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Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.Media filesDownload logo

WHO Africa Online Press Briefing on COVID-19 in Africa

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AEC (www.EnergyChamber.org) investment Committee members bring a wealth of finance &#038; energy industry experience and creative thinking that are key to solve the huge lack of finance facing the energy sector across Africa. 	The African Energy Chamber, will focus on new ways to bring investors directly to opportunities in Africa 	The investment Committee members bring over 100 years of combined industry experience, across Africa 	The Committee members in attendance were: Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, Chief Commercial Officer –Mixta Africa; Folarin Lajumoke, Vice President – Africa, ION; Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo, Executive Chairman &#038; Founder – Raise Africa Investments; Gontse Moseneke, CEO – Mahube Infrastructureand Robert Erlich, Partner and Executive Director – Upstream, Cayo Energy LP 	Join the conversation on social media using #ChamberNews #ChamberBoard  The Investment Committee of the African Energy Chamber (the Chamber) met for the second time since their appointment mid-last year, to set an agenda that will facilitate capital raising for energy projects in Africa. The committee acknowledged the increased difficulty of raising capital for energy projects in a post Covid era. However, the committee unanimously agreed that African Energy projects remain extremely profitable, when tackled with the right investment structure. According to the World Economic Forum, “Africa&#39;s urban population is expected to nearly triple by 2050, to 1.34 billion”. Consequently, there is an important need for investment in energy to cater for their needs, to facilitate the development of industry and the generation of much needed revenue and jobs. The discussion focused on solutions to the current lack of investments. “The traditional way of investing is changing.” Said Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo, Executive Chairman &#038; Founder of Raise Africa Investments. “The African Energy Chamber must look to tap into non-traditional funding streams and look further afield than the usual geographical hotspots for investments.” She added.  Similarly, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, Chief Commercial Officer at Mixta Africa emphasized that “To begin with, we need to be able to articulate clearly what the need is for energy across the diverse African countries and what the different opportunities are. Where possible &#038; appropriate, we must tap into local sources of funding as well as other largely unexplored sources of funding, such as pension funds. There is appetite for African infrastructure projects but we must think of encouraging innovation to meet multiple objectives. Developing infrastructure and traditional energy sources, while also furthering transition to renewable energy. The Chamber, its partners, members and wider network must connect opportunities to funding opportunities.” Gontse Moseneke, CEO at Mahube Infrastructure reflected that “We must use this current situation to uncover where new opportunities arise. Our natural resources need to be translated into permanent capital and it takes bodies like the Chamber to be bold enough to facilitate the provision of energy needed for that. On the energy transition he said this was an opportunity for Africans to restructure, with the understanding that localisation is key.”  Finally, Folarin Lajumoke, Vice President for Africa at ION stressed that “Governments have a critical role to play in the quest to raise much needed capital to fund oil &#038; gas projects. Recent events make for a very globally competitive landscape. In order to drive investors towards Africa, fiscal terms would need to be reviewed with a potential investor or explorer&#39;s ROI in mind. Many fiscal terms are no longer fit for purpose in light of the emerging trend in energy transition. Funding for hydrocarbons in Africa will compete not only with similar opportunities in other continents but also with other sectors such as agriculture, technology and renewables. In a bearish market, the fiscal terms and policies in place could swing an explorer/investor from one geological basin to another. Hard-line bureaucracy on exploration is another major challenge. Exploration helps de-risk geology thereby attracting investment. Unattractive fiscal terms, coupled with bureaucratic excesses towards exploration, is toxic for capital raise. Furthermore, African NOCs have an important role to play by becoming full-cycle energy companies which seek opportunities outside their own countries. A diversified NOC such as Qatar Petroleum or Petronas is better placed in raising capital for growth/expansion than one which isn’t. It is also politically strategic for the much needed growth in intra-Africa trade. ” It is with this in mind that the African Energy Chamber will call on interested investors and projects sponsors to approach the chamber and benefit from its network of partners and members to facilitate project implementation. “We will continue to build partnerships with the private sector and governments worldwide to attract critical funding to energy projects” said Samantha Raoult, Director of International relations at the chamber.  As a first step, it is imperative to identify the energy requirements across different African countries and directly approach a range of potential investors throughout the continent and worldwide to keep up with market needs. The Chamber is the voice of the sector and will continue to build bridges that brings together governments and companies in the African energy industry to find a common ground.  The year ahead is an important one, with landmark projects going ahead from Senegal to Mozambique, via Equatorial Guinea. While there is a global need for lower carbon energy projects, it is important to put into context that combined, African countries account for just over 3% of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions, despite being home to 14% of people. It is our core mission at the Chamber to keep fighting energy poverty and encourage the development of African resources to better the livelihood of African people. Collaboration, adapting to the changing environment and taking advantage of local resources will be key to achieving this objective.  Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Media Contact: Mandisa Nduli Director of Communications and Marketing African Energy Chamber news@energychamber.org About the African Energy Chamber NPC: Established in 2018 to promote sustainable investments and best practice in the African Energy Industry, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org) brings together stakeholders from multiple African and global jurisdictions who are interested in energy matters across the entire energy value chain. AEC members and partners include governments, indigenous and international businesses as well as multilateral organisations who are fully committed to free-market principles, the rule of law, education, entrepreneurship, transparency and other values that promote the development of the African energy industry in a manner that will render it sustainable and competitive. To become a member, head over to www.EnergyChamber.org/members and sign up. Media filesDownload logo

