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Tests conducted: 8,932,950 Positive cases identified: 1,505,586 Total recoveries: 1,419,459 Total deaths: 49,413 New cases: 998Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa, Department of Health.Media filesDownload logo

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

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Total cases: 18,325 (+126) Recovered: 17,251 (+259) Active cases: 821 In critical condition: 14 Tests: 986,665 (+5,960) Test positivity rate: 2.1% Recovery rate: 94.1% Deaths: 253 (+1) | 1.3%Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.Media filesDownload logo

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

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Download logo“Current growth trajectories suggest that many countries will fail to achieve the SDGs by the 2030 deadline,” said Jean-Paul Adam, Director of Technology, Climate Change and Natural Resource Management at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The ECA director underscored the importance of “reconstructing our socioeconomic systems by leveraging opportunities presented by green and low carbon development trajectories with a view to building a resilient, inclusive and sustainable Africa.” It is against this backdrop that deliberations at the seventh Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD2021) will evolve around the theme “Building forward better: towards a resilient and green Africa to achieve the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.”  The regional forum is an annual ECA event aimed at advancing an integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. It serves as a multi-stakeholder platform for follow-up and review of progress and challenges in the implementation of the two Agendas, while strengthening learning and advocating effective policy measures and actions.  Mr. Adam noted that “If we are to leave no one behind, a whole-of-society approach is needed,” together with concerted and ambitious efforts to transform our world during the 10-year window provided by the decade of action to deliver on the SDGs.  ARFSD2021 will take place on 1 &#8211; 4 March 2021 as a hybrid event, given ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. The pandemic continues to unmask and exacerbate deeply entrenched vulnerabilities, gaps, and inequalities within countries. In Africa, in particular, it has severely tested countries’ social, economic, political, and environmental resilience, exacting a massive toll on the poor and most vulnerable and jeopardising decades of hard-won development gains. “The COVID-19 crisis is playing out against the backdrop of hitherto unseen climate change and biodiversity loss,” said Mr Adam who also emphasised that the climate crisis should not be treated as distinct from the health and economic crises instigated by the pandemic because “the three crises and their solutions are interconnected.” Climate change is projected by the African Climate Policy Centre of the ECA to cost African countries between 2 and 5 per cent of GDP by 2030. The continent lost about 3.9 million hectares of forests each year &#8211; higher than any other continent &#8211; between 2010 and 2020.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Regional forum explores inclusive green growth as a sustainable path to Africa’s development

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Download logoSouth Africa’s Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, today called for women’s voices to be heard in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. Ms Nkoana-Mashabane spoke during a virtual conference on leveraging the agreement to boost women’s economic empowerment jointly organized by the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), a unit of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), a private sector organization. The minister noted that women and young people remained among those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for a gender-sensitive post-COVID-19 economic recovery. On inclusive AfCFTA implementation, the minister emphasized the importance of extending the benefits of the AfCFTA to both formal and informal sector women, disability and youth enterprises. “This means that we must address issues of challenges in access to markets, provide skills development and training, provide appropriate education, increase opportunities to funding and credit, increase access and training in new technologies and provide marketing networks,” said Ms. Nkoana-Mashabane. It is therefore critical for women’s voices to be taken onboard in the implementation of the trade pact,” she said. In his own remarks, the Coordinator of the ATPC, Mr. David Luke, said the conference was taking place one month after trading started under the AfCFTA treaty on 1 January when the world was grappling with recovery from the worst economic crisis for nearly a century. The extent to which women will be able to take advantage of opportunities created through the AfCFTA agreement in priority economic sectors, in e-commerce and regional value chains is dependent on the design and implementation of gender-responsive policies and complementary measures that reduce discrimination toward women, while mitigating the potential risks from AfCFTA implementation. During the panel discussions, other speakers dealt with the critical relationship between gender and AfCFTA Phase II issues of investment, competition policy and intellectual property rights, while exploring actions to support a gender-responsive AfCFTA trade facilitation agenda. The outcome of the conference will be used to support the design of gender-responsive measures that will help to build back better in a post-COVID-19 economy, accelerating delivery on the 2020-2030 African Women’s Decade of Financial and Economic Inclusion. The AfCFTA promotes entrepreneurship and economic empowerment opportunities for women-owned businesses through increased access to new regional export markets and expanded opportunities across key sectors. With the exception of Eritrea, the remaining 54 member-countries of the African Union (AU) have signed the treaty establishing the AfCFTA among which 36 have ratified the agreement.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

