Malaria Awareness Soccer Match for Buchanan August 11, 2007

Monrovia, August 8, 2007 The Liberian History, Education, and Development, Inc. (LIHEDE) and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the Ministry’s Malaria Control Program, with consent of the local authorities of Grand Bassa County, will host a one-day soccer match in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on August 11, as part of a continuing efforts between the Ministry and LIHEDE to create public awareness about the treatment, control, and prevention of malaria in Liberia.

In fact, since 2005, LIHEDE and the Ministry of Health through its Malaria Control Program have been working together for the treatment, prevention, control, and eradication of malaria in Liberia. First, Dr. Joel Jones, Director of the Malaria Control Program at the Ministry of Health attended a LIHEDE symposium on “Combating Malaria in Post-Conflict Liberia” held in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA in 2005. Second, as a result of the resolution of the adopted during the malaria control symposium held in the U.S., LIHEDE held a follow-up National Health Conference on malaria control and eradication in Liberia on the University of Liberia, in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and the Ministry of Youth and Sports in December 2006.

In fact, because LIHEDE had written several letters to U.S. government authorities to include Liberia on the U.S. government’s international malaria control initiative called PMI or President Malaria Initiative (PMI) immediately after the 2005 malaria symposium in the U.S., the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia invited officials of LIHEDE to the Embassy during the National Malaria Conference in Monrovia to witness the historic announcement made by U.S. President George W. Bush via satellite naming Liberia as a focused country to benefit from PMI funds. As a focused nation, Liberia is expected to receive 2.5 million in 2007 and 8 million in 2008 to combat malaria in Liberia.

Indeed, LIHEDE is very proud that its efforts led to the inclusion of Liberia on the U.S. PMI program, but the PMI assistance from the U.S. is just part of an ongoing effort by LIHEDE and the Ministry of Health to control, prevent, and eradicate malaria in Liberia. And this soccer tournament in the great city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County is a manifestation of the good working relations between LIHEDE and the Ministry of Health, and by extension the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the local government and people of Grand Bassa County, to fight this deadly disease called “malaria,” which continues to afflict everyone in Liberia, whether old, young, rich, or poor. And I am sure many of you, my brothers and sisters, have suffered from malaria sometime in your life, even if not today.

Today, LIHEDE and the Ministry of Health are continuing their joint fight against the prevention, control, and eradication of malaria in Liberia by sponsoring a soccer game in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, to create public awareness of effect o malaria on the growth and development of Liberia, and the collective steps all Liberians can take in combating malaria in Liberia. Superintendent Julia Duncan and the local authorities of Grand Bassa County have consented to LIHEDE and the Ministry of Health hosting this important public event in Buchanan, to promote the LIHEDE concept of “Culture Driven Malaria Program."

The Culture Driven Malaria Program is seen as an imperative for any modern malaria control and prevention schemes in the world because it seeks to tie malaria treatment options to the cultural values and practices of each country or local community targeted for malaria treatment. The Culture Driven Malaria Program not only uses soccer as a vehicle for creating public awareness of the dangers of malaria in Liberia, but also relies heavily on traditional Liberian cultural institutions and languages to bring together, educate, and encourage Liberians to take ownership of the fight for malaria control and prevention in Liberia. This means that both national and local government authorities, as well as private individuals and groups like LIHEDE can develop school curriculums, construct a public library, launch radio programs in the various Liberian languages, create malaria free zones throughout Liberia, and prepare documentaries on malaria prevention and control initiatives as part of an overall effort to control malaria in Liberia.

It is in this regard that LIHEDE and MOH jointly sponsored malaria promotion soccer team, Club Bassa (The Real Bassa), to the port City of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County on August 11, 2007 for a one day malaria promotion awareness program. LIHEDE and a few of its US-based players headed by LIHEDE Executive Director will lock horns with Bassa Defenders before an expected record crowd at the local sport stadium in Buchanan. The Senior Senator of Grand Bassa County, Hon. Gbazongar Finley, Grand Bassa County Superintendent Julia Duncan, Jr. Senator Nathaniel Innis, Grand Bassa County, Hon. Edwin Gaye, Representative and Chairman on Health, Miss Liberia Patria Juah, Mr. Karmor, Firestone Public Relations Director will be at the Fair Grand Sport Complex in Buchanan to grace the occasion. Firestone Natural Rubber Company is sponsoring the events.

LIHEDE Executive Director, Dr. Syrulwa Somah, Mr. August Menyongar, LIHEDE Regional Director and Tolbert Nyenswah, Deputy Director of the Malaria Control Program at the Ministry of Health, Mr. Somah left Monrovia for Grand Bassa on Aug. 5 to meet with the officials of the Grand Bassa Sport Association and local government to begin promoting the August 11 event on Radio Gbezon and to work out other modalities for the occasion.

Signed: Mr. Augustus Menyongar
LIHEDE Regional Director