The African Energy Chamber’s Investment Committee commits to facilitate investments worth billions of USD in 2021 for African energy projects

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FIFA (www.FIFA.com) President Gianni Infantino has spoken of the need for football to strengthen its cooperation across the African continent, and has shown his support for the promotion of women’s football locally, following discussions with Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nasser Bourita, and the President of the Moroccan Football Association (FMRF), Fouzi Lekjaa. The FIFA President was speaking in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, following discussions that also looked at the country’s role in continental African football and the victory of the Atlas Lions, as winners of the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), earlier this month. “It’s a pleasure to be here in this magnificent country where football is so strong,” the FIFA President said after the first series of meetings with FMRF officials. “I have already visited Morocco several times in the past and I noticed not only the passion for football but also the serious work of the federation, we are here to try find out how we can benefit even more from this work. The MoulayAbdellah Sports Complex in Rabat and the infrastructure in the whole country, this can benefit the country, the whole of Africa and beyond. This is why we are here, to see what else we can do through football infrastructures in Morocco to benefit men’s and women’s football, as well as youth football, and we will leave here with lots of ideas for programmes about the future.” Subsequent discussions followed with members of the Moroccan government, where the FIFA President congratulated Minister Bourita on the success of the men’s national football team in their success in the CHAN tournament in Cameroon. The FIFA President also highlighted both the country and the FMRF’s initiatives to get more girls and women involved in football, and commended the recent launch of a four-year women’s football development plan, as a significant initiative to raise the value of women&#39;s football by actively engaging girls at grassroots level in football. “My talks with Minister Bourita were both interesting and productive, and I mentioned that Morocco is recognised as a leader in integrating more girls and women in football,” the FIFA President said. “There are many positive moves, from appointment of female referee Bouchra Karboubi in the domestic league last October, to the introduction of the new women’s football development strategy by the FMRF last summer. &#8220;There are great opportunities here, and I look forward to seeing Morocco stake their claim for a place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. I informed the Minister that FIFA will help the federation in further developing and nurturing the women’s game throughout Morocco, so even more girls and women can become involved in football.” Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA).Media filesDownload logo

Women’s football progress highlighted in Morocco meetings

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In response to the growing demand for high-quality camera equipment to meet the evolving requirements of today’s content creators, Canon Europe (www.Canon-europe.com) today announces the EOS M50 Mark II, the successor to the award-winning [1] EOS M50. The global appetite for creating, sharing and watching content on Instagram, YouTube and Twitch shows no sign of slowing down – with people dedicating more time exploring hobbies and learning new skills. In Europe [1] alone, between Q3 2019 and Q2 2020, TikTok saw its monthly usage increase by 93 per cent amongst 16-64 years olds. A small, yet powerful mirrorless camera, the EOS M50 Mark II makes the entire process from shooting to uploading content easier than ever before. Capable of capturing landscape and vertical 4K video or livestreaming Full HD directly to YouTube [2], this camera enables creators to take their content to the next level. With a 3.5mm microphone input, clean HDMI and USB output, this camera has all the inputs and outputs a content creator could need. Its compact body, vari-angle touchscreen and compatibility with a range of Canon lenses means users have complete creative freedom – whether they are capturing beautifully framed ‘to camera’ pieces or are vlogging on the go. Destination anywhere Versatility sits at the heart of this camera. Whether you want to capture high-quality photos for Instagram reels, a native vertical video to share on TikTok, or live stream to YouTube, the EOS M50 Mark II has it covered. With its clean HDMI output, users can create professional-looking live streams and thanks to Canon’s EOS Webcam Utility Software, casual streaming on Twitch or quality video chats with friends and family is all possible. Meeting the demand for fast-to-market content, the EOS M50 Mark II boasts enhanced mobile connectivity [3] via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This allows control from a mobile device and direct upload of images and movies to social media channels, ensuring they never miss a beat. Empowering content creators Whatever their style or needs, with built-in microphone import, this portable camera can be easily carried around or even mounted onto a gimbal – giving users flexibility. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, the vari-angle touch screen and responsive electronic viewfinder (EVF) also mean users can frame the shot in any situation. Stand out in the social feed With over 300,000 stories posted to Instagram every minute [4], the key to making content stand out is quality. The EOS M50 Mark II allows content creators to use Canon’s EF-M lens range and EF lenses with a mount adaptor, which includes an ultra-wide lens, perfect for vlogging or a lens with a shallow depth of field to get those selfies just right. The camera’s speed [5], 24.1 megapixel APS-C sensor, Intelligent Auto modes and Eye Detection also gives content creators the edge when it comes to photography – making it possible to take sharp action shots that catch social media scrollers’ eyes. But it’s not just visual quality that will help users’ content gain more views and followers, audio quality is also important. The Canon EOS M50 Mark II has a 3.5mm microphone port, so aspiring YouTubers can create vlogs with impeccable sound quality. Amine Djouahra, Sales and Marketing Director at Canon Central and North Africa added: “Perfect for vloggers, bloggers and influencers, the Canon EOS M50 Mark II is the ideal choice for content creators requiring stunning image quality, smart features and to live stream to an on-line audience in real-time.” The Canon EOS M50 Mark II will be available from the end of April 2021. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/3qULL0C. EOS M50 Mark II &#8211; Key Features: 	Create and share content to any platform through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity 	Capture vertical videos to post direct to social channels 	Clean HDMI output for direct livestreaming from YouTube 	24.1MP APS-C sensor for stunning images and Full HD video 	Versatile Vari-Angle touchscreen display for multiple shooting options 	A 3.5mm microphone input for professional sound quality 	Lens compatability to match all perspectives and styles 	Source: https://bit.ly/3uy9zcT 	The live streaming service available with this product is for live streaming on YouTube only. To use live streaming, you need to have an active YouTube account and an image.canon account. Please be aware that YouTube may change, stop, or terminate its services, including live streaming, at any time without notice. In accordance with YouTube’s &#8220;Restrictions on live streaming&#8221; users must have a minimum of 1,000 channel subscribers in order to live stream from a mobile device (including camera products with live streaming capability). For up-to-date information from YouTube on restrictions, please visit https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2853834?hl=en. Canon makes no representations or warranties with respect to any third party product or service, including live streaming. 	Via the Canon Camera Connect app or image.canon 	https://bit.ly/3kn2ash 	The EOS M50 Mark II is capable of continuous shooting at 10 frames per second ^ Availability and specifications are subject to change without notice. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).Media Contact: Canon Central and North Africa Mai Youssef e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com APO Group &#8211; PR Agency Rania ElRafie e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com About Canon Europe: Canon Europe (www.Canon-europe.com) is the EMEA strategic headquarters of Canon Inc., a global provider of imaging technologies and services. Canon Europe has operations in roughly 120 countries, with approximately 13,500 employees and contributes to around a quarter of Canon’s global revenues annually.  Founded in 1937, the desire to continuously innovate has kept Canon at the forefront of imaging excellence throughout its 80-year history and has commitments to invest in the right areas and capture growth opportunities, from cameras to commercial printers, and business consultancy to healthcare technologies. Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei – ‘living and working together for the common good’. In EMEA, Canon Europe pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better. Further information about Canon Europe is available at: www.Canon-europe.com.Media filesDownload logo

