One positive outcome of the day is that the JORMED peace-keepers will transfer the patients’ names over to the Health Min-istry so that they can be formally registered for further treatments. Nonetheless, the medical officers are keen to expand and improve their capacities. James Mosser, Chief of UNMIL’s CIMIC (Civil-Military Co-operation) envisages having Liberian medical students sit in session with the specialist doctors on future outreaches.

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Have you heard about the new IMTC Diploma programmes?IMTC is in the process of launching eight new and challenging Diploma programmes. These are designed to keep you up-to-date and competitive in today’s employment market, en-hancing your skills and knowledge. Programmes will commence in February and run through-out 2013.

International and national staff alike will benefit from these programmes. So go ahead and plan to strengthen your planning and organizing, supervisory, leadership, writing, IT, and your soft skills. Soft skills in particular are in high demand in today’s global employment mar-ket. Outstanding leaders have not only excellent technical skills and expertise, but they know how to communicate effectively, how to build strong interpersonal relationships with custom-ers and colleagues, how to resolve conflict constructively and build organizational group EQ. They know how to sustain and increase motivation. Be part of this knowledge momentum! It is never too early to start preparing. The time is now!

Diploma programmes take between 5-15 days to complete involving three days per week. This will allow you to continue covering essential work functions while embarking on a chal-lenging learning journey, which will benefit both you and your office. You can also select to complete individual modules instead of an entire learning series.

So talk to your Supervisor and get on board. For information on the Diploma pro-grammes, contact Amr at extension 4423.


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Documents

UNMIL Today - Vol. 84, Issue 06