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The Government of Canada has provided USD 3.74 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to contribute towards its efforts to support the Government’s social protection programme in the country. Both Canada and WFP are strong supporters of social safety nets, including cash transfers to the most vulnerable populations.

“Canada recognizes the need for social protections to support the most vulnerable populations during times of crisis”, says Pamela O’Donnell, High Commissioner for Canada to Tanzania. The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating the livelihoods of some of the most vulnerable Tanzanians, particularly women and girls in urban areas, who are already suffering from other socio-economic shocks. This initiative expands social protections to reach more people in need, including the newly vulnerable, and puts money directly in their hands to meet basic requirements and build resilience for the future. Canada’s contribution is a reflection of our commitment to stand in solidarity and work together with national counterparts and development partners in responding to this unprecedented global crisis.”
Globally, WFP has extensive experience in supporting governments to implement social protection programmes, including public works and resilience building interventions such as irrigation canals, fish ponds, charcoal dams, tree planting and improving roads for market access. These aim at enabling communities to better adapt to shocks and economic stresses. In Tanzania, WFP is currently working with the Government to support the Productive Social Safety Net system managed by the Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) to reach the most vulnerable households. With this contribution from Canada, WFP will be able to strengthen this support for the benefit of those living in the poorest urban areas of the country. Emphasis will be put on addressing gender related vulnerabilities, including those faced by female headed households.
“We are grateful for Canada’s contribution to the World Food Programme in support of the national social protection programme. Social safety nets are essential in ensuring food security and nutrition and changing the lives of the most vulnerable populations, especially women who have the main responsibility for household food security and nutrition. This will enable women to access adequate and diversified food and other basic needs for their family. This contribution reflects Canada’s commitment to building the resilience of vulnerable Tanzanians”, said Sarah Gordon-Gibson, WFP Country Director and Representative.
In Tanzania, WFP is working to develop a better future for vulnerable families through combating malnutrition, supporting smallholder farmers, providing food assistance for refugees and capitalizing on innovative solutions for real impact.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Canada provides support to WFP to help the poorest urban populations in Tanzania

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Romain Bardet (Team DSM) won stage 3 of the Vuelta a Burgos, crossing the line solo, with Domenico Pozzovivo (Team Qhubeka NextHash) (www.TeamQhubeka.com) leading the chase group home and taking 2nd, Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) was 3rd.

Stage 3 of the Vuelta a Burgos presented the first real test to the GC contenders as riders had to take on the well-known Picon Blanco climb. The complete stage covered 173km, with Picon Blanco peaking at just 18km to go, followed by a technical descent to the line.
An early break did go clear in the opening kilometers of the stage, but the peloton had no problem controlling the gap, ensuring the escapees would be caught on the climb.
Ineos-Grenadiers and EF-Education took up the pace setting on the lower slopes of the climb, but it was an acceleration from Fabio Aru that really put the pressure on, resulting in the main group thinning out. Giro d&#39;Italia winner, Egan Bernal (Ineos-Grenadiers) then tried to control the pace for their protected rider, Pavel Sivakov, but new attacks soon followed.
Aru and Pozzovivo rode well in tandem, following the moves until just 11 riders remained in contention at 3km to go from the summit of the climb. It became quite tactical over the final uphill kilometers but it was Bardet who put in a telling attack just before the summit and got a 15&#8243; gap.
Pozzovivo formed part of the first chase group with three other riders, Landa (Bahrain-Victorious), Nieve (Bike-Exchange) and Bouchard (AG2R Citroen), as the descent began. Aru followed a few seconds behind in the 2nd chase group.
Bardet went downhill like a rocket and extended his lead to 35&#8243; over the Pozzovivo chase group. There was a big scare for Pozzovivo though as Bouchard crashed in front of him in one of the many corners, but our Italian managed to stay upright and resumed the chase.
Bardet also slid out right near the bottom of the descent but hardly lost any time with an impressive and rapid remount. The Frenchman held his gap to the line, taking a very good stage win. Pozzovivo led the now 3-rider chase group home, to take 2nd place on the stage.
Aru would finish in the next group of chasers, just 11&#8243; behind the Pozzovivo group, and sprinted to 7th place on the stage. The strong rides from our Italian duo saw Pozzovivo climb to 3rd place on the overall GC with Aru moving up to 4th.
Domenico Pozzovivo  &#8220;Today was a stage that suited me better than the first two windy stages. On the last climb we did some great work, together with Fabio, it was just Bardet that got a jump on Landa and me at the top and we know that he is very strong on the downhill. I tried to avoid taking too many risks on the downhill. Me, Landa and Nieve tried to come back on Bardet but he was very strong, even on the flat sections. Finally, I was happy to come in 2nd with a good sprint because that is not my best skill. We look forward now with confidence in our shape for the final mountain stage and also to the Vuelta a Espana.&#8221;
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka NextHash.
Media contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 470 1710 or +31 625 739 033
About Team Qhubeka NextHash: Team Qhubeka NextHash is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka NextHash (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.
We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception.
We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.
About Qhubeka: Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles.  People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 
All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.