Canon launches EOS M50 Mark II as social content creation continues to soar

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Hennessy, the world’s best-selling cognac, and the National Basketball Association (NBA) (www.NBA.com) today announced a global expansion of their partnership, making Hennessy the “Official Spirit of the NBA” worldwide. The multiyear agreement, which marks the league’s first-ever global partnership with a spirits brand, ushers in the next chapter of Hennessy’s relationship with the NBA and expands on the North American deal (https://on.nba.com/2NZm5l7) that was announced in February 2020. “We are honored by the distinction as the first global spirit partner in the NBA’s history,” said Julie Nollet, Hennessy global CMO. “The NBA is more than basketball, and Hennessy is more than cognac.  We represent global communities, and this partnership empowers us to support a game and culture that brings people together through entertainment and camaraderie despite the current challenges faced by fans around the world. We share the NBA’s core values of integrity, teamwork, respect and innovation, which are more powerful than ever as we work to inspire and unite people across the globe.” “This partnership expansion marks an exciting milestone for the league as Hennessy becomes the NBA’s first-ever global spirits partner,” said Dan Rossomondo, NBA Senior Vice President, Media and Business Development. “We look forward to continuing to celebrate the game of basketball alongside this iconic brand and our fans around the world.” The expanded partnership will tip off in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and South America with the launch of an adaptation of the “Hennessy x NBA: Lines” (https://bit.ly/2ZNT12z) campaign that celebrates those who push the game forward. Fans around the world will be able to toast with new exclusive Hennessy VS and VSOP Limited Edition bottles, specially designed to commemorate the partnership.  The Limited Edition bottles are now available in the U.S., and a worldwide release is planned for the second quarter of 2021.  For more than 250 years, Hennessy has celebrated those who embody the &#8220;Never Stop. Never Settle&#8221; ethos that is personified by the players’ unwavering commitment to drive culture forward. Throughout the year, Hennessy will celebrate the tradition and mindset of basketball fans around the world through a range of consumer events, activations and localized content. To learn more about the 2020-21 NBA season with Hennessy, visit www.Hennessy.com or @Hennessy on Instagram.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).About the NBA: The NBA (www.NBA.com) is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League. The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2020-21 season featured 107 international players from 41 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.9 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes. About Hennessy: The leader in Cognac, the Maison Hennessy (www.Hennessy.com) has shined around the world with its exceptional blends for more than 250 years. Built on founder Richard Hennessy&#39;s spirit of conquest, the brand is present in more than 160 countries.  Based in the heart of the Charente region, Hennessy is also a steadfast pillar of the regional economy, the standard-bearer for a sector rich in expertise. The House&#39;s success and longevity are rooted in the excellence of its cognacs, each of which is born of a unique process of transmission from generation to generation. The first wine and spirits house to be certified ISO 14001, Hennessy unites its capacity for innovation and the support of all of its partners to protect this exceptional area. As the crown jewel of the LVMH Group, Hennessy is a major contributor to French international trade, with 99% of production sold in export, and a worldwide ambassador for the French art de vivre. PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY – NOT INTENDED FOR USE IN FRANCEMedia filesDownload logo

