Honourable Minister, Madame Governor, Director.
This visit is obviously deeply personal and meaningful to me. Since my mother’s visit to Huambo so many years ago, this city has undergone such a visible transformation.
When she visited this centre during the conflict, it was full of women, men, and even children injured by landmines. I know that if she were here today she would be delighted to see that this centre has grown into a global leader in orthopaedic rehabilitation in the middle of a vibrant and thriving community. I have had a privilege to see first-hand the extraordinary level of care the centre provides and it’s vital work contributing to the healing and capacity building process. It’s also good to see certain companies supporting and helping, so thank you for that.
I am humbled and honoured that my mother’s work and commitment to demining continues to inspire and that her legacy is being recognised and celebrated today with the naming of the centre in her honour.
During this visit to Angola, I hope to raise awareness, worldwide, about the two aims of the demining initiatives here. The first and primary aim, is to make it safe for Angolans to go about their daily lives and to continue to build dynamic and prosperous communities. The second, is to protect and preserve the rich diversity of nature that exists in the country, some of which is under threat of extinction, so that eco-tourism can thrive.
The United Kingdom is a long time humanitarian demining partner of Angola, and over the years we have worked together to bring funding and cutting-edge expertise to Angolan communities and fostered partnerships with organisations such as HALO Trust, Mines Advisory Group and Norwegian People’s Aid. Our joint efforts have helped to bring stability and a level of security to communities across the country.
All of this work will contribute to Angola reaching its goal of being mine impact-free by 2025. With the optimism and commitment of the Angolan people and their Government, I truly believe that this country, that’s been through so much, will become a shining example to the rest of the world and a leader in clearing the remnants of war to secure a better and more prosperous future for its people and its environment.
It has been an honour to retrace my mother’s steps today. I lost her twenty-two years ago, but the memory of her is with me daily and her legacy lives on which is why I am so happy to name the centre - “The Princess Diana Orthopaedic Centre.”
