From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Bridget Lloyd</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:blloyd@phmovement.org">blloyd@phmovement.org</a>></span><br><div class="gmail_quote"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><br><font face="Arial" size="2"> </font>
<br><font face="Arial" size="2">Please consider signing up your organisation
to the attached letter which calls on the President of Liberia to maintain
her promise to permanently remove user fees for health care.</font><font face="Arial" size="2">
<br>
</font><font face="Arial" size="2"><br>
President Johnson Sirleaf has long been a champion for user fee removal
internationally. She has promised to permanently remove user fees for health
in Liberia 'pending donor support'. Support from donors has not been forthcoming
and as a result there is now a proposal from Liberia's health ministry
to re-introduce fees by 2013. </font>
<br><font face="Arial" size="2"> </font>
<br><font face="Arial" size="2">We need to act now in the run up to the fast
approaching elections in Liberia to put pressure on both the President
and Liberia's development partners to deliver the commitment and resources
necessary to maintain the commitment to user fee removal and expand access
to health care for all citizens of Liberia. </font>
<br><font face="Arial" size="2"> </font>
<br><font face="Arial" size="2">This is a joint initiative of both Liberian
and international civil society. Please consider signing on to the attached
letter and note that the letter (and its signatories) maybe used for media
purposes in the future to help amplify its impact. To add your support,
please send your organisation name to Brie O'Keefe at </font><a href="mailto:b.okeefe@savethechildren.org.uk" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" color="blue" size="2">b.okeefe@savethechildren.org.uk</font></a><font face="Arial" size="2">
by Friday 30 September.</font>
<br><font face="Arial" size="2"> </font>
<font size="3"><a href="http://www.savethechildren.org.uk" target="_blank">www.savethechildren.org.uk</a></font>
<br><p>
<br><font size="2"><font face="sans-serif">Anna Marriot, OxfamUK</font></font><br></p></div></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> <br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Dear President Johnson Sirleaf,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB">We have long
admired your strong stance against user fees in healthcare, and greatly admire
the efforts of your administration and the Ministry of Health to improve overall
health provision in Liberia. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB">However, we are
concerned about the current plans to reintroduce user fees after 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As you have stated many times, evidence shows
that user fees exacerbate poverty and can increase mortality. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB">The removal of user
fees in Liberia
has helped your citizens access life-saving interventions and get the care they
need without fear of financial consequences. Yet there is now a draft financing
policy which proposes the gradual reintroduction of user fees. Such a policy,
if implemented, would have negative consequences for the health of your people
and the cost of ill health will fall unfairly on the poor and sick. As such, we
urge you to ensure the draft proposal to reintroduce user fees is revised and
the commitment to remove user fees maintained.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB">You have
expressed your commitment to the permanent removal of user fees in your country
at various international summits ‘pending donor support’. We would like to
offer the government of Liberia our complete support to increase pressure on
donors to put rhetoric into action and provide the necessary financial and
technical support to make sure fee removal is permanent and successful.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span lang="EN-GB">With an upcoming
election in Liberia
we feel this issue is of critical importance. Civil society – both nationally
and internationally - count on you to ensure healthcare remains accessible,
equitable and affordable for all Liberians.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Yours sincerely,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">[List of Liberian and international
organisations]</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></p>