The Right Hon Priti Patel, UK Secretary of State for International Development (DFID) has arrived in Freetown for her first visit to Sierra Leone.
During her three-day visit the International Development Secretary will call on President Koroma to discuss the post-Ebola recovery and elections in 2018. Ms Patel will also meet several members of the Cabinet, including the Ministers of Finance, Health, Education, Energy and Water to discuss the results being delivered.
Ms Patel is in Sierra Leone to mark the one year anniversary of the end of the Ebola outbreak and will visit a number of UK aid funded projects to see first hand how the UK is supporting the President’s recovery priorities through a two-year £240 million programme.
The International Development Secretary will hear how, with the UK’s help, the country is rebuilding its health systems and making them more resilient so that it can be prepared to respond to future emergencies.
Ms Patel will pay respects to the bravery and commitment of the thousands of Sierra Leoneans who were involved in the fight against Ebola by observing the national 3-minute silence with Ebola survivors at a district hospital in Port Loko.
During a visit to a primary health facility at New Maforki Ms Patel will meet nurses and mothers to discuss how UK support is helping to reduce very high levels of maternal and infant deaths in partnership with the government.
At a school in Port Loko the International Development Secretary will see how UK aid will fund new classrooms, as part of a programme to build a total of 285 classrooms across Sierra Leone, helping to meet one of the President’s Recovery priority targets.
In central Freetown, Ms Patel will meet market traders, business people and investors to understand the challenges in running small and larger enterprises, and discuss how to increase economic development to create jobs and prosperity.
On arrival, the International Development Secretary Priti Patel said:
“The UK led the international response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and we remain firmly committed to helping the country build back better and stronger. We have pledged £240 million over two years to support the President’s plan to deliver rapid progress in his priority areas – health, education, social protection, energy, water, the private sector and governance.
“I am here on the one year anniversary of the end of the outbreak to remember those who sadly lost their lives to this devastating disease and to honour the bravery of all those who stepped forward to fight it. I also want to recognise the enormous progress the country has made in the last 12 months.
“As an outward looking, globally engaged nation, Britain is leading the way to ensure that Sierra Leone – and the world – is better equipped to quickly and effectively tackle future health emergencies at source. This is firmly in all our interests and will create a safer, healthier and more prosperous world.
“In Sierra Leone, British aid is also helping people across the country, especially girls and women, can access economic opportunities and services. This is crucial for sustainable growth and long term prosperity.”
Tuesday November 08, 2016