Hennessy becomes the NBA’s first global spirits partner

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Download logoDHL (www.DHL.com) has transported nearly 26,000 Covid -19 testing vials for Longhorn, who is donating one million vials to the International Organization for Migration; Vials were transported via three initial flights from Indianapolis to Kenya, Nepal and the Philippines, supporting emerging markets in the process; Life-saving transports will help COVID-19 testing of refugees and displaced persons. DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has partnered with Longhorn Vaccines &#038; Diagnostics (https://LhnVD.com), an innovative molecular tool, assay and vaccine development company focused on serving unmet critical needs in both developed and developing nations, to deliver much-needed Covid-19 testing vials to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kenya, Nepal and the Philippines. Longhorn is donating one million tubes of its PrimeStore® Molecular Transport Medium (MTM) in an effort to increase the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 testing of refugees and displaced persons in the three countries. In the face of the unprecedented global health crisis, DHL Global Forwarding has tapped its global network of experienced LSH logistics specialists to transport nearly 26,000 vials of Longhorn’s PrimeStore®MTM thus far. These deliveries represent a continued commitment to provide a holistic range of patient-centric solutions and deliver them where they are needed most – especially during a pandemic. “During these challenging times, it is especially critical that we extend our expertise and leverage the full strength of our network, to support the fight against Covid-19 worldwide by ensuring a steady flow of essential items, including testing vials and Covid-19 vaccines,” said Ivin George, Managing Director, DHL Global Forwarding, Eastern Africa. “The trust which we have accumulated over the years with companies who share the same vision as us, has put us in good stead to not just get a job done, but to do so with precision and passion.” The pandemic has caused increased challenges in the intricate deliveries of temperature controlled shipments, including stricter controls at international borders, the absence of airfreight capacity, and high demand for medical supplies around the world. For this reason, Longhorn chose DHL Global Forwarding, who thanks to its specialists, worldwide network of terminals, warehouses and offices, and technological infrastructure, remains able to effectively maintain supply chains. Despite the strained situation in air and ocean freight, urgently-needed protective equipment, medicine, and SARS-CoV-2 test kits and vials in particular are still being transported. “Once we coordinated the donation of one million PrimeStore® MTM sample collection devices with the IOM, we needed to manage the logistics of such a large endeavor,” stated Jeff Fischer President of Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics. “PrimeStore® MTM inactivates SARS-CoV-2 during collection and transit, which can reduce the need for safety cabinets and reduce the time between collection and results. With the need to ship to different countries on multiple continents and traverse to varied customs requirements, DHL was the clear choice given the importance of reliable transportation in the testing process.” The IOM is an inter-governmental organization dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration, with 173 member states, nine states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries. The IOM works to ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, promote international cooperation on migration issues, assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people. Throughout this pandemic and beyond, DHL Global Forwarding is committed to track, comprehend, and comply with essential and increasing rules and regulations for the storage, transportation, and delivery of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, biological products, and patient-specific treatments. This past December, DHL started the international distribution of COVID-19 vaccine. For the provision of its citizens, the government of Israel received the first batch of the vaccine with flights operated by DHL Express and DHL Global Forwarding. DHL Global Forwarding also dedicated a charter flight for additional supplies of vaccine doses with more to follow. Additionally, DHL Global Forwarding delivered the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines to Singapore. DHL Global Forwarding arranged for the collection of the vaccines from the manufacturing site in Puurs, Belgium, where the cargo was accompanied by security escorts on the road to the Brussels International Airport. The cargo arrived at Singapore’s Changi International Airport on December 21 where DHL handled the customs clearance and final delivery to a designated location in Singapore. The company will also handle the return of these special shipper boxes to Europe. Nine thousand specialists work across DHL’s dedicated global network so that pharmaceutical, medical devices, clinical trials and research organizations, wholesalers and distributors, as well as hospitals and healthcare providers are connected across the value chain and through digitalization, from clinical trials to point of care, and every step in between. DHL’s portfolio for the healthcare industry includes 150+ pharmacists, 20+ clinical trials depots, 100+ certified stations, 160+ GDP-qualified warehouses, 15+ GMP-certified sites and 135+ medical express sites. Deutsche Post DHL Group also has a well-established infrastructure in place to promote volunteer engagement among its employees and support refugee aid and support programs. The Group&#39;s Living Responsibility Fund provides financial assistance to support voluntary work performed by employees. An internal We Help Each Other fund is fed by individual employee donations to help colleagues who find themselves in need in the wake of natural disaster.     In its public-private partnerships, Deutsche Post DHL Group also promotes education and employment opportunities, and assists both disaster prevention and disaster response with a GoHelp disaster management program which it has operated in partnership with the United Nations (UN) since 2005. Through this partnership, the Group provides the UN and national disaster management agencies with pro bono access to its core logistics expertise, and the logistics skills of more than 700 specially-trained employee volunteers worldwide who can deploy within 72 hours after a natural disaster. Disaster Response Training is part of the Go Help program, as well as the Get Airports Ready for Disaster (GARD) initiative –also part of the GoHelp program – trains airport management in high-risk regions to be better prepared should disaster strike. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Deutsche Post DHL.You can find the press release for download as well as further information on www.DPDHL.com/pressreleases. Media Contact: DHL Asia Pacific &#038; EEMEA Group Communications, Sustainability &#038; Brand Jenny Yeo / Fiona Teo Tel: +65 6879 8332 / +65 6879 8333 Email: apeemeamediarelations@dhl.com About DHL – The logistics company for the world: DHL (www.DPDHL.com) is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing &#038; energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”. DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 63 billion euros in 2019. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050. About PrimeStore® MTM: PrimeStore® MTM is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared nucleic transport device that inactivates SARS-CoV-2 within the device during collection and transit. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, inactivated samples can be transferred to point of care devices and laboratory-based molecular testing equipment without requiring a biological safety cabinet, reducing the time between collection and results. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Longhorn has driven COVID-19 testing by distributing more than 35 million PrimeStore® MTM tubes to providers in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. About Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics: Longhorn Vaccines &#038; Diagnostics (https://bit.ly/3km0krC) is an innovative molecular tool, assay and vaccine development company focused on serving unmet critical needs in both developed and developing nations. Longhorn’s core product, PrimeStore® Molecular Transport Medium (MTM), is a patented, FDA approved, state-of-the-art ambient temperature molecular diagnostic collection and transport device that can help governments, global health organizations and drug manufacturers improve the diagnosis and treatment of highly infectious diseases such as Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). Unlike standard devices for collecting and transporting TB samples, PrimeStore® MTM is the first molecular transport device that can safely deactivate pathogens and stabilize RNA and DNA, allowing enhanced point of care and ambient temperature transport for laboratory based molecular testing and characterization. Longhorn is based in Bethesda, Maryland with a diagnostic research and development facility in San Antonio, TX.

