But we also acknowledged that there is still work to be done to put our economy back on the path of full recovery. In the second phase of our recovery we have added Energy, Water, and Governance to the initial priorities of Education, Health, Social Protection and Private sector Development.
Over the next 12 months, we will strengthen the health sector to prevent further epidemics and save at least 600 women and 5000 children from dying. We Ebola survivors across the country and provide cash transfers to 47, 000 families to help them out of poverty.
The major cause of our water crisis is the disregard for our conservation areas and we must all play our roles in reversing environmental damage. Together, we will alleviate our water crisis through new and rehabilitated infrastructure and attention to governance, improving access to water for 600,000 people in Freetown and over 700,000 people in rural areas.
My Government is committed to increasing access to energy, thereby improving the living conditions of 250,000 families and individuals around the country. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will train over 40,000 teachers, build new classrooms and introduce a national feeling programme for primary schools.
Collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security and the Ministry Trade and Industry will help provide 10,000 more agricultural jobs, and targeted support for 1000 micro, small and Medium Enterprises will enhance their competitiveness.
Addressing vital governance issues will be one of our greatest challenges in the year ahead as we work collectively against corruption. The Anti Corruption Commission’s new pay on Bribe online platform gives everyone the tools to take part in the fight against corruption in our public services.
We will also give special attention to improving the opposition of the Freetown port; improving the process of drug procurement and distribution; and ensuring long-term payroll system sustainability and accountability starting with the education and health sectors.
In our fight against Ebola and in our process of recovery, we must thank our international partners and wider international community for their support. This is why we insist that all efforts align with these recovery priorities in pursuit of our joint vision for Sierra Leone’s prosperity.
Our Recovery Priorities represent an investment in our people, our infrastructure and a new way of working- development partners, with the private sector, and with the citizens of Sierra Leone.