Pozzovivo takes 2nd on Burgos stage 3 – Aru also impresses as Italian duo climb up the GC

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The African Union Commission’s failure to advance justice for the countless victims of atrocities in South Sudan raises concerns about the regional body’s commitment to accountability, 34 South Sudanese, regional, and international rights organizations said in a letter to the AU Commission released today.

The South Sudanese government, after years of delay, announced on January 29, 2021 that it had approved the establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan, along with truth telling and compensation mechanisms, provided for under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, which ended the country’s brutal civil war. The AU Commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, welcomed the statement and promised to work with the government to create the court. But six months on, the rights groups said they have found no evidence of any concrete action taken, and the AU has not responded to their June 14 letter.
The people of South Sudan “entrusted the AU to ensure that justice is delivered and contributes to ending the culture of impunity,” the groups said in the letter. “The AU’s apparent inaction raises serious questions about the AU’s credibility not only in atrocity prevention in South Sudan, but across the African continent where many are looking to you for justice.”
The AU’s 2014 Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan recommended the creation of “an Africa-led, Africa-owned, Africa-resourced legal mechanism under the aegis of the African Union,” which would include South Sudanese judges and lawyers, to bring justice for international crimes committed during South Sudan’s conflict. The AU also released a Transitional Justice Policy in 2019 that provides for justice and accountability for international crimes alongside other non-criminal measures to help rebuild societies that have suffered widespread violence, such as South Sudan.
In 2015, the US government committed US$5 million to the AU  to help set up the Hybrid Court for South Sudan. After several years, during which the AU did not use the majority of the funds, the US State Department confirmed in July that an unused allocation of US$3.65 million would not be renewed.
“The current paralysis undermines the notion of African solutions to African problems, and risks signaling that the AU is unable and unwilling to exert leadership where it matters most for the people whom the AU represents,” the groups said in the letter. “The adoption of the AU Transitional Justice Policy will be meaningless if the AU does not act when it has taken on a lead role in advancing accountability, as it did in South Sudan.”
Human rights organizations have previously said that the AU Commission should work with the South Sudanese authorities on the court’s formation, but should also move ahead to establish the court if South Sudan’s authorities lag on needed steps, such as adoption of the court’s statute. This is consistent with the 2018 peace agreement, and the earlier 2015 peace agreement, which provides for the AU Commission to establish the court. The AU should confirm publicly that it remains committed to creating the hybrid court and providing a credible roadmap and timeline.
South Sudanese, African, and international organizations “reiterate that it is incumbent on the AU Commission … to take immediate action to show that it remains committed to the inherent right of the people of South Sudan to have justice,” the groups said in the letter.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

South Sudan: African Union Disappoints on Justice

Administrator Samantha Power holds Press Conference

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As the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) celebration kicks off, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has urged Nigerians to become advocates of exclusive breastfeeding and support mothers to practice optimal breastfeeding for the good of the great Nation.

The Minister, represented by Dr Salma Anas Kolo at the flag off ceremony in Abuja on 02 August, 2021  said that this year’s  edition of WBW with the global theme Protect Breastfeeding: a Shared Responsibility, is an opportunity for, “all political leaders, policy makers, legislators, women, men, religious leaders, families, communities, workplaces, the private sector, individuals and indeed every Nigerian to take responsibility and join hands to raise awareness on the huge benefits of breastfeeding.”
The minister’s speech reiterated Nigeria’s commitment towards supporting exclusive breastfeeding in the country, noting that, “the Federal Ministry of Health remains committed to support, protect and promote breastfeeding as a veritable means towards eradication of childhood malnutrition in all its forms. 
The Ministry seizes this opportunity to recommend once again, early initiation of breastfeeding within the first one hour of birth; exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and continued breastfeeding for up to two years of age or beyond while ensuring the implementing of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes as globally recommended.” Globally, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for infants under six months of age is 40%. In Africa, nearly 70% of countries have high rates of continued breastfeeding at one year, compared to 28.7% in Nigeria. 
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every 01 to 07 of August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. The history of this week-long commemoration dates to the 1990’s, when the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children&#39;s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) created the Innocenti Declaration to promote and support breastfeeding. 
Also, at the commemorative event, the WHO Country Representative Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, who was represented by Dr Joy Ufere, Technical officer Child and Adolescent age mentioned that,
“This year’s World Breastfeeding Week is a time to revisit the commitments to prioritizing breastfeeding-friendly environments for mothers and babies.
Therefore, we urge government to increase funding to reach the 2025 World Health Assembly target of raising the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months to at least 50 percent.”
Highlights of the event was the recognition and encouragement for more  public and private organizations to promote exclusive breastfeeding. In this regards,  Niger Delta Power Holding Company, the Nigeria Communications Commission, General Hospital Asokoro, Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Capital Administration were duly acknowledged for establishing  facilities that promote exclusive breastfeeding in their facilities.
Other partners present affirmed the right of every child to be breastfed and reiterated that fact that it. It is not just the responsibility of the mother but rather a shared responsibility. In separate speeches, partners called for extensive support of  the zero-water campaign, and added that while tradition may argue that a child needs water, all the quantity  needed is contained in the mother’s breast milk. 
The flag off also provided the opportunity to launch the National Guidelines on baby friendly initiatives in Nigeria developed by Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with relevant Multi-stakeholders promoting child survival.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) &#8211; Nigeria.