South Africa’s women’s minister seeks voice for women in AfCFTA

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Four First-Time All-Star Selections Among Reserves: Boston’s Brown, Chicago’s LaVine, New York’s Randle and New Orleans’ Williamson; TNT to Air NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET. Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul lead the list of 14 players selected by the NBA’s head coaches as reserves for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. Harden has been named an All-Star for the ninth straight year and Paul has earned his 11th All-Star selection. The 70th NBA All -Star Game will be played Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta and televised by TNT as part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will take place on one night. TNT’s NBA All-Star coverage will begin at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, followed by the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and MTN DEW® 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star Game coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with AT&#038;T Slam Dunk taking place at halftime. In addition to Harden, the NBA All-Star Game reserves selected from the Eastern Conference are Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown and forward Jayson Tatum, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vučević. Joining Paul as reserves from the Western Conference are Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, LA Clippers forward Paul George, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson. Brown, LaVine and Randle from the Eastern Conference and Williamson from the Western Conference comprise the four first-time NBA All-Star selections among reserves. In selecting the All-Star Game reserves, each NBA head coach voted for seven players in his conference – two guards, three frontcourt players and two additional players at any position. The head coaches were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. The All-Star Game rosters will be determined through the NBA All-Star Draft, where team captains Kevin Durant of the Nets and LeBron James of the Lakers will select from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference. TNT will air the NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET. Durant and James will make their picks without regard to a player’s conference affiliation or position. Each captain will draft 11 players to complete a 12-player roster. The NBA All-Star Draft rules include: 	The eight players who, along with the two captains, are the starters will be drafted in the first round. 	The 14 players who are the reserves will be drafted in the second round. 	As the top overall vote-getter among fans, James will have the first pick in the first round (Starters). Durant will have the first pick in the second round (Reserves). 	The captains will alternate picks in each round until all players in that round have been selected. The 10 All-Star Game starters, unveiled last week, were selected by fans, current NBA players and a media panel. The Eastern Conference starter pool is the Nets’ Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal and the 76ers’ Joel Embiid. The Western Conference starter pool is the Lakers’ James, the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Dončić, the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić and the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select the replacement for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game, naming a player from the same conference as the player who is being replaced. Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers and his staff have earned the spot to coach Team Durant. Utah head coach Quin Snyder and his staff have earned the spot to coach Team LeBron. Below is a closer look at the All-Star Game reserves and a complete list of this year’s All-Star selections. 2021 NBA All-Star Game Reserves Eastern Conference Player Pool​ 	Jaylen Brown, Celtics (1st All-Star selection): Brown joins Tatum to give Boston multiple All-Star selections for the third time in the last four seasons. 	James Harden, Nets (9th All-Star selection): With the selection of Harden as a reserve and Durant and Irving as starters, the Nets have three NBA All-Stars in the same season for the first time in franchise history. 	Zach LaVine, Bulls (1st All-Star selection): A two-time AT&#038;T Slam Dunk champion and former Rising Stars MVP, LaVine is Chicago’s first NBA All-Star since Jimmy Butler in the 2016-17 season. 	Julius Randle, Knicks (1st All-Star selection): Randle is the first New York player selected as an All-Star since Kristaps Porzingis in the 2017-18 season. 	Ben Simmons, 76ers (3rd All-Star selection): The 24-year-old Australian has followed his Kia NBA Rookie of the Year-winning season in 2017-18 with three consecutive All-Star selections. 	Jayson Tatum, Celtics (2nd who turns 23 four days before 	All-Star selection): This is the second straight All-Star selection for Tatum, the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.​ 	Nikola Vučević, Magic (2nd All-Star selection): Vučević is an All-Star for the second time in the last three seasons. Western Conference Player Pool 	Anthony Davis, Lakers (8th All-Star selection): Davis, who scored a record 52 points in the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, is an All-Star for the eighth consecutive year. 	Paul George, Clippers (7th All-Star selection): An All-Star for the seventh time in the last nine seasons, George made a record nine three-pointers and scored 41 points in the 2016 NBA All-Star Game. 	Rudy Gobert, Jazz (2nd All-Star selection): The two-time Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his All-Star Game debut last year. 	Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers (6th All-Star selection): Lillard is the second player to be named an All-Star six times with Portland, along with Clyde Drexler (eight selections with the Trail Blazers). 	Donovan Mitchell, Jazz (2nd All-Star selection): Mitchell joins Utah teammate Gobert as an All-Star for the second year in a row. 	Chris Paul, Suns (11th All-Star selection): Paul has become the third player to be named an All-Star with four different franchises, joining Moses Malone and Shaquille O’Neal. 	Zion Williamson, Pelicans (1st All-Star selection): Williamson, 20, is set to become the fourth-youngest player to play in the NBA All-Star Game, behind Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Magic Johnson. 	 		 			 			2021 NBA ALL-STAR GAME SELECTIONS 			 		 		 			 			Starters 			 			 			Reserves 			 		 		 			 			Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) 			Bradley Beal (Washington) 			Stephen Curry (Golden State) 			Luka Dončić (Dallas) 			*Kevin Durant (Brooklyn) 			Joel Embiid (Philadelphia) 			Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn) 			*LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) 			Nikola Jokić (Denver) 			Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers) 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			*Team Captain 			 			 			Jaylen Brown (Boston) 			Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers) 			Paul George (LA Clippers) 			Rudy Gobert (Utah) 			James Harden (Brooklyn) 			Zach LaVine (Chicago) 			Damian Lillard (Portland) 			Donovan Mitchell (Utah) 			Chris Paul (Phoenix) 			Julius Randle (New York) 			Ben Simmons (Philadelphia) 			Jayson Tatum (Boston) 			Nikola Vučević (Orlando) 			Zion Williamson (New Orleans) 			 		 	 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).Media filesDownload logo

