US supports malaria control in Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) has welcomed the announcement of support by the United States Government to include Sierra Leone in President Barack Hussein Obama’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).
This was disclosed at the weekend in a joint press release by the Public Affairs Office of United States Mission Sierra Leone and the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
According to the release, “The Ministry of Health and Sanitation is hopeful that the additional funds for PMI requested by President Obama will be approved by the U.S. Congress, paving the way for Sierra Leone to join other countries supported by this initiative.”
The inclusion of Sierra Leone in the PMI will be a realization of the request by President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma during a White House meeting in 2013 with President Barack Obama, the release states.
It added that, “PMI is projected to strengthen the ability of the Sierra Leone Government to reduce malaria illness and deaths with the long-term aim to eliminate the disease.”
The release states: “Globally, malaria kills nearly half a million people each year – a child every 2 minutes – and sickens hundreds of millions. In Sierra Leone, malaria is the most common cause of illness and death and contributes to 38% of all child mortality. No child should die of malaria, a disease that is preventable and treatable.”
It furthered that, “PMI funds will help procure insecticide-treated nets and accelerate research, development, and evaluation of new tools to fight the scourge of malaria,” adding, “Inclusion in PMI funding demonstrates the continued support by the United States Government to the people of Sierra Leone towards development and prosperity.”
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