Nigeria flags off world breastfeeding week, calls for promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in the country

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On 30 July, the Ethiopian authorities ordered the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) to suspend all operations in the country for three months, citing concerns about some of NRC’s public messaging and compliance with certain rules and regulations.

“We have enjoyed respectful and collaborative relations with all branches of the Ethiopian Federal Government since we started working in Ethiopia in 2011,” said Ole Solvang, partnerships and policy director at NRC. “We are in dialogue with the relevant authorities to clarify and follow up on any concrete concerns they may have so that we can resume our much-needed humanitarian work.”
NRC has provided education, clean water and sanitation facilities, shelter, food and legal identify in Ethiopia since 2011. In 2020, NRC assisted 585,000 people in six regions of Tigray, Oromia, SNNP, Benishangual Gumuz, Gambella and Somali region, and in Addis Ababa city.
“The Ethiopian government and NRC share the same objectives in ensuring that aid is delivered in a principled and efficient manner to the people of Ethiopia. It is our sincere hope that we can resume operations as soon as possible,” said Solvang.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Norwegian Refugee Council.

Statement on the suspension of programmes in Ethiopia

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The desert locust invasion in Somalia has significantly affected the country’s food security, with successive generations of swarms destroying vital crops and pastures. Compounding the situation were floods, cyclones, droughts and the emerging socio-economic impact of coronavirus disease 2019.

To provide immediate relief as well as sustained access to nutritious food sources for vulnerable households to help them recover from these shocks and withstand future crises, the FAO office in Somalia, under its “Desert locust crisis – Somalia Action Plan”, implemented a project entitled “Protecting lives and livelihoods impacted by Desert Locusts in rural Somalia”.
Funded by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the project combines short-term cash transfer with livelihood inputs. Beneficiary pastoral and agricultural households received unconditional cash and relevant inputs to restore productivity. The cash contribution helped vulnerable households meet their most immediate needs, while the inputs allowed them to get back into production and continue to feed their families.
In pastoral communities, the project primarily targeted women, youth, the elderly and others who stay behind during migration and other shocks (when men and boys move with most of a family’s herd for pasture, water or trade). Often, those who remain behind are left with a few lactating goats as their main source of food. FAO provided each household with unconditional cash transfers for six months to cover immediate household food needs alongside two animal supplementary feed blocks, one milk container and dewormed the remaining lactating goats. Similarly, vulnerable agricultural households received seeds, tools, fertilizers, three irrigation cycles and three months’ cash payment.
People living with disabilities and the elderly are often particularly vulnerable to disasters due to their reduced coping mechanisms in a crisis. 
“We have no major income as a family, and I am disabled man who cannot provide for his family.” said Abdullahi Ali Abdirahman, a 56-year-old disabled man who was among the cash plus livestock beneficiaries in Galdogob district. “I usually receive USD 50 from a well-wisher, but it was not sufficient since I have many children in school and no income,” he said.
At his home in Bur-salah village, Abdullahi sat with his children, for whom he feels education is crucial. According to Abdullahi, the project meant that he could pay their school and madrasa fees, and keep them fed during the desert locust crisis and other recent crises. “The six-month payment FAO gave us has had a huge impact on my family. The payment made it easy for me to pay their fees and even buy basic needs like food/medicines,” he said.
The ECHO funded project enabled rural farmers and pastoralists to support themselves during the desert locust invasion and other increasingly frequent shocks like floods, cyclones and droughts.  Pastoralists and farmers were both able to use the cash while waiting for their animal feed supplements and crop seeds to yield results. 
75-year-old pastoralist Deeqa Diriye from Bul-Salah in Galdogob was one of the oldest beneficiaries of the project. She relies on her small herd of goats for income and milk. The desert locust invasion rendered their rangelands bare, leaving the goats weak and sick from ailments. “I rely on my livestock and so does my family. The cash payment FAO gave us allowed us to have a proper sustenance during the drought. The supplements we were given also improved our animals’ strength, enabling us to use their product like milk, which, as an old person, I rely on,” said Diriye.
The ECHO-funded project in Awudwaq, Galdogob, and Galkayo districts supported around 2 408 households like Abdullahi and Diriye. “These interventions were implemented with the recognition that some pastoral households were coming to the end of their own abilities to cope with droughts and floods, and now an invasion of swarms of locusts.” said Khalid Saeed, FAO Livestock Coordinator in Somalia. 
Desert locust invasions could be disastrous for vulnerable communities in Somalia, with the elderly and those living with disabilities likely to be disproportionately affected. FAO’s emergency and resilience project provided people like Abdullahi and Diriye with the necessary means to get through crises themselves and emerge stronger than before.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

FAO provides cash plus livestock and agriculture packages to cushion vulnerable households from the desert locust invasion

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When Abiola Oyebode, 29-year-old mother of two living in Kubwa, Abuja, gave birth to her second child, Precious, in January 2021, she made a vow to herself, despite being a career mother, to feed her daughter with only breastmilk for six months. 

