UNICEF Belgium pledges support for Sierra Leone children
Executive Director of UNICEF – Belgium, Yves Willemot has said his organization “will continue to support the government of Sierra Leone until the last child in the country has access to education and health”.
Mr. Willemot made these assurances last Friday at the organization’s headquarters in Brussels whilst addressing a group of eminent Sierra Leoneans led by Ambassador Ibrahim Sorie, who had paid him a courtesy call to seek partnership in the fight against the Ebola pandemic.
The energetic and proactive envoy had mobilized key leaders of the Sierra Leone communities in his countries of accreditation to accompany him to the UNICEF office to put across the challenges facing the country in the areas of health and education, at the same time to give an update on the recent outbreak of the Ebola disease which is plaguing countries in the Mano River basin.
Ambassador Sorie, whose entourage also include the renowned Sierra Leone spiritual leader, Bishop Frederick Abu Koroma of the Flaming Evangelical Ministries outlined the efforts made so far by the government to arrest the Ebola menace, citing the donations of half of the salaries of the President, his Vice, Ministers and Deputies, national institutions and individuals. He further mentioned the recent sub-regional conference held recently in Ghana specifically to address the Ebola outbreak and the establishment of the Ebola Trust Fund into which Nigeria has already donated USD 3.5million.
The Ambassador called on UNICEF-Belgium to partner with the government of Sierra Leone to arrest some of the challenges in the Free Health Care initiative that was launched three years ago for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under the age of five.
Executive Director, Willemot said from the reports gathered on the ground, they (UNICEF) appreciate the efforts of government for investing so much in the well-being of children. “Sierra Leone has become an example which other countries are emulating by ratifying the convention on the protection of children”.
Yves Willemot urged the people of Sierra Leone and all the other affected countries to use the preventive methods in the fight against Ebola. He promised to deliver Ambassador Sorie’s invitation for Queen Matilda of Belgium (UNICEF Belgium Goodwill Ambassador) to visit Sierra Leone.
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2014, https:. All rights reserved.
