Dear Members of the Liberian Community in the United States and Friends of Liberia:
Our beloved Nation has faced many crises and challenges over the years, but through it all we have risen above each challenge in the interest of national unity and peace. Collectively as Liberians living in the diaspora we have contributed in many ways to nation building and reconciliation. I am extremely proud of your efforts and patriotism.
Today as I write this letter, our beloved nation and bordering states face a new and extremely deadly crisis. As you may already know through national and international media postings and from the Government of the Republic of Liberia, in March of this year, our nation announced that she was experiencing a national emergency health crisis and that citizens had become infected and passed away from one of the world's deadliest epidemic, Ebola.
Since the announcement in March, the Ebola epidemic in Liberia and the sub-region has been rated as the worst in the world’s recorded history and the number of deaths continues to escalate. In addition to deaths in local communities, national and international healthcare workers have also lost their lives in service to our nation and its citizens.
The purpose of my letter today is a call to action and a request for support from the Liberian Community in the United States. Although our nation has benefited from the support of international partners and donors, our nation and its partners continue to face the challenge of lack of more resources and funding to effectively combat the deadly Ebola epidemic. This request is an opportunity for Liberians to play a critical role in saving the lives of our citizens, “Liberians saving Liberians”. I am requesting that Liberian Community organizations and citizens living in the United States engage in fundraising efforts and the collection if needed medical supplies directed at supporting the critical needs of combating this deadly epidemic.
In an effort to expedite support for addressing our nation's Ebola epidemic crisis, the Embassy is partnering with Global Health Ministries (a US based Non-Profit Healthcare organization) in consultation with other existing partners to ship a 40 foot container of supplies needed to effectively battle this extremely dangerous epidemic. Global Health Ministries has a 30 year history of service to the people of Liberia through multiple healthcare initiatives, many of which are highlighted at www.ghm.org. The current emergent needs include but are not limited to funding for personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, training, fuel, transportation, funding for healthcare consultants and medications. Global Health Ministries plans to pack and ship the urgently needed supplies on August 2, 2014.
Your support and donations can be forwarded to Global Health Ministries to the attention of The Liberia Ebola Response Shipment. Donation information is as follows:
Global Health Ministries c/o Liberia Ebola Response Shipment7831 Hickory Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55432
The Director of Operations at Global Health Ministries is Mr. Scott Lien and he can be contacted at 763-586-9590 or by email at scott@ghm.org.
You can also contact the Embassy directly for any further information that you may require in this regard. The contact person at the Embassy is Ms. Jolen M Manning Assistant for Diaspora Affairs. Ms. Manning can be reached at the following: Office- 202-723-0437, Ext: 104; Cell: 301-454-9514: Email: jolenmanning@yahoo.com.
In Solidarity,
Jeremiah C. Sulunteh
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