I’m currently in the DRC in my capacity as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development. Here is a blog following my meetings yesterday:

It is sometimes hard to comprehend the health statistics in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a country where one fifth of children born do not reach their first birthday. And part of the story is that only one in four people have access to basic healthcare.

Here in Kinshasa yesterday, I sat alongside the DRC Minister of Health and formally launched DFID’s access to primary healthcare programme, “Accès aux Soins de Santé Primaires” (ASSP).

This major £182.9 million investment will improve access to primary healthcare for millions of Congolese. It will build clinics, provide equipment and medicines, improve management systems and train healthcare workers. For example, between now and 2015, it will ensure over 300,000 women give birth with the help of a trained attendant, and will provide 64,000 vaccinations a year to children. Importantly, it will work in close partnership with the government.

For these improvements to last, the government needs our help to take on more and more of the provision of healthcare. So I was heartened to hear the DRC Health Minister’s commitment to the ASSP programme and beyond. He faces huge challenges in building a healthy DRC. He will not face them alone.

I’m sure you have seen the news about the outbreak of measles in Wales. Though it’s many miles away, we know from past experience that these outbreaks can spread. And there’s certainly no harm in being prepared.

That’s why my Haringey Lib Dem colleague, Cllr David Winskill, started asking Haringey Council a few questions. David is the Haringey Lib Dem lead on Health – so was well placed to ask.

We asked the Council if they thought that the historic vaccination rate in Haringey has been adequate to prevent an outbreak in the borough. The Council said that Vaccination rates in Haringey have improved significantly in recent years reaching population coverage of 88-90% for MMR.

We asked if the situation in Haringey was monitored, and if is there are adequate supplies of vaccine if it is decided to offer them to the public. They Council said that all vaccines are now being procured centrally and there is an adequate supply of MMR vaccine.

The Council also said that Public Health England are closely monitoring the situation, though there is currently no evidence of measles spreading to the wider community in South Wales or indeed here.

So, we have asked for reassurance and have found out that vaccine stocks are adequate and that the situation is being monitored.

In the meantime – it seems sensible to remind people that the MMR vaccine is free on the NHS and is internationally recognised as the best and safest way to protect against measles, mumps and rubella.

You can read more information about measles and the vaccination here.

It was good to have a woman Prime Minister and Margaret Thatcher demonstrated conclusively that women are more than capable of doing the job.

Whatever people think of her policies – today is simply a day for respect. I wish her family strength and peace.

Here’s my latest Ham and High column. Also available in full on Lib Dem Voice.

Week after week, I meet local residents at my constituency advice surgeries. Many are working hard in full or part time jobs, but still struggling to make ends meet due to the current economic climate.

The unemployed and part timers often tell me they want to work more but also keep more of the money they earn.

The Lib Dems have known this for a long time. And from now, the amount you can earn before being taxed has risen to £9,440. That’s £600 less tax to pay for working people, since the Liberal Democrats entered Government in 2010.

Even better news – next year it will rise to £10,000 – meaning 25 million people across the UK will pay a total of £700 less Income Tax.

This announcement was made in the recent budget, one year sooner than had been expected.

In Haringey alone, an estimated 86,500 working people will benefit from the £700 tax reduction, and 7,520 local low and part-time earners will be lifted out of paying Income Tax all together.

Make no mistake; this would not be happening if it were not for the Liberal Democrats. This was so important to us we put it on the front page of our manifesto, argued for it in the coalition negotiations and are now delivering it in Government.

Labour failed to deliver this in 13 years in office, instead hitting low income workers by scrapping the 10p rate and pandering to bankers in the City of London. The Conservatives would not have delivered this on their own. Their priority at the last election was an inheritance tax cut for millionaires.

Low earners and part time workers keeping more of the money they earn is a key part of our plan to build a stronger economy in a fairer society, enabling everyone to get on in life. That’s why securing these vital tax reductions for ordinary workers is so important.

In other news, families in Haringey – and across the UK – are to get greater financial support for childcare, thanks to a major new Government initiative.

The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced a £1bn boost to help parents with childcare costs. This could benefit around 10,972 families in Haringey – saving them £1,200 per child, per year.

Almost a quarter of employed mothers say they would like to work longer hours but can’t do so because of the cost of childcare.

Making sure all families – and mothers in particular – can afford to work has been an absolute priority for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats and I am delighted we are able to give parents this much needed help.

I know that these measures will not solve all the problems we face, but I hope these Lib Dem led initiatives go some way to helping individuals and families in Haringey and across the UK.