Brooklyn’s Harden and Phoenix’s Paul Headline Reserves for 2021 NBA All-Star Game

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Through an official letter, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) was congratulated by the long-time partner H.E. Mrs. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of The Republic of Zimbabwe and Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother, on her appointment as a Member of the Egyptian Senate (2020-2025) by the President of Egypt, H.E. Mr. ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISI to play an important role to advise with regards to African Health, Economic and Social Sustainable Development and collaboration opportunities. The Zimbabwe First Lady also congratulated Rasha Kelej for her nomination as ‘The African Woman of the Year 2020’ by New African Woman, UK. The First Lady of Zimbabwe, H.E. Mrs. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, emphasized, “On behalf of Zimbabwe, we extend congratulations to our esteemed partner Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, on her recent appointment and recognition. The commitment and leadership she has shown over many years, as CEO of Merck Foundation, health campaigner and a prolific woman in progressively senior roles, has undoubtedly served Merck Foundation’s and our efforts in building healthcare capacity in Zimbabwe and across Africa. I am proud of our valuable partnership, and I look forward to working with her and continue our joint efforts to progress the landscape of the healthcare sector in my country and the rest of Africa and improve access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions.” Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother, with sincere gratitude, happiness, and pride in receiving this recognition, expressed, “I am humbled to receive this recognition from my dear sister H.E. Mrs. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of Zimbabwe. Through our partnership, we have been able to demonstrate our commitment towards improving access to innovative healthcare solutions in Zimbabwe and across Africa. Thank you very much and I look forward to using my recognition to further push the agenda to break infertility stigma, advocate for girls education and contribute to healthcare capacity building  in Zimbabwe.” The First Lady of Zimbabwe, in her congratulatory letter, appreciated the impactful joint programs undertaken to build healthcare capacity, breaking the stigma of infertility and also strengthening the response to COVID-19, executed under the leadership of Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej through Merck foundation. Through their partnership, Merck Foundation has been building healthcare capacity in the country, by providing specialty training to more than 78 Young Zimbabwean doctors in various specialties like Fertility &#038; Embryology, Oncology, Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Endocrinology, Sexual &#038; Reproductive Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, and Acute Medicines. Merck Foundation will continue to provide scholarships of training to more doctors over the next 10 years to continue their mission of transforming healthcare sector and advance its professional capacity in Africa.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard: Facebook: bit.ly/2LdbD8F Twitter: bit.ly/2LesKH8 YouTube: bit.ly/3sdHMxm Instagram: bit.ly/2LC26rm Flickr: bit.ly/2XqzQdU Website: Merck-Foundation.com Download Merck Foundation App: https://bit.ly/2MmNvAU About Merck Foundation: The Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality &#038; equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation (bit.ly/38w0OXL); Facebook (bit.ly/2MU6Fht), Twitter (bit.ly/3scVf8t), Instagram (bit.ly/3boJ0jr), YouTube (bit.ly/3sf4aWX) and Flicker (bit.ly/3snPHZ8).Media filesDownload logo

Zimbabwe First Lady congratulates Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej for her nomination as The African Woman of the Year 2020

