UN Envoy Expresses Support For Liberia's Healthcare Delivery System

The head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj has lauded Jordanian peacekeepers for rendering free medical services to Liberians but stressed that such services should only be a supplement to a better resourced national healthcare delivery system. She was speaking at a ceremony in Monrovia to award members of the Jordanian military medical contingent with the UN medal for their contribution to UNMIL.

SRSG Løj decorating a Jordanian officer

“Let me, however, stress that medical outreach activity by UNMIL, important as it is, can only be a supplement to the national healthcare system,” Ms. Løj said. She added that the UN would continue to support Liberia 's healthcare delivery system through the County Health Teams of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to enable the country to pursue its recovery and reconstruction goals. “Once the people are healthy, they are better prepared to take up the rehabilitation and development challenges of their country,” she said. The UN Envoy, however, pointed out that “this task is not an easy one; but with our sustained support and that of other partners in the health sector, there is bound to be success.”

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) used the occasion to once again, urge military and civilian staff of UNMIL to strictly adhere to the UN's zero tolerance policy on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). “I am calling on you all to take the Zero Tolerance policy seriously. I urge all military commanders and senior managers on the civilian side to make this part of their responsibility,” she emphasized. She reminded peacekeepers of their dual responsibility to uphold the flags of their countries and that of the UN. “Every one of us must behave well and perform our duties in Liberia as true ambassadors of our countries and of the United Nations.”

First row: Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Mensa-Bonsu, Col. Al-Shihan, SRSG Løj, Mr. Ryan, Lt.-Gen. Obiakor, Maj.-Gen. Abdurrahman, and members of the Jordanian Contingent

The Jordanian military medical corps has, since November 2003, been running a Level Three Hospital in Monrovia , giving medical services to military and civilian staff of UNMIL as well as Liberians, treating more than 40,000 patients. The medical contingent has also taken its services to schools and remote parts of Liberia where vulnerable people lack access to healthcare delivery.

The ceremony was attended by DSRSG for Recovery and Governance, Mr. Jordan Ryan, DSRSG for Rule of Law, Ms. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Force Commander, Lt.-Gen. Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, Director of Mission Support, Mr. Steve Lieberman, Command Officer-in-Charge of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Maj.-Gen. Saraj Abdurrahman, Sector I Commander, Brig.-Gen. Ezekiel Olu-Olofinmuagu, Sector II Commander, Brig.-Gen. Ghulam Murtaza, Sector III Commander, Brig.-Gen. Jalaludin Mohammed Akbar and Acting UNPOL Commissioner, Henrik Stiernblad, Brig.-Gen. Khaled Soaydar, Assistant Director-General of Jordanian Police and Jordanian Medical Corps Commanding Officer, Colonel Adel Al-Shihan.