25th July, 2008
Douglas Alexander MP, the UK's Secretary of State for International Development has written for the Katine website about development in Africa. Read the article here.
He writes that 'the international community can help to make a real difference in Africa.' Too often our perceptions of Africa are framed by the press coverage of the political situation in Zimbabwe for example, rather than reflecting the real progress towards peace, democracy and economic growth.
Douglas Alexander writes compellingly that 'It is morally right to help our global neighbours free themselves from the shackles of extreme poverty. But in today's world, with climate change, migration, international crime and terror – it is also in our self-interest. As the credit crunch, the food crisis and the rise of the price of oil remind us, in today's world no country can isolate itself from global pressures. By supporting poor countries to become stable and effective states, we contribute to the emergence of global solutions.'
AMREF, through its partnership with the Guardian and Observer newspapers and Barclays, is working to make a difference in Africa through the project in the Ugandan sub-county of Katine. You can read more about the issues the project is tackling here, with recent updates on the project's work tackling child health.