APM Terminals Liberia helps employees and partners with COVID-19 vaccination

• The initiative increases awareness of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine brought into Liberia and helps employees, subcontractors and all Port users who have not yet received their vaccine to get vaccinated.

The Management of APM Terminals Liberia, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, set up a dedicated team to have terminal employees, subcontractors and all Port users in the Freeport of Monrovia who have not taken the COVID-19 vaccine yet to get vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.

Commitment to the people

“In the wake of this pandemic and the health challenges Liberia is faced with, it is prudent that we join in creating the awareness to curtail the spread of this deadly virus”, Jonathan Graham, APM Terminals Liberia Managing Director said. “We have an investment in this country and a responsibility to our employees, as well as a commitment to the people of Liberia, so there is a need to aid in whichever way we can to improve the situation.”

“On behalf of the Management and staff of APM Terminals Liberia, we want to say a big ‘thank you’ to the team at the Ministry of Health and our medical partner CliniLab for coordinating this exercise, which allowed our employees and other Port workers to not have to take time off from their work to go to look for vaccination sites. APM Terminals Liberia can proudly say that since the surge of the new Delta variant, none of our employees have contracted the virus.”

Close collaboration with the authorities and partners

In response to the initiative, Dr. Yatta Sackie- Wapoe, County Health Officer for Montserrado County, Ministry of Health, Liberia, said: “Allow me to thank the APM Terminals family for their commitment to the Government and people of Liberia, but more so, to the health care delivery services of Montserrado County. The level of support in rolling out the Johnson & Johnson vaccines was a clear indication of its commitment. This is a clear example of what a great ‘public-private partnership’ can do.” 

“We would like to encourage the workers union, the authorities and customers to take advantage of this golden opportunity and get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. COVID-19 is deadly, it is for real, it is a common enemy! One scientific proven way to reduce the spread is to get vaccinated. We are therefore urging all well-meaning Liberians (not just the port workers) to get vaccinated and save the lives of their friends and family members. Thanks kindly to the APM Terminals Liberia family for the collaboration and close coordination”, Dr. Yatta Sackie-Wapoe added.

It was also stressed that when the new batch of the AstraZeneca vaccines arrive in Liberia, as stated by the country’s Health authorities, same arrangements will be made to enable those who took the first dose and are awaiting the second one to receive it at APM Terminals Liberia offices. 

Mr. Abraham Kamara, President of the Port Truckers Association also commented: “We want to thank the Management of APM Terminals Liberia for this program and for seeking our well-being at this crucial time. We look forward to more productive participations and fruitful engagements with this company.”

Long lasting support for public health

APM Terminals Head of HSSE Improvement Habib Khalifa Nabiyou Sherif added, “As a steward of the APM Terminal Liberia health campaigns, it pleases me to see the public acceptance of the life-saving COVID-19 vaccines and the invaluable trio relationship between the government of Liberia, the public, and this company. This relationship is contributing to an acceleration of our return to the life from before COVID-19.”

“As a Liberian, I can confirm that APM Terminals' support for public health preceded this pandemic, with historical efforts exerted already in fighting the 2014 deadly West African Ebola virus. The recent distribution of health packs, the numerous health campaigns, and this vaccination initiative are a reaffirmation that APM Terminals' healthcare support will not end with the COVID-19 pandemic, as it did not end with the 2014 Ebola outbreak”, Mr Nabiyou Sherif added.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccines were recently donated by the United States government and are intended for people 18+ years and those who have not taken any COVID-19 vaccines.