“I made that decision based on evidence and experience from my first child Favor, who I breastfed exclusively for six months. She was a healthy baby and at two years 10 months, she rarely falls ill. That informed my decision to also exclusively breastfeed my second child. It was not easy feat as a career mother but with the help of my husband and in-laws I was able to pull through”, she said.
Breastfeeding has been proven to be the best way to provide infant with the nutrients they need for strong immune system. But it’s a lot of work and can be challenge for many mothers.  
For Mrs Glory Nahom, a 38-year-old mother of three, exclusively breastfeeding her third child is a feat she is determined to achieve as she was not able to do so with her previous two children.  
“I am a mother of three and this is my first time doing six-month exclusive breast feeding. I know breastmilk is the best for a child but the task can be extremely challenging especially for us working moms. I am trying as no formula will ever give my child the nutrition from breast milk. My doctor’s encouragement during ante-natal care made me do this with strong support from my husband.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is six months old. Nutritious complementary foods should then be added while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years. However, many women in Nigeria have not been able to keep up with the practice. Despite the socio-economic and health benefits of breastfeeding, statistics from the National Demographic and Health Survey 2018, indicate that Nigeria’s breastfeeding indices are still below optimal. 
Only 42% of babies are put to breast within 1 hour of birth and 29% of children zero to six months are exclusively breastfed.
Speaking on the importance of breastfeeding to mothers and the child, Dr Rukayya Wammako, the Director Primary Health Care at the FCT Primary Health Care Board noted that, “Exclusive breastfeeding helps the uterus to compress and get back to normal after delivery. The intelligence quotient (IQ) of a child that has been exclusively breastfed is way higher than that of a child that isn’t. 
However, a woman that is exclusively breastfeeding cannot do it single handedly, she needs support of her spouse, her workplace and the entire community. The spouse needs to understand how demanding the process is and also provide her with the necessary food that will aid in providing nutrition while the work place needs to provide avenue and support for the mother to do so.”
She posited that reastfeeding is very important to the child, the first breast milk, cholesterol contains antigens that serve as immunization to the child and is required to be the first feed of the baby. “We are currently creating awareness to make people understand and accept exclusive breastfeeding in the country by social mobilization, community engagement and stakeholder engagement. We are also advocating for workplaces to provide breastfeeding facilities to support nursing mothers”, Dr Wammako added. 
WHO in a series of Lancet publications on breastfeeding, reports that scaling up breastfeeding practices to almost universal level could prevent an estimated 823 000 annual deaths, or 13·8% of all deaths of children younger than 24 months, while an estimated 20,000 maternal deaths could be prevented annually if optimal breastfeeding is practiced. Indeed, breastfeeding is the smartest investment for child survival, growth and development; as well as the health and wellbeing of the mother, family and the nation.
“The importance of promoting, supporting and protecting breastfeeding by all stakeholders is critical to ensure  a shared responsibility that will improve the breastfeeding rates and practices in communities for the survival of our children” said Dr Joy Ufere Technical Officer, Child and Adolescent Health, WHO.
“To promote breastfeeding in all sectors in Nigeria, we are currently building capacities of community structures, support groups and caregivers to improve health seeking behavior, early initiation, exclusive and continued breastfeeding. we are also calling on organizations to make room for nursing mothers which will support them in breastfeeding exclusively” mentioned Mrs Clementina Ebere Okoro FCT Nutrition officer”.
Breast milk is the natures food to the infant which comes with immunity protection and enhances bonding between mother and child.
She added that “we also appreciate WHO’s collaboration with us in promoting breastfeeding, it was really magnificent”.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) &#8211; Nigeria.

Protect exclusive breastfeeding, women call on workplaces to support with facilities

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Starting April 2021, the Ministry of Health of the State of Eritrea in collaboration with the World Health Organization is in a process of revising a national health research agenda to be considered for the next five years (2022 – 2026). The main aim of developing priority health research agenda is to produce evidence on areas of current interest that would help the Ministry of Health in addressing its key strategic goals. The priority health research agenda will help the Ministry to ensure that the available the limited resources are allocated to the top priority research areas.

To facilitate the development process, the Department of Policy, Planning and Human Resource Development of the Ministry of Health established a core team and advisory group. The core team consulted all MOH departments/programs and Zonal Medical Offices between April 22 and May 31, 2021 and a situational analysis was also carried out and findings were reported to the advisory group. The main objective of the consultation was to capture top priority research agendas from institutions’ perspective and to involve stakeholders on the development process and accordingly ensure ownership of the document. The consultations have helped in the identification of the priority areas for research. These have been summarized into broad thematic areas or research domains.
To further refine and enrich the document, a series of consultative workshops were conducted in Crystal Hotel, Asmara, Eritrea between June 22 and June 24, 2021 with adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Dr. Berhane Debru, acting Director General of the Department of Policy, Planning and Human Resource Development, in his opening remarks, underscored the need for having a well-thought priority health research agenda. Dr Berhane said “For researches not to be budget driven and to produce evidence that would guide policy decisions and strategic goals, the ministry of health is developing a five-year priority health research agenda”. He also mentioned the importance of stakeholders’ engagement in enriching the draft document and acknowledged the input of the participants in optimizing it. 
All consultative groups accepted the already evolved thematic areas and have made several inputs in optimizing the sub-themes, areas of research focus and also suggested other new sub-themes. After three consecutive consultative workshops, the meeting was concluded on June 24, 2021 with significant inputs, recommendations and comments that greatly improved the quality of the draft document.  The participants agreed to:
 	Incorporate all comments/thoughts provided by the workshop participants while the memory is fresh. 	Circulate the draft document for further inputs. 
Participants of the consultative workshop were drawn from representatives of MOH Departments or programmers, healthcare professionals of different disciplines, academicians, representative of UN partners and line Ministries. The document will further be enriched with inputs from Zonal Medical Offices, through consultative workshops, and individual consultation of the higher officials of the ministry of health and partners. Finally, a larger workshop will be organized to reach a consensus. 
During the process, WHO played great role in providing technical as well as financial support.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization &#8211; Eritrea.

