By State House Communications Unit The United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Development, the Right Hon. Justine Greening Thursday 26 February paid a courtesy called on President Ernest Bai Koroma at State House, and briefed him about discussions around the ongoing post-Ebola recovery strategy they are working on in partnership with government to ensure that Sierra Leone attain zero new infection.
Receiving the delegation in his office President Koroma expressed profound gratitude to the British government for their support towards the fight against Ebola. He said since their last meeting the situation has improved rapidly, quoting Wednesday 25 February’s result that recorded seven new confirmed cases for the whole country. He however admitted challenges and cautioned against complacency. “We must continue to sustain the fight with consistent engagement of communities so that they can maintain ownership of the situation, as everybody is now aware about the disease,” he said and encouraged all to continue to do the right things that will take the country to zero case, especially in areas that are still recording pockets of spikes in new infections. The president disclosed plans by government for the reopening of schools and colleges; a decision that was reached at the recent Extraordinary heads of state and government Summit of the Mano River Union in Conakry, Guinea as part of a sub-regional approach to defeat the virus in the three worst hit countries. At the national level, President Koroma said government is also developing an in-house programme which is almost at the final stage, and will be shared with Hon. Greening, adding that they will be making a joint statement at the EU conference in Brussels, which will be delivered by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, as the spokesperson for and on behalf of the three affected countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. He said government is restructuring the entire health sector to restore public confidence, noting that a structure has already been put in place in the Office of Chief of Staff for effective coordination of the transition from post-Ebola to normal situation. SHCU©2015 |
