Italians express interest to invest in Sierra Leone
Two visiting Italian investors currently visiting the country has met with the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brima Kargbo and discussed plans to construct a pharmaceutical factory for the manufacturing of drugs and related health products for both local and regional markets. (Photo: Front row; L-R Hon. Thomas B Turay, Prof. Vittorio Colizzi, Mancino Giorgio Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brima Kargbo and some health experts)
The visit of the delegation was facilitated by Hon. Thomas B Turay of constituency 35 in the Bombali District was keen in convincing the Italian investors to visit Sierra Leone and invest in the public and private sector so as to complement the government’s agenda for prosperity initiated by the APC Government head by Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.
According to Hon. Thomas B Turay of constituency 35 the visit of the two Italian investors is to identify potential areas of investment in the health sector for the benefit of the people.
He said health is among the top most priority of the people of this country and called for collaboration and partnership with the government and the private sector.
He said the delegation from Italy is headed by Prof. Vittorio Colizzi and Mancino Giorgio both has a wealth of experience on youth development and health care and that they are keen to invest in the country and to also support the development of the people.
Hon. Thomas B Turay explained that he had known the Italian investors for over ten years assuring that they are credible and dependable partners that can help to promote socio economic development of the country, as they have a wealth of experience.
Receiving the delegation at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation Youyi Building in Freetown the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brima Kargbo and his team of experts from the health and sanitation sectors of the ministry welcomed the delegation into the country and assured them of stronger ties and relations.
The Chief Medical Officer said the health needs of the country are enormous and that any intervention from the Italian investors can help to improve health care delivery in the country.
Several health experts in the ministry of health and sanitation discussed gaps in the health sector especially in the areas of availability of drugs and health products in the country.
Dr Momodu Sesay highlighted the challenges facing the ministry of health and sanitation in the provision of health care delivery starting with the outdated machines and poor treatment facilities and lack of adequate laboratory for medical tests.
Dr Alie Wurie also spoke about challenges in the treatment of Tuberculosis as there are about only 170 centres across the country providing diagnostic and treatment to patients, adding that over twelve thousand people are infected with Tuberculosis.
Programme Manager for Malaria Control Programme Dr. Juana Smith said Malaria level is at 43% in the country and there is high prevalence in Bonthe and Freetown.
He said distribution of insecticides bed nets was successfully crried out in the country with plans to replenish them with some 3.2m bed nets by May 2014
The chief medical officer assured the visiting delegation that they are willing to corporate and support the Italian investors for the implementation of their projects in any part of the country.
Leader of the delegation Prof. Vittorio Colizzi expressed kin interest in investing in the Manufacturing of drugs into the country which will be sold locally and internationally as most of the drugs are imported from Asia and Europe.
He also spoke about partnership with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the College of Medicine to implement the project. He also spoke about plans to establish health facilities in some parts of the country.
The delegation also met with Principal of the University of Sierra Leone Ekundayo Thompson and officials of the College of Medicine so as to discuss student exchange programmes for the health department.
However, the delegation also met with the National Youth Commission officers and they also expressed interest to invest in the training of African young people who live in Sierra Leone in order to develop new start-up companies and to set up Italian-African Enterprise Incubator in a specific district in Sierra Leone.
Saidu Bah
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