… as two containers arrive with equipment
July 20, 2016 By Mohamed Massaquoi
The Chief of Defense Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Formes, Lieutenant General John Milton, has disclosed that one of the assurances he gave President Ernest Bai Koroma when he took office was to strengthen the medical sector of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).
Lt. Gen. Milton made the statement while receiving large consignment of assorted medical equipment from the United States Embassy in Freetown, worth millions of dollars, at the Joint Medical Unit (JMU), 34 Military Hospital in Freetown .
He described the donation as another milestone in the relationship with the US government, adding that members of the RSLAF were grateful to have received the medical supplies.
“When the president appointed me he emphasised that I should strengthen the medical sector of the RSLAF and I am happy today this gesture has come to the RSLAF under my leadership.
The US government has been supportive in our strides to achieve professionalism and international recognition. We will stay here for the rest of the day should I attempt to list the Kind of goodies, including equipment support, training and courses, seminars the US government has provided us. I want to inform you that our peace security operation aspirations became a reality due to the unflinching support by the USA. Those who went to Somalia can testify that we were one of the most equipped contingents in AMISOM deployment. My message to all: to be more professional so that we can attract more from our international partners,” said the CDS.
According to Commanding Officer of the Joint Medical Unit, Col. Dr. Foday Sahr, the donation was not the first assistance they were receiving from the US Embassy here in Sierra Leone, adding that during the deadly Ebola outbreak, the Embassy provided vehicles and other medical equipment to help fight the Ebola disease.
“They have been supporting us since 2002; they are the major sponsors of our HIV programme, which they helped us establish and are still supporting the programme” he said and added that they have already refurbished the Daru military hospital so that personnel in the southeastern regions of the country would now make use of the facility.