Ambassador's Speeches

Health Event (21 April 09)

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome and good morning.
Sierra Leone, as we know, has made tremendous strides in the last several years – moving from conflict to stability, from destruction to reconstruction, from a downward spiral to an upward trend.  In the areas of democracy, education, rule of law, infrastructure, and many others, progress has been laudable.  The completion of national and local elections in a free, fair, and peaceful manner was truly remarkable.  There are some areas, however, that still lag behind. 

We have all seen the numbers – among the highest infant mortality rate in the world, one of the lowest life expectancy rates, and other shocking statistics.  A healthy population is the key to progress in many areas.  If children are not healthy, they cannot learn.  If people are not healthy, they cannot work. 

The obstacles facing you, the medical professionals of Sierra Leone, are immense.  Poor infrastructure, few medicines, outdated equipment are only a few of the challenges.  There are ways, however, that you can improve the health of the nation with the resources available. 

We know, for example, that HIV/AIDS testing and screening saves lives.  When individuals are empowered with the information about their status and the treatments available, they can protect themselves and their partners.

We know that simple techniques like hand washing, exercise, a healthy diet, and regular sleep can make tremendous impact on health.  With simple tools and an informed population, many illnesses can be prevented.  We know that basic tools like bed nets can prevent deadly diseases like Malaria.  I hope that through this series of discussions, you can share knowledge with each other on how to improve the health of your fellow Sierra Leoneans.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our Foreign Service Health Practitioner Ms. Laura Kustaborder for organizing this session.  I hope it will serve as a time to share lessons learned best practices, and strategies for facing challenges head on.