MONROVIA, Jan. 25(LINA) -The Liberian President, Dr. George M. Weah, has hailed the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the African Development Bank and the European Union for their effective and supportive response to the global pandemic, COVID-19, in Liberia.
According to the Liberian leader, during 2020, the period under review, the Government received direct COVID-19 budget support of $87 million US dollars from the IMF; US$14 million from the African Development Bank, and US$10.8 million from the European Union.
Delivering his State of the Nation address on Monday at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, the Liberian Chief Executive explained that besides the direct spending by the Government, a little more than 20 million US dollars has been contributed indirectly by development partners to the National COVID-19 Response.
He added that of this amount, the World Bank has contributed $17 million US dollars, and the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control have contributed 3.0 million US dollars, noting that the General Auditing Commission is also auditing these indirect expenditures as part of the total national COVID-19 response effort.
« Let me use this opportunity to thank all of our development partners for their strong COVID-19 support to the Government and people of Liberia. Through both direct budgetary support and indirect support, the international community has rallied to Liberia’s defense, and continues to be a reliable ally in our struggle to protect our citizens from this deadly disease, » Dr. Weah asserted.
According to Pres Weah these resources have gone to support a 23-bed National Infections Disease Center, with an additional 74-bedroom quarantine facility located at the Free Zone on Bushrod Island.
He emphasized that the government was able to procure (15 ambulances – one for each county – 1,200 hospital and ICU beds and monitors; 120 motor cycles, 20 ventilators, and other consumables, and also constructed an I-V fluid and oxygen plant, nothing that these resources have also supported compensation for health workers.
“We also thank the many private institutions and commercial banks who have provided financial support. As a country we will forever remain grateful,” Dr. Weah stated.
« The Government developed a legislative program that provided some relief for our people and kept the Government running under these very difficult circumstances.
“During the year under review and in response to COVID-19, the National Legislature approved in April 2020 a State of Emergency and provided stimulus support as part of the national budget, » President Weah pointed out.