Ministry of Health conducts a series of consultative workshops on the review of priority health research agenda

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WHO has been working hard to provide continuous support to the Government of the State of Eritrea. To satiate the high demand and request for information technology (IT) equipment of the ministry of health that is for the procurement of computers, printers, digital camera, the World Health Organization donated desktop computers, office computer tables and printers and a camera to the ministry of health to strengthen the health system’s response.

The equipment donated includes 60 desktop computers, 58 PCs of printers, HP Laser Jet, 35 computer tables and one camera have been delivered for continuity strengthening of Essential Health Care at district levels and handed over to MOH for total amount 96,288 USD (1,444,320 ERN).
The equipment will be used to strengthen district health systems for quality of care services urgently needed during this global corona virus pandemic.
“We would like to thank WHO for supporting the country to address the challenges in health systems strengthening”, said Dr Goitom Mebrahtu, director of health services at the Ministry of Health. “The equipment will play a crucial role in the satisfying shortage of IT equipment”, he noted.
Dr Goitom further pointed out that the Government of Eritrea is committed to improving quality of care towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and reducing preventable diseases.
He, however, called on health workers to ensure proper use of the equipment to save the lives saying, “I implore the health workers in the districts to use this equipment. Do not let the machines gather dust, they are meant to save lives and please use them for that.” He added that will help them to computerize the data.
The objective aligns with 3 WHO targets of reaching 3 billion people with service coverage within the Universal health coverage, reducing the impact of emergencies and improving primary health care.
Dr Goitom appreciated WHO’s support and partnership. 
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization &#8211; Eritrea.

WHO Eritrea donated IT equipment worth 96,288 USD to Ministry of Health

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Healthcare service delivery in Africa and its associated challenges are well documented, with some estimating that fewer than 50% of Africans have access to modern health facilities. The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 exacerbated the situation for many countries on the continent, resulting in a situation where millions of people are in dire need of access to proper healthcare.

Africa’s population is growing rapidly. Over the past 20 years, Africa’s population has increased by 2.5% annually and is expected to reach 2.4 billion by 2050. The continent also shoulders 25% of the global disease burden but is served by a mere 2% of the world’s healthcare workforce.
As the population grows, there will be an increasing need for quality, accessible healthcare services if the continent’s nations are to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by the year 2030, as set out in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.
Experts also point to the need for the urgent reform of healthcare service delivery, to remove the levels of inequity and inefficiency.
This need, says Exhibition Director Azzan Mohamed, will be amongst the key themes at this year’s Africa Health Conference which is scheduled to take place in October this year. Africa and its need will be the main focus for the event, as it creates a unique opportunity for healthcare experts and businesses from around the world to gather and discuss the medical and healthcare developments of the continent.
“We have convened ‘in person’ versions of this event for the past nine years, but the pandemic and its associated limitations means we have had to pivot to a new format that reaches more people. The flexibility of hosting an event on a virtual platform means that we will again be able to offer a rich series of exhibitions and discussions as we have done in previous years. The format of this year’s event – a virtual format – means that attendees can enjoy it all and earn their CPD points from the safety and comfort of their homes or office. They will also be able to do all of this at no cost to them, which we hope will remove any barrier to attendance of such an important medical event,” says Mohamed.
“It has given us the opportunity to develop a state-of-the-art custom virtual platform for this year’s event, which means that delegates and industry stakeholders can take part from wherever they are in Africa.”
The congress will cater to African and global healthcare professionals and share strategies that are shaping the future of medicine, whilst also evaluating the latest disruptors driving the transformation of healthcare.
The online sessions of Africa Health 2021 will take place from 25- 29 October 2021.
Each day of the event will also see selected country delegates being profiled or medical products being selected for demonstration.
“Though we have gone virtual, our mission still remains the same –  that is to bring together the continent’s best on a sophisticated platform offering the widest range of relevant content for healthcare workers across Africa,” says Cynthia Makarutse, Senior Conference Producer.
The five-day conference will involve a mix of online lectures and conference topic discussions, supported by virtual meeting rooms where medical device and product developers can interact with business and networking contacts.
“We believe in an ever-changing world of human health, forming deeper connections with the African Healthcare Community matters now more than ever. For this reason, we are redefining the art and science of making meaningful business connections by offering a carefully curated series of online events. This platform provides unique education and networking opportunities for healthcare professionals who value innovation, learning, and business.
“Our virtual conference event will have lots to talk about and deliberate. Understandably the topic of the coronavirus pandemic will feature prominently on our agenda, but discussions will go much further than just ways of dealing with COVID19,” says Makarutse.