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Download logoAfrican markets are key for Telecoming&#39;s international expansion; The female segment shows significant potential for the mobile business. Telecoming (www.Telecoming.com), international technology company specialized in digital services monetization, has signed an agreement with the leading lifestyle publisher Ounousa (www.Ounousa.com). They will work together to distribute trendy digital contents for North African women&#39;s entertainment and inspiration. The partnership applies, for the moment, to Tunisia and Egypt. Women are already an important profile for the digital industry as they are taking a relevant role in entertainment services consumption. Women are increasingly influencing mobile entertainment development. They demand content around different aspects of their lives: from trends on fashion, beauty and health, food or decoration, to news, lifestyle, motherhood, marriage or personal growth, besides entertainment content like series and movies, as well as gossip and celebrities. This alliance with Ounousa is part of Telecoming&#39;s strategy to create differential services for the African mobile market users. Ounousa will offer lifestyle content aimed at women, to meet the growing need for digital entertainment in the market. According to Ali Karaosman, Telecoming&#39;s Operations Director MENA, &#8220;the combination of localized quality content and technology is key to offering services with a differential user experience with high engagement rates. We know quite well the African digital market&#39;s extraordinary dynamism, and there, the female segment shows a huge potential for the mobile business. This agreement will allow us to satisfy, more and better, women&#39;s expectations through exclusive updated and helpful multimedia local content”. Telecoming monetizes digital content in Africa since 2015 in partnership with the leading mobile operators and the best content producers. Ounousa.com is a leading digital publisher of content in Arabic for women, with a community of more than 16 million followers on social media and a strong readership base in North Africa, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Telecoming.Media Contact: Bárbara González barbara@bg10.es M. +34 603 578 654 About Telecoming: Telecoming (www.Telecoming.com) is an international company deploying a complete suite of technologies for digital services monetization. In a scalable, flexible and secure platform, it integrates seamlessly revenue generation tools based on User Acquisition, User Engagement and Business Optimization. Leader on the economics of digital content since 2008, Telecoming currently operates in 27 countries. The London Stock Exchange has acknowledged the firm as one of the most inspiring European organizations. Moreover, it’s among Europe’s fastest-growing companies, according to Morningstar’s Inc.5,000 ranking. More information: www.Telecoming.com.

Telecoming partners with Ounousa to enrich its mobile offering with female-oriented entertainment content

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Download logoAssets to be Acquired for $12,500,000; Major Financing Announcement Forthcoming from NSI. NaturalShrimp, Inc. (OTCQB: SHMP) (www.NaturalShrimp.com), an aquaculture Company, which has developed and patented the first commercially operational Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for shrimp, announced today that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire the aquaculture assets of Hydrenesis Aquaculture, LLC for $12,500,000, consisting of $5,500,000 in cash and the balance due in NSI common stock. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings in fiscal year 2021. Gerald Easterling, CEO of NaturalShrimp added, “NaturalShrimp has been working with Hydrenesis since 2018 on several solutions for the industry with the team at Hydrenesis. We currently have trials on going in Norway and Australia. The Company intends to immediately begin deployment of the technology in our hatchery and nursery systems. We also believe that the Hydrenesis technology will have major impacts on disease control in salmon, barramundi, and tilapia farming segments. We expect to file additional patents around the expansion of the application and use of the combined EC and Hydrenesis technology.” David Antelo, CEO of Hydrenesis, Inc., said, “We are excited for the next evolution of our relationship with NaturalShrimp. We have been exploring the application of ‘Redox’ water treatment for several years. Our technologies’ ability to affect water chemistry and elevate water quality is proving to have a significant impact on growth and health metrics. Natural Shrimp&#39;s bold vision and rapid growth trajectory make them the ideal partner for extending commercialization of Hydrenesis technologies to additional species applications.” Distributed by APO Group on behalf of NaturalShrimp, Inc..Media Contact: Richard Brown 508-462-9638 About NaturalShrimp: NaturalShrimp, Inc. (www.NaturalShrimp.com) is a publicly traded aqua-tech Company, headquartered in Dallas, with production facilities located near San Antonio, Texas. The Company has developed the first commercially viable system for growing shrimp in enclosed, salt-water systems, using patented technology to produce fresh, never frozen, naturally grown shrimp, without the use of antibiotics or toxic chemicals. NaturalShrimp systems can be located anywhere in the world to produce gourmet-grade Pacific white shrimp. About Hydrenesis: Hydrenesis, Inc. (www.Hydrenesis.com) and Hydrenesis Aquaculture, LLC (www.HydrenesisAquaculture.com), headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, are private technology owners and technology commercialization companies that partner with leading IP holders and industry insiders to commercialize innovative technologies in major industry sectors. Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains &#8220;forward-looking statements.&#8221; The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company&#39;s current expectations or forecasts of future events. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict and beyond the Company&#39;s control, and could cause the Company&#39;s results to differ materially from those described. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as &#8220;may,&#8221; &#8220;should,&#8221; &#8220;potential,&#8221; &#8220;continue,&#8221; &#8220;expects,&#8221; &#8220;anticipates,&#8221; &#8220;intends,&#8221; &#8220;plans,&#8221; &#8220;believes,&#8221; &#8220;estimates,&#8221; and similar expressions. These statements include statements regarding moving forward with executing the Company&#39;s global growth strategy. The statements are based upon current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict. The Company is providing this information as of the date of this press release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting the financial condition of our business. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to the Risk Factors and other information set forth in the Company&#39;s Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed on February 16, 2021, and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

