• “I’m Still Obeying My Lawyer’s Advice Not to Comment…” -Says Health Minister-designate, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The INQUIRER
• Subah-Belleh Associates Releases CSO Reports, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• NHA to Introduce Measures for Efficiency, Productivity, Source: Daily OBSERVER

“I’m Still Obeying My Lawyer’s Advice Not to Comment…” -Says Health Minister-designate, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The INQUIRER

The minister of health-designate, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah has reminded members of the Senate Committee on Health, Gender, Social Welfare, Children & Women Affairs that she is still obeying the advice of her lawyer not to make public statements about the case between her medical center, Hope for Women International, and the family of the late Mrs. Desiree Fahnbulleh.

The committee recently suspended the confirmation hearing of Dr. Jallah’s nomination, when she refused to answer questions centered on the death of one of her patients. A doctor at Hope for Women International is reported to have performed an operation on Fahnbulleh, which resulted in her death, while Dr. Jallah was in the United States.

However, a member of the committee, Senator Jim Tornolah, raised the same haunting questions about the death of Desiree. But following consultations among members of the committee, Senator Peter Coleman informed Dr. Jallah that she could comment on it if she so desired. Unlike the first time when she appeared before the committee and received a barrage of questions, committee members adopted a more conciliatory posture by delving more into pressing national health issues and what strategies she intends to apply for improvement. Read more

Subah-Belleh Associates Releases CSO Reports, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Subah-Belleh Associates and the United States’ Management Systems International (MSI) have released the 2016 and 2017 CSOs Sustainability Index for Liberia. The report is an annual study supported by USAID to assess the strength and overall viability of the CSO sector in select sub-Saharan countries, including Liberia.

The study measures the sustainability of the CSO sector based on legal environment, organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, service provision, infrastructure, and public image. It also shows the overall progress or regression and compares yearly changes that affect the sector-wide sustainability of CSOs. The study also employed an evidence-based methodology.

Oliver Subah, coordinator of CSOs Sustainability Index for Liberia, said after celebrating more than a decade of post-conflict peace, most CSOs were suffering from financial fatigue. As such, Mr. Subah said many of the local organizations do not have the financial independence to carry out their respective mandates by impacting lives of ordinary Liberians. According to the report, Liberia’s CSOs scored 5.0 out of 7.0 in ranking on sustainability – a mark which indicates that sustainability has been impeded. Read more

NHA to Introduce Measures for Efficiency, Productivity, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The managing director of the National Housing Authority (NHA), Duannah Siryon has said his administration would introduce measures to ensure efficiency in fulfilling the government’s pro-poor agenda. Mr. Siryon speaking at the NHA headquarters said the introduction of the new measures will be geared at paving the way to ensure an effective working relationship among the workers for better productivity. In doing that, the NHA managing director said his administration will introduce, among others, an ‘employees’ incentive program’ that will be consistent with the law and in line with the government’s pro-poor agenda. Read more