AAMIN Donates Food, Nonfood Items To Members

By Reuben Sei Waylaun

Anti-AIDS Media Network (AAMIN) Monday May 4, 2020 donated food and nonfood items to its members in the midst of COVID-19 currently in the country.
Founded in 2011, AAMIN is a nongovernmental organization with a little over 50 members; some of whom are editors and reporters from the print and electronic media contributing to Liberia’s national AIDS response.
The organization’s members are across the fifteen counties of Liberia, but beneficiaries were selected from Montserrado County, the epicenter of the virus.

Solomon Watkins of AAMIN
The organization on Monday May 4, 2020 gave each of its current 38 members one bag of 25kg bag of rice, two clorax bottles, one dozen of klin tiesoap, one bottle of alcohol, one bottle of hand sanitizer and three locally produced nose marks.
Speaking during the donation at the headquarters of the Press Union of Liberia, Solomon Watkins, an executive member of AAMIN said the funding used to buy the materials was part of the money provided by the American Jewish World Service to conduct training for members of the organization.

Necus M. Andrews of AAMIN
Watkins further said due to the coronavirus in the country, the leadership of AAMIN in close consultation with her partner, the American Jewish World Service decided to provide food and anti-coronavirus materials to her members to cater to themselves and their families during the crisis.
Watkins further calls on memebers of AAMIN to continue to practice what they have learned over the years as well-trained health reporters. The AAMIN’s executive further challenged them to effectively report during this crisis and their reports will be highlighted at the end of the pandemic.
For his part, the Executive Director of AAMIN, Necus Andrews puts the cost of the materials at US$2, 013.5 or LRD396,670.00. Andrews commended AJWS for the funding which has enabled them to identify with their members during this difficult moment in the country.
Andrews reminded the assembled members to adhere to all health protocols as they report on the virus. He further said “Protect yourself by following measures because we are interviewing all the big guys.”

According to him, the organization thinks about its members and as such; it’s good to provide them the items which will help address some of the challenges they are currently going through as reporters and family members.
Also speaking, a representative of the beneficiaries, A. Omaska Jallah lauded AAMIN for the ‘timely intervention’ and said it will go a long especially during this crisis period.
Jallah used the occasion to commend the partner for seeing the need to help members of the organization during this pandemic. At the same time, Hannah Geterminah who spoke on behalf of female beneficiaries ringed praises on AAMIN and partner for identifying with them during the period of serious economic challenges as a result of the health crisis.
Speaking on behalf of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), the Assistant Secretary General, Akoi M. Baysah thanked AAMIN and partner for identifying with the journalists in a timely manner.
Baysah said such efforts cannot be forgotten easily. According to him, the Union feels proud that a media organization with focus on health can help her members in such prompt manner.