Ministry of Foreign Affairs Supports the Fight Against COVID-19 by Donating Le 135,082,000 to EOC
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Monday June 1st 2020 supports the fight against COVID-19 by donating Le 135, 082, 000 together with one hundred 25Kg bags of rice to the National COVID Operations Centre at the SLFA Football Academy, Kingtom, Freetown.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Florence N. Bangalie said that the idea of the Ministry’s support came in during a management meeting where they deliberated on how they as citizen could come in to help His Excellency’s strides in the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
Director General added that all staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation including officers at post agreed to contribute the said amount to support Government in the fight to end the COVID-19 plaque.
She lauded the sacrifices of her staff for raising such huge amount especially at these trying times.
Presenting the donations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Nabeela Farida Tunis informed the gathering that, the initiative was borne out by the Director General and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The Minister revealed that such initiative was not new to the staff of the Ministry as according to her in 2014, the Ministry contributed some to EOC maintaining that such initiatives were to support government’s efforts and to ensure that their support to those scourges were owned by Sierra Leoneans and to also recognized the efforts of all EOC staff and Health Workers in the fight against those plaques.
The money Minister Nabeela Tunis said was willingly contributed by staff constituting the Ministry’s Messengers right up to her level adding that the contributions range from ten thousand Leones (Le10, 000) to five million Leones and had been collected over a month.
She reiterated her Ministry’s contributions in the fight against COVID-19 by facilitating several layers of supports from other countries and partners.
Minister Tunis concluded her statement with the announcement of an addition of a hundred bags of 25kg rice to support government’s efforts to adequately cater for those in the Quarantined and Isolation Centres.
Receiving the donations, the National COVID-19 Coordinator, Rtd Brigadier Kellie Conteh expressed on behalf of staff of the EOC thanks and appreciations for such a impressive venture taken by staff of the Ministry to not only appreciate His Excellency’s President Bio’s efforts in the COVID fight but also aiding the EOC.
He commended the Ministry for such ventures adding that the initiatives of the Foreign Ministry was a sign of good leadership among Civil Servants and called on other Ministries to emulate the outstanding example of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The National COVID-19 Coordinator thanked the Minister for supporting the fight at both home and abroad.
The Deputy Director General, Operations, Mr Duwai Lungay informed that the bags of rice donated to the EOC was given to the Ministry by one of the country’s long standing bilateral NGO partners, Direct Aid.
He explained the COVID-19 has affected the Ministry’s operations especially at the International level.
(MFAIC Press Office Freetown)
