"Addicted to Aid"

BBC program, Panorama, aired "Addicted to Aid" on Monday, November 24th. Sorious Samura investigates what happens to the millions of dollars of aid donated to Africa. Despite enormous amounts of aid, many Africans still live in extreme poverty.

Sorious visits Global Action Foundation's Kono Clinic where foreign aid reaches the people in need.  Dr. Mohamed Bailor Barrie, the National Coordinator in Sierra Leone for GAF projects, explains, "The problem with the so-called development aid is that it is very difficult for the European and American consultants to understand the problems of these people."

World Vision UK’s Economic Justice Policy Officer, Elena Chiarella, reflects on this week's Panorama:

"The programme showed clearly that the key for success is to work with and for the affected people and communities, who are the most vulnerable and whose voice is not always heard by powerful decision-makers, both in the donors and in the recipient government.

At World Vision, we wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Mohammed Barrie, who was featured in the programme. He runs a highly effective clinic in one of the poorest areas of the Kono district  in Sierra Leone. He believes, like us, that the best development is delivered by locally based nationals who "appreciate the problems of these people and understand their needs." Which is why the vast majority of our 31,000 staff are local nationals who know and understand the needs of the communities they work within. "

Dr. Barrie and Dr. John Daniel Kelly built and opened the Kono Clinic in 9 months. The clinic is so successful that people are crossing international borders for treatment.

You can watch the trailer and read the synopsis at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/7738297.stm

The sneak preview can be seen on you tube at

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CAXR6jlygwM

To find out how more about Global Action Foundation and how you can help, visit http://www.go-act.org