For Immediate Release
Monrovia, Sunday, August 24,
2014: A
five man medical team from the Democratic Republic of Congo has arrived in
Liberia with a pledge to help Liberia in its fight against the deadly Ebola
Virus Disease. The five man team headed by Professor Doctor Muyembe Fafum Jean
Jacques, Coordinator of the Ebola Control Team in DR. Congo arrived in the
country on Friday, August 22, 2014 on board Delta Airlines.
The delegation that
includes two medical doctors and other experts along with two journalists was received
upon arrival on behalf of the Liberian Government by the Chief of Protocol of
the Republic of Liberia, Hon. Rufus Neufville.
Speaking at a brief
welcoming ceremony at the Roberts International Airport, Professor Dr. Jean
Jacques disclosed that the team is in Liberia to support the country’s medical
professionals and share their experiences. He noted that Liberia is affected
with a strange virus which is well known in D.R. Congo, that’s why President
Kabila Kanbage has decided to send the team to work with the Liberian
Government in fighting the deadly Ebola virus and restore tranquility and
normality to Liberia.
“Ebola always create
panic, because it kills but Africans are capable of stopping this epidemic,
through the help of the Almighty God”, Dr. Jean Jacques remarked. He stated
President Kabila Kabange has sent a five-man professional medical team to
Liberia to assist the fight against the dreadful Ebola virus and they would do
all they can to help impact the fight against the virus.
For his part, Chief of
Protocol Rufus Neufville expressed on behalf of Her Excellency President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf and the Government and People of Liberia deepest gratitude to
the President, and the Government and People of the Democratic Republic of
Congo for their intervention which demonstrates true friendship. He assured the
Congolese Medical Team of Government’s fullest cooperation.
The Chief of Protocol
furthered that Ebola is a strange virus which took Liberia by surprise and that
the coming of the medical professionals from DR. Congo with firsthand
experience of the disease was very highly appreciated by the people of Liberia.
Hon. Neufville also emphasized that under the dynamic leadership of H.E.
Augustine K. Ngafuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the stay of the medical team
will be rewarding.
Other members of the
Congolese Medical Team are Dr. Mukendi Kalambayi, Internist in charge of
Control Infection, Mr. Muyembe Baby, Lab. Technician in charge of collecting,
keeping and controlling specimens, Mr. Yongolele Riziki, Biologist in charge of
Bio-Security and Mrs. Akonga Okito, Lab. Technician and Analyst.
Signed:
Hon. Horatio Bobby Willie
Assistant Minister/Public Affairs