NaturalShrimp Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Aquaculture Assets of Hydrenesis Aquaculture, LLC

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Download logoSeveral thousand people fleeing escalating violence in Ethiopia’s Benishangul Gumuz region have sought safety in Sudan’s Blue Nile State over the last month. Tensions have been high in the Metekel Zone since 2019 with several reports of inter-communal attacks in the region. The situation has rapidly escalated in the past three months. The federal Government of Ethiopia declared a state of emergency in the area on 21 January 2021. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working closely with Sudanese authorities and partners to assess the situation and respond to the humanitarian needs of the newly arrived, many of whom have arrived in hard-to-reach locations along the border. Benishangul Gumuz is in western Ethiopia. The current displacement is not directly related to conflict in the country’s northern Tigray region which have pushed more than 61,000 to seek safety in Sudan in recent months. Out of the 7,000 people estimated to have arrived in Blue Nile State, nearly 3,000 have been registered. This number is expected to increase as the verification exercise continues in all the locations where refugees are being hosted. In the past weeks, UNHCR and partners have already provided humanitarian assistance to nearly 1,000 refugees in Yabatcher, on Sudan-Ethiopia border. Refugees have received food, access to health, water and sanitation facilities, and aid supplies. The majority of these asylum-seekers are living among the Sudanese host community who continue to welcome people seeking safety. UNHCR and partners will continue to ramp up the response to support the government in its response.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Thousands of Ethiopians seek asylum in Sudan’s Blue Nile State

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Active cases: 377 New cases: 58 New tests: 1,310 Total confirmed: 4,612 Recovered: 4,089 (+78) Deaths: 146 (+2)Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, The Gambia.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Gambia: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

