As Ebola invades, Sirleaf administration must now develop food distribution programs and policy to prevent mass starvation

By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh

President Sirleaf finally – and I say finally listened.

She got her act together and did what she should have done weeks ago when the deadly Ebola virus first entered Liberia.

She closed the borders, restrict public gatherings, asked government workers to stay home for at least 30 days, and quarantined communities affected by the deadly disease.

That’s exactly what we expect our leaders to do during times of national crisis: take bold and decisive actions, and be seen as ready to lead.

It shouldn’t have taken the loss of lives, bad publicity, international pressure, opinion articles and the devastation of communities for Sirleaf to do what she took the presidential oath of office to do: protect the republic and its citizens from domestic and foreign threats.

Even though her response to the Ebola crisis came too little too late instead of the other way around, Liberians can at least breath a sigh of relief that their elected president finally listened and decided to do the right thing.

Now that Liberians and non-Liberians have been restricted from going from point A to point B in order to contain the virus, which is the medically prudent measure in the absence of a vaccine; the question now is, what next?

In the wake of this terrible virus, local businesses are obviously taking a financial hit because people are now fearful of, say, going across the street to visit a friend or relative, get a drink or a meal from the restaurant on the street corner.

International and regional airlines that once served Liberia are staying away; and also humanitarian workers are moving out of Liberia because of the Ebola virus.

If people cannot travel, go to a restaurant to eat, than of course the unsanitized open markets, market grounds and stalls that are already breeding grounds for diseases and illnesses are not to be trusted either.

Jokes aside, the proud brand we wholeheartedly embraced and know as “Liberia” is no more, for now.

Only the passing of time, and perhaps Devine intervention could bring back the glory days. Hopefully!

All we can do now is to hope and hope (and the praying folks, pray) that our country, our relatives and friends, and our cherished communities and neighborhoods will survive this latest crisis.

The Ebola crisis also offers a chance to scrutinize our government’s plans, preparation and response to future disasters that threatens the stability of Liberia and the safety of its citizens.

This is also an opportunity for the Liberian government to put people and country first, and not lead from behind as Madame Sirleaf did during this crisis.

Even though we have been constantly reminded not to play the blame game in the face of this national tragedy, what else can a helpless person whose life is also on the line do when he or she sees a relative or friend laid dead from Ebola?

Do we expect human beings who are hurting and hungry after their government dropped the ball to blame themselves for their collective tragedies?

Some of the president’s supporters even blamed the victims, the Liberian people by suggesting that they laughed and did not see the Ebola virus as serious when Madam Sirleaf first told the nation about its outbreak.

Nonsense!

Elected presidents in democratic societies take the oath of office to defend and protect their sovereign nations from both domestic and foreign threats.

Elected presidents are also expected to protect individual liberties in the process, but cannot allow a threat to national security to play second fiddle to individual liberties, especially when a nation and its citizens are being threatened.

Of course the Liberian government is right to finally ask or demand that Liberians not move around, so as not to transfer the virus to others.

However, since Liberians are being told to stay home and not work, is the legislature and the Sirleaf administration making any plans to appropriate funds to purchase food – rice in particular, for national distribution to avoid starvation on a massive scale?

We saw or experienced the distribution of food and other supplies during the civil war, when Liberians and other nationals couldn’t get their hands on food supplies because of their collective fears of being killed or injured.

As a national crisis, the right thing for the national legislature and the Sirleaf administration to do now is to be proactive by funding and implementing a food purchasing and distribution program to feed the Liberian people during these critical times.

With the Ebola virus still not being contained, the last thing we want in Liberia now or in the future is another crisis: mass starvation.

Madame Sirleaf, are you listening?

Category: Editorial, News Headlines