The new United States Ambassador to Guinea, Troy Damian Fitrell, accompanied by USAID Guinea Mission Director, Kendra Schoenholz, and a team of technical experts, visited the Forest region from February 28 to March 4, 2022, to see the achievements of development programs funded by the U.S. Government through the Embassy and USAID.

"I am in N'Zérékoré to reaffirm our total commitment to this region, particularly in the areas of public health,” Ambassador Fitrell said.

Ambassador Fitrell visited a broad array of humanitarian assistance and development programs that receive U.S. Government support through USAID and the Embassy in Conakry. U.S. Government assistance is benefitting more than 10,000 people in the region where food security and livelihoods were adversely affected in the past by the Ebola epidemic and the influx of refugees from neighboring Ivory Coast and Liberia.

Highlights

Meeting with the Governor of N'Zérékoré

The Governor of the administrative region of Nzérékoré, Mr. Mohamed Lamine Keita said: "This visit, for me, is an opportunity to thank the Government of the United States for all the support efforts they are making for my country, particularly in the sector of public health, education, security and their contribution to democracy”.

Visits to the Regional Veterinary Lab, Prefectural Library, University of N'Zérékoré, the Palm Oil Factory and the Kouankan Refugees Camp.

Ambassador Fitrell visited the N'Zérékoré Veterinary Laboratory, fully renovated, and equipped by USAID to help the regional health system to quickly react when diseases are detected. Through the Global Health Security Agenda, the United States Government through USAID invested in Guinea’s ability to quickly test and report infectious diseases.  A good example of this is shown in the stronger surveillance system in place and Guinea’s ability to contain the 2021 Ebola outbreak.  Through USAID, Guinea has a network of four (4) laboratories fully renovated and equipped at a value of over $1 million dollars in the Livestock sector.

Ambassador Fitrell also visited the N'Zérékoré Prefectural Library equipped in part by the U.S. Government through a digital campaign led by the Association of Guinean Bloggers (Ablogui). After touring the facilities, he expressed his satisfaction: “The books and solar panels are adapted to the reading needs of readers,” he said.

He went to the University of N'Zérékoré where he exchanged with students on their vision and perspectives after their studies. He visited the chemistry laboratory donated by the Embassy of the United States and offered books to the University.

In the prefecture of Macenta, Ambassador Fitrell visited a small palm oil factory supported by the Special Self-Help (SSH) Program that allows U.S. Ambassadors to support communities through modest grants that will positively impact local communities. This community-based development project supports more than 200 women in the N'Zérékoré region.

His last visit was at the Kouankan Refugees Camp in the outskirts of the prefecture of Macenta to get a firsthand account of the living conditions of Ivorian refugees and the achievements of programs funded in their favor. Thanks to support by  the United States Government, large groups of female refugees are trained in income-generating activities including saponification, dyeing, and agriculture.

 

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Ambassador Fitrell (first from right) visits the N'Zérékoré Veterinary Laboratory, fully renovated, and equipped by USAID
Ousmane Condé, USAID Guinea
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