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Download logoThe recently concluded national elections in Uganda presented one fundamental public health challenge that will be live in the annals of history: How to prevent the spread of a highly infectious disease in a low-resourced setting during an event that by its very nature is meant to congregate thousands of people. This is an issue on which public health specialists spent agonising days and nights figuring out the right advice to give. The World Health Organization (WHO) was consulted for advice but unfortunately, there were no precedents in Uganda. A national election during a raging epidemic was something new. Yet, the national authorities had no option because elections are sacred and sanctified constitutional issues that must be respected. Fortunately, the scientifically proven COVID-19 prevention and control measures were well known and could be easily implemented or observed by most people at minimal or no cost. It is these measures that WHO emphasised to all people who sought the organization’s advice on the matter.   “Our advice is simple and clear. All people should always wear masks, they should regularly wash hands with soap and water, they should physically distance by at least two meters and those with signs and symptoms should stay at home and seek immediate medical attention,” Dr Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, the WHO Representative to Uganda succinctly put it. Indeed, the message was as clear and direct as it could ever be, the only remaining hurdle being how to communicate it deeply and widely throughout the country and for the people to comply. Time was of the essence; the resources were limited and yet the campaigns were reaching a crescendo. For public health workers, the heightened political activities were the perfect recipe for a COVID-19 time-bomb. The country was already in phase four of the epidemic characterised by sustained community transmission. Anxiety abounded. The United Nations Country Team in Uganda urgently raised funding for a mass media and community engagement campaign. WHO was tasked to quickly plan and execute a min campaign targeting safety during the electoral period using the raised funds.   After consultations and inputs from the Ministry of Health, the National Electoral Commission, and several stakeholders, the min campaign was up and running by mid-January 2021, just a few weeks to the polling date.  A variety of Information, Communication and Education materials were produced and distributed to over 86 districts while others were covered by other partners working with the Ministry of Health. Public service announcements were airing at regular intervals on various FM radio and television stations throughout the country. Other interventions included direct interaction with the Electoral Commission field workers, aspiring politicians, and some members of the public.   In the West Nile sub-region for instance, the WHO field team ensured that COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) reached whoever mattered in the planning and conducting of the elections. Indeed, the team, working with the District Health Teams managed to engage and orient the different electoral commission sub-county supervisors, returning officers and polling assistants to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 SoPs. “My constructive engagement with the WHO team in Arua started way back in September 2020 when they visited the electoral commission offices and put emphasis on measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 before undertaking major electoral activities like nomination of candidates, campaigns and polling days,” says Mr Shesa Juma Adam the returning officer for Arua city. The engagements also enabled the Electoral Commission officials to acquire more knowledge about COVID-19, and how to mitigate the risks of transmission of the virus during the election period. Little wonder, therefore, at most of the polling stations in the country, there were handwashing facilities, most voters wore masks and there were attempts at physical distancing.   “WHO provided the Electoral Commission offices with an assortment of vital supplies for use on polling day. These included hand sanitizers, disposable face masks, informative leaflets and banners which helped us at least control COVID-19 during the elections,” says Mr Shesa Juma Adam. According to Mr Idringi Dieudonne the District Health Educator for Koboko, all the electoral commission staff and observers adhered to the COVID-19 SoPs of the polling centres he visited. One notable aspect arising out of the engagement was the impressive integration of COVID-19 messages into the campaign speeches by many aspiring politician leaders across the political divide. This was not accidental as WHO and the Ministry of Health had specially developed talking points on COVID-19 which they distributed to all politicians through the Electoral Commission field offices and the district administrators. Overall, WHO teams worked with Electoral Commission staff, the Ministry of health, districts health authorities, and politicians throughout the country to safeguard the health and mitigate transmission of COVID-19 during the elections period. Several weeks after the elections, COVID-19 infections have not surged as had been feared partly due to these interventions.  Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Coronavirus – Uganda: WHO supports Uganda to Mitigate the Risks of COVID-19 Transmission during the election period

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New cases: 200 Total active cases: 12,527 Total currently admitted: 116 (8 new) Total number of tests conducted: 185,711 (2,475 new) Total confirmed cases: 30,942 Total recovered: 17,184 (344 new) New discharges from treatment units: 12 Total deaths: 1,021 (8 new)Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Population, Republic of Malawi.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

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Daily: Laboratory test: 5,960 Severe cases: 346 New recovered: 347 New deaths: 14 New cases: 735 Total: Laboratory test: 2,096,810 Active cases: 19,533 Total recovered: 131,713 Total deaths: 2,293 Total cases: 153,541Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
542 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria; Lagos-99 Kwara-91 Ebonyi-48 Ogun-44 Kaduna-42 Oyo-33 Ondo-25 FCT-24 Kebbi-23 Osun-20 Ekiti-17 Nasarawa-12 Imo-11 Delta-10 Gombe-9 Kano-8 Katsina-7 Rivers-7 Edo-5 Plateau-4 Bauchi-3 152,616 confirmed 129,300 discharged 1,862 deathsDistributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Tests conducted: 8,907,857 Positive cases identified: 1,504,588 Total recoveries: 1,413,566 Total deaths: 49,150 New cases: 792Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa, Department of Health.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Download logoMinister of Health Lizzie Nkosi&#39;s COVID-19 update on 22 February 2021: New cases: 18 Total cases: 16,807 Active cases: 2,729 New recoveries: 220 Total recoveries: 13,415Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group. 
Eighteen patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests carried out today at Quarantine Centers in Southern and Central Regions. Out of these, fifteen patients are from Quarantine Centers in Segeneiti (5), Senafe (4), Dibarwa (2), Mendefera (2), and, Adi Quala (2), in the Southern Region. The remaining three patients are from Quarantine Centers in Asmara, Central Region. On the other hand, eighteen patients who have been receiving medical treatment in the Central (11), Anseba (5) and Northern Red Sea (2), Regions have recovered fully and have been discharged from these facilities. The total number of recovered patients to-date has accordingly risen to 2,068 while the number of deaths stands at seven. The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date has increased to 2,703.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.Media filesDownload logo

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

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

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

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

Regional forum explores inclusive green growth as a sustainable path to Africa’s development

South Africa’s women’s minister seeks voice for women in AfCFTA

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Coronavirus – Uganda: WHO supports Uganda to Mitigate the Risks of COVID-19 Transmission during the election period

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (22 February 2021)

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