DHL Global Forwarding Partners with Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics to Assure Safety and Efficacy of Lab Testing in Africa and Asia

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Download logoDigital platforms in Africa should scale up to take advantage of the continent’s surging demand for creative content, said Africa Investment Forum Senior Director Chinelo Anohu, adding that the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) flagship entity is providing advisory services and investment support to creative players. Anohu was speaking at a virtual “fireside chat” on Tuesday with Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah and Dean Garfield, Netflix’s Vice President of Public Policy. The Africa Soft Power Project organized the event, titled The New Face of African Collaboration. Omar Ben Yedder, Group Publisher &#038; MD of IC Publications, moderated. The dialogue was held against the backdrop of the recent coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). 2021 is also the African Union’s year of arts, culture and heritage. Discussions focused on the role of infrastructure and connectivity in advancing Africa’s creative industries, including film, textiles and design. Oramah said that Afreximbank set up a $500 million fund in January 2020 to support Africa’s creative industries. The continent faces a challenge to effectively monetize its creative output. Once it does so, he said, innovation would follow. The Africa Investment Forum, Anohu said, was working to promote content deals as well as digital infrastructure projects to advance creative industries, including support to smaller players. “At AIF 2019, we had a very interesting entrepreneur scheme which saw those that were not as big get the kind of funding they needed to get beyond getting a feasibility study done,” she said. Support for intellectual property rights and equipping investors with the data they need to tackle negative perceptions about investing in Africa are key priorities for Africa Investment Forum, Anohu added. Garfield agreed with Anohu that the AfCFTA would help address a number of the challenges to boosting Africa’s creative output, including uneven intellectual property protections, fragmented payment systems and inadequate human capacity in creative industries. “Data is one of the African Development Bank’s strong points. They have a fantastic research division, and what we’re trying to do is mainstream that data culled from 55 countries and distill it in such a manner that the investors can easily access the information they need,” she said. Netflix’s Garfield sounded an optimistic note about his company’s future trajectory in Africa, citing the continent’s youthful population and its rich storytelling tradition. The Africa Investment Forum, championed by the African Development Bank and its founding and institutional partners, works to accelerate the closure of the continent’s investment gaps. The Forum currently has a growing portfolio of 118 deals valued at $114 billion. The largest single foreign direct investment into Africa, the Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Area 1 Project, to which the African Development Bank is contributing $400 million in financing, was structured at the Africa Investment Forum 2019 marketplace event.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).Media Contact: Olufemi Terry Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: o.terry@afdb.org About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org.

Time for a digital scale-up in Africa to unlock the continent’s untapped creative economies, panelists say

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Results of COVID-19 tests done on 23 February 2021 confirm 18 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 40,261.  One COVID-19 death. The total COVID-19 deaths are 334. The breakdown of the new cases are: 16 contacts and alerts: Soroti (7) Amuru (3) Mukono (1) Kampala (4) Wakiso (1); 2 Truck Drivers from Kampala.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health &#8211; Republic of Uganda.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Uganda: COVID-19 update (23 February 2021)

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Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, Minister for Economic Affairs witnessed the signing ceremony of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org) Annual Financing Plan 2021 for the Government of Pakistan, amounting to US$ 1.1 billion. The document was signed by Mr. Noor Ahmed, Secretary, Economic Affairs Division and Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, Chief Executive Officer, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC, a subsidiary organization of Islamic Development Bank Group). According to Annual Financing Plan 2021, ITFC will mobilize trade financing of US$ 1.1 Billion during the year 2021. The financing available through this facility will be utilized by Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Pak-Arab Refinery Ltd. (PARCO) and Pakistan LNG Ltd. (PLL) for import of crude oil, refined petroleum products and LNG during the year 2021. This will be helpful to augment foreign currency reserves of the country and provide resources to meet the oil import bill. Such financing commitments reflect confidence of international financial institutions in Pakistan’s economy. Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, Chief Executive Officer, ITFC highlighted that Pakistan and ITFC have long standing cooperation since the creation of ITFC in 2008. He highlighted that Pakistan is the 2nd largest beneficiary of ITFC financing. He assured that ITFC will continue its support to meet financial needs of Pakistan for import of crude oil, petroleum products and LNG. Makhdum Khusor Bakhtyar, minister for Economic Affairs, thanked and appreciated ITFC support for Pakistan. The Minister underscored the importance of partnership between ITFC and Pakistan and highlighted that ITFC financing for import of oil and LNG. The Minister also appreciated ITFC’s role in the development of trade and financing in the OIC member countries. During the ceremony, it was also discussed and agreed in principle to expand the scope of future cooperation for financing of agricultural commodities including fertilizers, and assisting Pakistan for developing a system of warehouse receipt financing facility. The both sides agreed to finalize a new framework agreement potentially by June, 2021. The Minister welcomed and encouraged ITFC to play a bigger role in trade financing in Pakistan. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).Media Contact: Tel: +966 12 646 8337 Fax: +966 12 637 1064 E-mail: ITFC@itfc-idb.org Twitter: @ITFCCORP Facebook: @ITFCCORP LinkedIn: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC): The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided US$55 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market. Media filesDownload logo

