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Spilsbury made reference to the shared history and strong connections between the UK and Sierra Leone, and the large investment made by the UK government in a range of sectors to support Sierra Leone’s development and to promote inclusive growth.
She said the UK Government is helping to increase access to quality healthcare services across Sierra Leone, train health workers, improve access to family planning as well as working with the Government of Sierra Leone on procurement of essential drugs and supply chain management.
Spilsbury said it is not possible to provide healthcare services without medicine. It is critically important that Sierra Leoneans receive access to the medicines when they are needed, which is why the UK has been working, and would continue to work, with the government of Sierra Leone in supporting the procurement of essential medicines for pregnant women and children under 5.
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Spilsbury urged the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure that their financial commitments match their political will, and set in place systems for reporting of leakages in the distribution of drugs to ensure they reach the intended beneficiaries. She said the UK Government shared the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment on this agenda, and said the UK would continue to support where it could.
