Health and Sanitation Minister, Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura is currently in Norway attending the Global Health and Gender Equality including Women's and Children's rights and health meeting.

The meeting, which is expected to be officially opened by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, will showcase Norway's efforts to promote global health and gender equality including women's and children's rights and health, political involvement and commitment with a view to reaching the millennium development goals in these areas.

Health Minister Bangura, whose invitation came from the Ministry of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would use the opportunity to portray Sierra Leone in its drive towards achieving the MDGs on health.

In another development, as part of her efforts to improve health care in Sierra Leone, with progress made by the government, the minister was recently nominated 'Havard Health Leader for 2012' and will be receiving the award and recognition at the Havard Ministerial Health Leaders' Forum at the Havard Kennedy School of Government which starts from June 3 to June 6 2012.

Mrs. Bangura, who would be among selected Ministers of Health with a track record of leadership in the health sector, would lead a panel discussion and also present a paper on the theme: "Leadership, Political Analysis and New Ways of Thinking".