Topics scheduled for discussion include:
 	Quality Management&#038;Patient Safety 	Medical Obstetrics 	Laboratory Medicine 	Healthcare Business&#038;Leadership 	Digital health 	Ethics, Human Rights&#038;Medical Law 	Public Health 
“Now more than ever, professionals need to come together to address African specific healthcare issues”, concludes Makarutse.
The event is expected to attract more than 5000 healthcare professionals from across the globe and over 200 international and regional companies who value business and networking.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Health .
About Africa Health: Africa Health is organised by the Informa Markets’ Global Healthcare Group. The event brings you a new and improved online experience like never before. Africa Health now means more online meaningful meetings, more relevant content and more productive use of your time.
The event will host 14 CPD accredited conferences that are aimed at bridging the gap in medical knowledge by providing the very latest insights into cutting-edge procedures, techniques and skills.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3xoxa04
Media queries and requests for attendance accreditation can be addressed to Martin Slabbert on 079 500 1503 or martin@hwb.co.za

Africa Health Conference to focus world’s attention on the healthcare needs of Africa

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Dany Mawas, Regional Director at INFINOX (www.INFINOX.com), says that while women have been largely underrepresented in the trading industry, female participation in online trading is on the up, signifying a welcome change in the previously male-dominated arena. 

While several senior positions within global business and government continue to follow patriarchal lines, online trading is for everyone, and more women are continuing to change the status quo of the previously male-dominated industry.

Female participation in online trading is steadily increasing, and according to INFINOX’s insights, Quarter 2 of 2021 recorded a 291% increase compared to the same quarter a year prior. Notably, younger female clients are also getting involved in trading, with 71% of them under the age of 40, and 39% under 30.

This can be attributed to the impact of technology on the industry and the rise of social trading apps such as INFINOX’s IX Social platform. The social element of the platform has provided women with the opportunity to interact with other traders, bringing them together and allowing them to share trading experiences in a relaxed environment.

It allows traders to discuss ideas and trades, and in an industry that is overloaded with information, being able to dissect the right information is crucial for the decision making process. The pivotal point of the platform is that it allows traders to access financial markets from anywhere and at any time across the world from the comfort of their mobile devices.

Research by the University of Tilburg, Netherlands, suggests that women are more risk-averse than their male counterparts, a good trait to have in the world of trading. It is also thought that men are more likely to hold on to a losing trade, while women tend to cut their losses sooner, which in the long run will improve their profits and losses.

The key to inclusivity in the trading industry lies in education and accessibility to financial markets. Education is essential in improving one&#39;s trading aptitude, and the more people trade and learn, the better they become. Platforms such as IX Social harness the expertise of the best educators and mentors to help traders perform to their best. INFINOX also conducts regular educational webinars for its clients, many of which are hosted by female portfolio managers and traders &#8211; a proof point underlining that some of the best in the business are women.

When success is seen it inspires others to follow suit, and as the number of female traders continues to increase and they prosper, more will engage in the financial possibilities that come with online trading.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of INFINOX Capital.
Contact details on behalf of INFINOX: Valincia Reddy Valincia@eclipsecomms.com Tel: +27 21 023 0440 Cell: +27 79 881 6516
About INFINOX: INFINOX is an award-winning and market leading online trading platform.
Founded in 2009, with the vision of delivering a customer-focused trading experience, INFINOX has been offering its clients premium service in a range of asset classes. We empower investors and help them gain access to markets so they can trade forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and futures; using our fast, efficient and reliable trading technology.
We are committed to providing our clients with outstanding service, and offer a dedicated multi-lingual support team that’s available 24 hours a day 5 days a week. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced trader, INFINOX provides the relevant tools to help you get started and improve your trading strategies. We offer instant funding options and the ability to withdraw your money swiftly.
INFINOX Capital Ltd SA is an authorized Financial Services Provider and is regulated by the Financial Services Conduct Authority under FSP No 50506 (INFINOX Capital Ltd SA acts as an intermediary for INFINOX Capital, which is Authorised and Regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas).
INFINOX Capital is a registered trading name of IX Capital Group Limited, authorised and regulated by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (‘the SCB’) under Registration Number SIA F-188.
INFINOX Limited is authorised and regulated as an Investment Dealer by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius under License Number GB20025832.
INFINOX is a trademark belonging to INFINOX Capital Ltd, a registered company in the United Kingdom under company number 06854853. INFINOX Capital Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under Registration Number 501057.

More women move to online trading

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The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with the authorities in Sana’a and Government of Ethiopia, successfully transported 79 Ethiopian migrants, including 19 women and 14 children from Sana’a, Yemen to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today (03/08) in its first Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) flight from Sana’a Yemen since 2019.