Government of Pakistan and International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation signed Annual Financing Plan amounting to US$ 1.1 Billion

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I am delighted that the first doses of the AstraZeneca (www.AstraZeneca.com) vaccine have been delivered to Ghana today through COVAX. This marks a major step forward in changing the course of the pandemic globally. From the start, we have committed to making our vaccine available to as many countries as possible and at no profit during the pandemic because no-one is safe until everyone is safe. This delivery is the first of many shipments of the AstraZeneca vaccine expected over the coming weeks and months via COVAX that will take us closer to ensuring broad and equitable access. Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer at AstraZenecaDistributed by APO Group on behalf of AstraZeneca.About AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca (www.AstraZeneca.com) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas &#8211; Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal &#038; Metabolism, and Respiratory &#038; Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit www.AstraZeneca.com and follow the Company on LinkedIn @AstraZeneca.Media filesDownload logo

First doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been delivered to Ghana through COVAX

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New cases: 164 Total active cases: 12,503 Total currently admitted: 114 (16 new) Total number of tests conducted: 187,784 (2,071 new) Total confirmed cases: 31,106* Total recovered: 17,445 (185 new) New discharges from treatment units: 5 Total deaths: 1,024 (3 new) *Out of these, 134 lost to follow-up. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Population, Republic of Malawi.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (23 February 2021)

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Springbok Women’s coach Stanley Raubenheimer expressed his satisfaction with the strides being made by his charges at their training camp in Stellenbosch as the countdown continues to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September. Raubenheimer assembled a squad of 24 players early in January for the first stage of the two-and-a-half-month camp, with his training group set to expand to 40 players from 14 to 28 March. The Springbok Women will face France at Eden Park on Saturday, 18 September, at 04h15 (SA time), England on Thursday, 23 September, at 09h15 at the Northland Events Centre in Whangarei, and Fiji on Tuesday, 28 September, at the Waitakere Stadium in Auckland at 05h45 in their Pool C matches. “The camp is going well,” said Raubenheimer. “The conditioning, which was the main purpose of the training camp is picking up very nicely, and the players are adapting well to the load we are putting on them. “In terms of the rugby aspects we are not too far off from what we want to achieve at this camp.” With a strong foundation to work from when the enlarged group of 40 players gathers, Raubenheimer said the focus would switch slightly for that phase of the camp. “When the other players arrive we will build on what we have been doing, but I would also like to factor in match simulation to see how we implement some of the aspects we have been working on since last year, as we haven’t had a chance to do so in a game situation,” said the coach. “We are planning on playing three matches within the expanded squad and almost simulating a World Cup time frame, so that we can see how the players handle the challenge of playing three games within four days of one another. “So, the focus of the camp will be on match preparation and how we handle that.” Raubenheimer also expected a new dynamic in the group for the last two weeks, saying: “It is always a good thing to have more players in the set-up. “Every time there are new faces there is a different energy and the players who have been in the group push themselves harder. “We have a culture of hard work in our squad and I expect the players who were not available for this part of the camp to bring a renewed freshness to training, and an excitement to prove that they need to be here.” With less than seven months to go before the international showpiece kicks off, Raubenheimer was pleased with the strides being made by the players. “We are on track, so I am happy with that,” Raubenheimer said. “We have another five-week camp later in the year, and since time is the only thing we don’t have, we are making the most of the time we have together.” Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby Union.Media Contact: Rugby@APO-opa.com Media filesDownload logo

Raubenheimer pleased with Bok Women’s progress

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Seventy patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests carried out today at Quarantine Centers in Southern, Gash Barka, and Central Regions. Out of these, sixty two patients are from Quarantine Centers in Adi-Keih (27), Mendefera (15), Senafe (7), Dibarwa (6), Adi Quala (4), and Tsorona (3) in the Southern Region. Seven patients are from Quarantine Centers in Adibara (3), Goluj (3) and, Omhajer (1) in Gash Barka Region, while one patient is from Asmara, Central Region. On the other hand, ninety one patients who have been receiving medical treatment in the Southern Region have recovered fully and have been discharged from these facilities. The total number of recovered patients to-date has accordingly risen to 2,159 while the number of deaths stands at seven. The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date has increased to 2,773.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Eritrea: Announcement from the Ministry of Health (23 February 2021)

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571 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria; Lagos-170 Ogun-65 FCT-45 Kwara-34 Abia-32 Enugu-32 Kano-25 Oyo-22 Ondo-21 Rivers-19 Kaduna-19 Benue-18 Bayelsa-12 Kebbi-12 Nasarawa-11 Akwa Ibom-9 Delta-8 Ekiti-6 Niger-5 Bauchi-3 Imo-3 153,187 confirmed 129,943 discharged 1,874 deathsDistributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (23 February 2021)

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Daily: Laboratory test: 5,507 Severe cases: 364 New recovered: 1,338 New deaths: 12 New cases: 716 Total: Laboratory test: 2,102,317 Active cases: 18,899 Total recovered: 133,051 Total deaths: 2,305 Total cases: 154,257Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (23 February 2021)

