At the Aberdeen Women’s Centre, a health facility providing critical reproductive and maternal health care services, the Scottish Secretary had the chance to tour the facility and see antenatal, maternity, post natal, fistula, family planning and under 5 services. In addition, he also saw the impact of UKaid-funded equipment that supported service delivery at the facility.

The next leg took the Scottish Secretary to Aberdeen Municipal Junior Secondary School, where he met with some of the teachers. He was then briefed on how girls have succeeded in re-joining secondary school after support from UKaid-funded classes for out of school girls, and also saw how UKaid is providing support to girls in school to stay in school, be safe and learn.

The final stop was a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Samura Kamara at his Tower Hill office in Freetown. The SoS took the opportunity of his visit to Sierra Leone to enhance and deepen the existing partnership and bilateral relations between Scotland and the Republic of Sierra Leone. Dr. Kamara welcomed this, and assured the Scottish Secretary of the full support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs both at bilateral and multilateral levels.

It was a successful visit, and the Scottish Secretary gave thanks to all concerned, and was grateful for the warm manner in which he was welcomed and received in Sierra Leone.