I've just returned from three days in Ethiopia, on a visit sponsored by the British Council.
This was a follow-up visit - I had last visited Addis Ababa in 2003 on a pairing scheme with an Ethiopian woman MP. During that visit, the need for medical equipment and for books for the parliament library was very apparent.
On my return to Cardiff in 2003, thanks to the generosity of many people, I was abler to send out eight microscopes and more than 200 books. Thanks to donations, I was also able to send money for the library to purchase a computer.
It was thrilling to go back to Ethiopia and to see these things at work and in use. Most of the microscopes are being used in different health centres in one of the poorest areas of Addis Ababa, but one is in a school. It was lovely to see the eagerness that the children showed when looking at plant cells in the school lab. The microscope was the only piece of equipment in the lab. Things are changing in Ethiopia, however - it is well set to meet the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015. 92% of children, including many girls, are now in school, compared to the 12% of only a short time ago. This is a huge achievement.
As an MP, I think that it is important to think internationally and to make as many links with other countries as possible. As a politician in Westminster, I represent my constituency, but I am also a member of a parliament that has responsibility for international development.
The links with Ethiopia are particularly important now because of the problems following the elections there and the concern felt by the international community about the reaction of the government to the protests by the opposition. It's important that we keep the lines of communication open.
A bridge has certainly been built. |