“IOM stands ready and willing to continue this collaborative return effort , in line with international protocols and standards, and hopes this movement is the first of many from Sana’a,” said Carmela Godeau , IOM’s Regional Director.  
Today’s flight comes four days after the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which aims to combat all forms of exploitation around the world.  Migrants in Yemen face grave risks to their safety and dignity and are routinely impacted by smuggling and trafficking. They also face many barriers to accessing essential services and support.
IOM’s VHR programme is one way the Organization assists migrants in the country and prevents them from falling victim to further abuse and harm.
 “Greater efforts are urgently needed to ensure that all migrants in Yemen who wish to come home have the opportunity to do so in dignity and in a voluntary manner,” said Maureen Achieng, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Ethiopia and Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Prior to departure, IOM carries out medical and protection screenings to ensure that returnees are fit to travel and provides essential humanitarian items to those in need. 
In coordination with the Ethiopian government and civil society organizations, IOM has set up a reception centre in Addis Ababa where the migrants will be provided with assistance and protection services including mental health and psychosocial support. The migrants will also receive cash and onward transportation assistance to help them reach their communities of origin.
The Organization also supports family tracing and the reunification of unaccompanied migrant children. Across the Horn of Africa and Yemen, IOM provides life-saving support to migrants through health care, food, and water
Today’s voluntary return flight from Sana’a to Addis Ababa is funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), the humanitarian bureau of the U.S. State Department and the German government. Post-arrival assistance in Addis Ababa is supported by the European Commission&#39;s Directorate-General for EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), and also supported by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Ethiopian Migrants Awaiting Safe Passage Home Fly from Sana’a to Addis Ababa

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Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), in partnership with UNICEF South Africa, launched the ‘Reporting on Children in the Media Course’ at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg today.

The accredited journalism course brings together 20 practicing reporters, from a range of media agencies, on a virtual journey through 16 interactive seminars that aim to deepen their reporting skills in the best interest of children. The course also includes a number of open and free sessions for journalists, or interested persons, to login, with the final assessment taking place on 04 September.
“I am excited to be engaging with the journalists during the course and I am sure we are going to have very robust conversations on how to report on children’s law, to balance reporting and to ensure children’s well-being and protection while reporting on their issues,” said Zita Hansungule, Senior Project Coordinator at the Centre for Child Law, and one of the course experts.
“We are delighted to be supporting this innovative reporting on children media course,” said Christine Muhigana, UNICEF South Africa Representative. “The media play a vital role in telling untold stories and shining a spotlight on issues affecting children that can in-turn mobilize the whole of society to respond,” Muhigana added.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the critical importance of media in giving a voice to children and young people who can all too often be forgotten in public discourse.
The course, in exploring how children are represented, will work with journalists to develop new skills and to demonstrate how children’s rights can be respected in the media, whilst ensuring journalism of the highest quality. Journalists will be challenged to question the common representation of children and their issues, as well as open their outlook to new possibilities for alternative representations.
The analysis of media coverage of children, conducted by Media Monitoring Africa in 2020, indicated that coverage of children increased between 2016 and 2020, from 6 to 13 per cent of all stories.
“The increase in coverage of children’s stories shows progress, but it is not enough,” said Kabir Budlender, a youth Web Rangers SA Ambassador. “Children and young people need to be covered in a respectful manner that gives us a voice, is consistent and balances the challenges we face with positive stories,” Budlender added.  
The partnership between Media Monitoring Africa and UNICEF South Africa also includes the Isu Elihle Journalism Awards, the commissioning of a research paper on reporting on children in South Africa, as well as support to the Web Rangers programme that promotes positive online experiences among youth.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UNICEF South Africa.

Reporting on children in the media course launches to strengthen journalism on child rights issues

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Digital payments has seen tremendous growth in the past couple of years. As of January 2021, 38.9 percent of the population aged 15 years and older had a mobile money account in Ghana. The share of mobile money users has increased over the previous three years as Ghanaians have gradually adopted a robust digital payment infrastructure. However, cash remains a dominant preference for payments. One of the contributing factors for preference of cash over digital payments is the high costs of digital payments that are often passed on to users, a lack of trust in, or familiarity with digital payments.

