I have seen with pride how British overseas aid saves children’s lives. That is why I say cuts should be reversed
I understand the pressure on the public purse, but I have also seen the effect of our spending on the ground. Our choices can do so much good
TL;DR
- The author witnessed firsthand how UK aid, specifically funding for incubators and oxygen equipment, saved premature babies in Sierra Leone.
- Unicef has helped Sierra Leone establish special-care baby units, significantly increasing admissions and survival rates for newborns.
- Recent cuts to UK overseas development funding, from 0.7% to 0.3% of national income, are threatening the sustainability of these life-saving programs.
- The UK funding for Sierra Leone's newborn care program is set to end prematurely, leading to the cessation of international paediatric support and specialist training.
- Reduced funding impacts the availability of lifesaving medicines and the overall capacity to provide essential care for newborns, children, and pregnant women.
- The author advocates for prioritizing children in aid allocation and calls for a commitment to ringfence 25% of overseas development spending for child support programs.
- A credible route back to spending 0.7% of national income on overseas development is also urged to prevent a permanent retreat from global aid commitments.
- The author emphasizes that political decisions have direct consequences on the lives of vulnerable children.