ArcelorMittal Among Private Sector Companies in Liberia Responding to Ebola Outbreak
10/20/2014 - The second meeting of the Ebola Private Sector Mobilisation Group (EPSMG) in Liberia took place on Monday, 13 October at the Monrovia City Hall.
The group — which currently includes ArcelorMittal Liberia, Equatorial Palm Oil, Exxon Mobil, Golden Veroleum, Putu Iron Ore Mining, Total Liberia, MONURENT, Aureus Mining Company, Chevron and Price Waterhouse Coopers, among others — was formed and established in September by companies operating in Liberia. The organization provides an avenue where the companies making up the group can contribute to the fight against Ebola and speak with one voice.
According to Marcus Wleh, head of external affairs and corporate responsibility at ArcelorMittal Liberia, who currently chairs the EPSMG: “The first meeting was a get-to-know-you meeting, but today’s meeting was more about the private sector getting down to business and setting our priorities.” During the meeting, four areas of concern were agreed upon: social mobilisation and awareness, logistics, public partnership and early recovery. The group’s activities will be around these peripheries.
Speaking after the meeting, the head of legal affairs and corporate communications at Lonestar MTN, Dr. Lawrence Bropleh, stated: “This kind of private sector activity is unprecedented in Liberia. Everyone asks what the private sector is doing, but for the first time we have a cohesive and holistic effort from the private sector to help the fight against Ebola.” For her part, Helen Cooper from the United Nations Emergency Ebola Response (UNMEER) described the effort as “a very worthwhile effort that will complement government efforts to eradicate this disease.” Commenting on her company’s participation in the group’s activities, Amanda Hill from Chevron said that “although Chevron is still in the exploratory stage, our sense of corporate responsibility dictates that we get involved in such an effort.”
The Ebola Private Sector Mobilisation Group in Liberia is a part of the global EPSMG representing 45 of some of the largest private employers in West Africa, all of whom remain committed to the region. The group was formed to raise awareness of the need to do more to stop the spread of Ebola and to prevent the isolation of the countries affected by the outbreak.
According to Marcus Wleh, head of external affairs and corporate responsibility at ArcelorMittal Liberia, who currently chairs the EPSMG: “The first meeting was a get-to-know-you meeting, but today’s meeting was more about the private sector getting down to business and setting our priorities.” During the meeting, four areas of concern were agreed upon: social mobilisation and awareness, logistics, public partnership and early recovery. The group’s activities will be around these peripheries.
Speaking after the meeting, the head of legal affairs and corporate communications at Lonestar MTN, Dr. Lawrence Bropleh, stated: “This kind of private sector activity is unprecedented in Liberia. Everyone asks what the private sector is doing, but for the first time we have a cohesive and holistic effort from the private sector to help the fight against Ebola.” For her part, Helen Cooper from the United Nations Emergency Ebola Response (UNMEER) described the effort as “a very worthwhile effort that will complement government efforts to eradicate this disease.” Commenting on her company’s participation in the group’s activities, Amanda Hill from Chevron said that “although Chevron is still in the exploratory stage, our sense of corporate responsibility dictates that we get involved in such an effort.”
The Ebola Private Sector Mobilisation Group in Liberia is a part of the global EPSMG representing 45 of some of the largest private employers in West Africa, all of whom remain committed to the region. The group was formed to raise awareness of the need to do more to stop the spread of Ebola and to prevent the isolation of the countries affected by the outbreak.