To curb these inefficiencies in digital payments, Cellulant has successfully rolled out Tingg, a digital payments platform enabling businesses and their consumers to accept and make payments seamlessly.
This announcement comes after the Central Bank of Ghana issued Cellulant a Payment Services Provider (PSP) License. The PSP License allows Cellulant to aggregate merchant services, process financial services, acquire merchants; deploy POS systems, and aggregate payments for banks, institutions, and the general public. The license is a requirement under the Payment Services Act 2019 which mandates that all Financial Technology or digital payments companies be licensed by the Bank of Ghana before they can operate in the country.
With a view to maintaining a sound financial system, promoting financial inclusion and innovation, and ensuring the safety, security, and stability of Ghana&#39;s financial sector, The Bank of Ghana redefined the categories and permissible activities for financial technology companies with PSP enhanced licenses. Allowed services include mobile payments, bulk payments, and mobile banking. This license also allows for the provision of 3rd party payment gateways, a marketplace for duly regulated financial service providers, merchant acquisition and aggregation, the printing, and presentation of EMV cards, inward international remittance services, as well as limited use of closed-loop virtual cards.
Cellulant is launching Tingg in Ghana to provide the best customer experience for all persons and businesses looking to digitize their payments, collect, and disburse to customers today.
Cellulant Ghana Country Manager, Eric Kortey, expressed delight over the product launch and license acquisition, sharing his optimism about the future of payments and the Fintech ecosystem in the country. In his words, “We believe that Ghana is fast becoming a hub for fintech in Africa. Being licensed by the Bank of Ghana means a lot to the growth of our industry and opens doors to increased security and confidence in digital payments systems. Cellulant’s digital payments platform is allowing every Ghanaian to pay for their goods and services through any payment channel of their choice.”
Speaking on the rollout of Tingg he adds, “Cellulant is addressing the fragmentation of payments for both businesses and their consumers. The digital platform, which recently also launched in Zambia, offers simplified payment tools and processes for a merchant to manage their payments. As a result, businesses can allow their customers to make payments for goods and services using locally relevant payment options.”
Hundreds of businesses have already begun using Tingg to collect digitally from their customers across Ghana.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cellulant.
About Cellulant: Cellulant is a leading Pan-African financial technology company providing a one-stop digital payments platform. Cellulant uses technology to connect people and their resources, making it easier to do business across Africa. Cellulant provides a single digital payments platform &#8211; named Tingg- addressing the complex payments needs of businesses. Tingg makes it easy to collect and make payments across multiple payment methods in different currencies.
Today, Cellulant has an office presence in 18 African countries with a payments platform connecting thousands of businesses with 154 payment options across 35 countries. The platform powers payments for 220M consumers on a single inclusive network allowing for interoperability across Africa.
For further information contact: Andrew Lala via media@cellulant.io

Pan African Payments Company Cellulant acquires PSP License in Ghana as it rolls out a digital payments solution for businesses

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The UAE dispatched two cargo planes, which arrived in Tunisia on Wednesday, carrying 47 metric tonnes of medical supplies, including a number of respirators and oxygen cylinders, in support of Tunisia&#39;s drive to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rashid Mohammed Al Mansouri, UAE Ambassador to Tunisia, said that the UAE is closely monitoring the health situation in Tunisia, noting that this step is a continuation of the UAE&#39;s efforts to provide support to Tunisia to aid in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added that this initiative is the fruit of ongoing communication between His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Kais Saied, President of Tunisia, noting that the UAE will continue to monitor worldwide health developments to advance its efforts to support other nations.
Last July, the UAE sent 500,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Tunisia, and in November 2020, it sent approximately 11 metric tonnes of medical supplies and equipment at a time when the worldwide number of COVID-related cases was rapidly rising due to a lack of medical supplies around the world.
To date, the UAE has provided over 2,200 metric tonnes of medical supplies to more than 135 countries, demonstrating once again its solidarity with other nations in line with the UAE leadership&#39;s vision.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs&#038;International Cooperation.

Coronavirus – Tunisia: UAE sends 47 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Tunisia

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A day-long workshop for cadets from different military groups organized by the Civil Affairs Division of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) saw 50 participants who were trained on the basics of civil-military cooperation. The training took place in Maridi Training Centre, Western Equatoria, and is part of the mission’s ongoing support to the South Sudanese government in implementing all provisions of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

“This training is critical for young cadets as it teaches them how to work with civilians, protect them when the need arises and address any related issue,” explained Emmanuel Dukundane, a Civil Affairs Officer with the peacekeeping mission here. “We are hopeful that the skills they have learned here today will enable them to hit the ground running when they assume their formal roles and responsibilities.”
 “This training has been very useful for me and my fellow cadets,” said Captain Juma Maluo from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces. “We have learnt a lot from international law and human rights principles to building trust and confidence among all communities we are here to serve. As uniformed personnel it’s very important for us to be agents of peace who are equipped to prevent conflict,” he added.
For her part, Captain Gisma Abudi Modi, a trainee from the Sudan’s People Liberation Army (IO), feels that an important aspect of the workshop was bringing together both men and women in uniform who represent different political parties. “We might have differing political views or look at issues through our own respective gender lenses; but, we are all united in one thing—our job is to protect all our people so that this young nation can progress on the path to a sustainable peace,” she stated.
The training workshop received appreciation from Major-General Justin Alfred, Acting Commander, 6th Division, and all participants.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

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Canada provides support to WFP to help the poorest urban populations in Tanzania

Pozzovivo takes 2nd on Burgos stage 3 – Aru also impresses as Italian duo climb up the GC

South Sudan: African Union Disappoints on Justice

Administrator Samantha Power holds Press Conference

Nigeria flags off world breastfeeding week, calls for promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in the country

Statement on the suspension of programmes in Ethiopia

FAO provides cash plus livestock and agriculture packages to cushion vulnerable households from the desert locust invasion

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Ministry of Health conducts a series of consultative workshops on the review of priority health research agenda

WHO Eritrea donated IT equipment worth 96,288 USD to Ministry of Health

Africa Health Conference to focus world’s attention on the healthcare needs of Africa

More women move to online trading

Ethiopian Migrants Awaiting Safe Passage Home Fly from Sana’a to Addis Ababa

Reporting on children in the media course launches to strengthen journalism on child rights issues

Pan African Payments Company Cellulant acquires PSP License in Ghana as it rolls out a digital payments solution for businesses

Coronavirus – Tunisia: UAE sends 47 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Tunisia

Cadets from Unified Forces in Maridi Benefit from UNMISS Training

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