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Download logoMinister of Health Lizzie Nkosi announces two new COVID-19 deaths in Eswatini, taking total deaths to 647. &#8220;May their souls rest in peace.&#8221; New cases: 32 Total cases: 16,839 Active cases: 2,547 New recoveries: 198 Total recoveries: 13,613 New deaths: 2 Total deaths: 647Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (23 February 2021)

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Download logoCOVAX announces 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine licensed to Serum Institute of India have arrived in Accra, Ghana; further deliveries to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire are expected this week; Final first round of allocations for doses of AstraZeneca/Oxford and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, to the majority of countries and economies participating in the COVAX Facility, anticipated to be published in coming days; Beginning of global rollout means that, as readiness criteria are met and doses produced, vaccines will be shipped to Facility participants on a rolling basis. Today, Ghana became the first country outside India to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped via the COVAX Facility. This is a historic step towards our goal to ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally, in what will be the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. The delivery is part of a first wave of arrivals that will continue in the coming days and weeks. On 23 February, COVAX shipped 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/ Oxford vaccine, from the Serum Institute of India (SII) from Pune, India to Accra, Ghana, arriving on the morning of 24 February. The arrival in Accra is the first batch shipped and delivered in Africa by the COVAX Facility as part of an unprecedented effort to deliver at least 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021. COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), working in partnership with UNICEF as well as the World Bank, civil society organisations, manufacturers, and others. “COVAX’s mission is to help end the acute phase of the pandemic as quickly as possible by enabling global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Today’s delivery takes us another step closer to this goal and is something the whole world can be proud of. Over the coming weeks, COVAX must deliver vaccines to all participating economies to ensure that those most at risk are protected, wherever they live. We need governments and businesses now to recommit their support for COVAX and help us defeat this virus as quickly as possible,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. &#8220;We will not end the pandemic anywhere unless we end it everywhere,&#8221; said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. &#8220;Today is a major first step towards realizing our shared vision of vaccine equity, but it&#39;s just the beginning. We still have a lot of work to do with governments and manufacturers to ensure that vaccination of health workers and older people is underway in all countries within the first 100 days of this year.&#8221; Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI said: “This is a landmark moment in our efforts to get life-saving vaccine to the world.  The fact that we now have multiple safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 developed in record time is testament to the scientific community and industry rising to the challenge of this pandemic. With this shipment we also see the global community, through COVAX, responding to the challenge of delivering these vaccines to those who need them most. Let us celebrate this as a moment of global solidarity in the struggle against the pandemic. But there is still much to do. With the increased spread of COVID-19 variants, we have entered a new and less predictable phase of the pandemic. It is crucial that the vaccines we have developed are shared globally, as a matter of the greatest urgency, to reduce the prevalence of disease, slow down viral mutation, and bring the pandemic to an end.” “Today marks the historic moment for which we have been planning and working so hard. With the first shipment of doses, we can make good on the promise of the COVAX Facility to ensure people from less wealthy countries are not left behind in the race for life-saving vaccines,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. “In the days ahead, frontline workers will begin to receive vaccines, and the next phase in the fight against this disease can begin – the ramping up of the largest immunization campaign in history. Each step on this journey brings us further along the path to recovery for the billions of children and families affected around the world.” The vaccines arrived on a flight from Mumbai, via Dubai, where the flight also collected a shipment of syringes from a Gavi-funded stockpile at UNICEF’s regional Supply Hub. Over the past several months, COVAX partners have been supporting governments and partners, particularly for AMC-eligible participants, in readiness efforts, in preparation for this moment. This includes assisting with the development of national vaccination plans, support for cold chain infrastructure, as well as stockpiling of half a billion syringes and safety boxes for their disposal, masks, gloves and other equipment to ensure that there is enough equipment for health workers to start vaccinating priority groups as soon as possible. In order for doses to be delivered to Facility participants via this first allocation round, several critical pieces must be in place, including confirmation of national regulatory authorisation criteria related to the vaccines delivered, indemnification agreements, national vaccination plans from AMC participants, as well as other logistical factors such as export and import licenses. As participants fulfil the above criteria and finalise readiness preparations, COVAX will issue purchase orders to the manufacturer and ship and deliver doses via an iterative process. This means deliveries for this first round of allocation will take place on a rolling basis and in tranches.   Building on the interim distribution forecast published earlier this month, final information on the first round allocations, covering the majority of Facility participants, is expected to be communicated in the coming days. COVAX has built a diverse portfolio of vaccines suitable for a range of settings and populations, and is on track to meet its goal of delivering at least 2 billion doses of vaccine to participating countries around the globe in 2021, including at least 1.3 billion donor-funded doses to the 92 lower-income Facility participants supported by the Gavi COVAX AMC.  Quotes from partners and donors President Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission said: “I am delighted that today we have the first delivery of COVAX Vaccines in Accra, Ghana. This is the moment when the long days and nights of hard work finally show with tangible results on the ground. I want to pay tribute to the tireless efforts of our partners, Gavi, WHO and UNICEF. Team Europe will continue to stand by the people of Africa”.  Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, New Zealand said: “Working towards broad global coverage of Covid-19 vaccines is both the right thing to do and the path to ending the pandemic. New Zealand acknowledges the remarkable work of GAVI, CEPI, the WHO and the COVAX Facility to get to this point”. President Pedro Sánchez, Spain said: ““Spain has been from the beginning at the core of the ACT Accelerator and other international initiatives to fight the virus, because only by stepping up can we be successful. No one will be safe until everyone is safe.” Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Women, Australia said: “In this pandemic we know no-one is safe until we all are, and to achieve that everyone must have access to safe and effective COVID 19 vaccines. With the first doses now distributed, Australia is proud to support the COVAX Advance Market Commitment as it delivers access to vaccines that will protect the world’s most vulnerable.” Belgian Minister of Development Cooperation Meryame Kitir welcomes the delivery of the first vaccine doses with the Covax Facility in Africa: “This is great news. Belgium supports COVAX AMC because it will allow a number of countries to get access to COVID-19 vaccines. I hope this is the beginning of a fast roll-out to reach the goal of 2 billion doses delivered this year to the participating countries all over the world.” Karina Gould, Minister of International Development, Government of Canada and Gavi COVAX AMC co-chair said: “Canada has supported the COVAX Facility from the start. It will bring countries together, regardless of their income levels, to speed up the development, manufacture and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Today, we celebrate as COVAX kick starts its delivery of the first vaccines to Ghana. This brings us one step closer to achieving coverage for all high-risk populations, including health care workers, around the world. This is truly a milestone for us all.” French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian said: “France welcomes the first deliveries of Covid-19 vaccine doses in Africa thanks to the COVAX facility, today in Ghana and on Friday in Cote d&#39;Ivoire. This is a first concrete result that confirms the central importance of ACT-A, the key international platform for equitable and universal access to vaccines against Covid-19, which France helped launch together with the European Commission and WHO in spring 2020 in order to coordinate the global response to the pandemic. We must continue this effort of international solidarity by establishing, as proposed by the President of the Republic, dose sharing mechanisms that could speed up the distribution of vaccines in Africa.&#8221;   Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Indonesia and Gavi COVAX AMC co-chair said: &#8220;I am encouraged by the significant progress made by the COVAX Facility for equitable access to vaccines. This first arrival of vaccines shows that global solidarity and multilateralism work and deliver results. As one of the co-chairs of the AMC Group, I welcome this milestone achievement. I urge all countries to ensure greater access and ascertain that no one is left behind.&#8221;  Alessandro Rivera, Director General of the Treasury, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Italy said: “Italy is glad to see that COVAX will begin its vaccine rollout in AMC-eligible Countries in the coming days. This represents a landmark event, since we successfully allowed poorest Countries to get access to safe and effective vaccine within months from their approval in High Income Countries. Italy has supported the COVAX AMC since its inception in June 2020, and has pledged to date more than US$ 100 million. Our aim is to keep investing in multilateralism, international cooperation and solidarity, and as the current G20 Presidency we will ensure that these themes will remain at the heart of the global debate.” Keiichi ONO, Ambassador of Japan for Global Issues said: “We welcome the commencement of the delivery of vaccines through the COVAX Facility as an important first step. Since the launch of the COVAX Facility last June, Japan has been contributing to the designing of unprecedented mechanism and the funding to the AMC. Japan is committed to supporting to ensure equitable access to safe, effective and quality-assured vaccines.” Per Olsson Fridh, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Sweden said: “Today is a hopeful day in the fight against the devastating pandemic, and a hopeful day for multilateral collaboration. Sweden remains firmly committed to equitable global access to safe and effective vaccines.” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, United Kingdom said: “Today’s rollout of vaccines to the world’s most vulnerable countries is a huge step forward in ending this pandemic. As one of the biggest donors to COVAX the UK is ensuring that more than one billion vaccine doses will be sent to 92 countries so that no one is left behind in this global fight. We will only save lives and reduce the risk of future infections if we prevent the virus spreading in the world’s developing countries.” Dr John Nkengasong, Director, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said: &#8220;These first deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines through COVAX are a critical moment in Africa&#39;s fight against the virus. Thanks to this global collaboration, additional members of key groups such as health workers and other vulnerable groups will have access to COVID-19 vaccines in the weeks to come. This is an important step towards our continental goal of immunising at least 60% of Africa&#39;s population with safe and efficacious vaccines against COVID-19, to ease the strain on our health systems and economies and continue our work towards our continental development agenda.&#8221; Thomas Cueni, Director General, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) said: “It is the first time in the history of pandemics that you will have vaccines rolled out in a coordinated manner to LMICs in less than three months of the very first Covid vaccine being granted the go ahead by the WHO.  Just as the scaling up of the manufacturing from zero to millions in a matter of months is a historic achievement, the roll out to the last mile is an important milestone to mark.  Manufacturers were among the founding partners of ACT-A and COVAX.  We have fully played our role in not only scaling up manufacturing through an amazing number of collaborations but also in delivering on the shared goal of fair and equitable access to vaccines.  But there are going to be challenges, whether in manufacturing or in delivery.  We must work together to find solutions. This is how we have gotten so far in such a short time.  Finger pointing and singling out manufacturers as not delivering will be counter productive.” Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).

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WHO Africa Online Press Briefing on COVID-19 in Africa

The African Energy Chamber’s Investment Committee commits to facilitate investments worth billions of USD in 2021 for African energy projects

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Government of Pakistan and International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation signed Annual Financing Plan amounting to US$ 1.1 Billion

First doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been delivered to Ghana through COVAX

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (23 February 2021)

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Coronavirus – Ghana: COVID-19 vaccine doses shipped by the COVAX Facility head to Ghana, marking beginning of global rollout

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