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Canon’s Miraisha Programme has selected 10 young storytellers (https://bit.ly/2QpVpLR) from the Mathare community in Kenya to receive a scholarship at KCA University, helping them to develop skills for a sustainable livelihood.

Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA), together with Canon Miraisha, have chosen 10 young students for film and photography scholarships at the KCA University. Selected out of 200 Canon Miraisha participants taking part in the programme since 2018, the budding creatives will go on to develop their visual storytelling skills at the prestigious institution.

Miraisha goes viral CCNA has released a series of videos (https://bit.ly/3sKARKV) on social media to raise awareness of the importance of the Miraisha initiative and to celebrate the hard work and success of the scholars, which reached an incredible number of over 100,000 engagements. You can watch the full story on the @CanonCNA (https://bit.ly/2QHsUJk) social channels.

One of the programme’s focal points is to provide employment opportunities to young people across Africa coming from low socio-economic background. Miraisha partnered with MindMe International (https://bit.ly/2QfwKcY) Community Training Programme, based in a particularly disadvantaged community in Mathare which lacks employment prospects for young people.

The partnership empowers local young people to further develop their existing creative skills and helps them access or even create job opportunities, benefitting both their personal development and their local communities.

Future storytellers The KCA University scholarships, which run across two 14-week semesters from May to December 2021, will enable the students to develop their visual communication skills as well as open up and prepare participants for creative and professional opportunities. This is particularly significant as currently there are young people entering into employment and entering creative professions.

The scholars will work towards a Certificate in Film Technology, studying 12 subjects including video camera operations, screenwriting, editing, photography and film production techniques. Their final project will be to produce a short film, which will allow them to showcase the development of their skills from their time involved in the programme.  

The 10 students who have been granted scholarships are: Anthony Mugendi Mwaura, Cynthia Wanjiru Thige, Paul Mutisya Muindi, Brian Stephen Okwara, Saida Wangui Masudi, Maria Mumbi Muthoni, Irmale Zainabu Irmale, Mogaka Victor Gekara, Kevin Wanyoike Wanjiru, and Mercy Wangui Ndungu.

Partnerships for change  Professor Joshua G. Bagakas, Deputy Vice Chancellor at KCA University said: “The overwhelming response to the current Miraisha campaign is a resounding vote of confidence in Canon&#39;s training program. KCAU is especially delighted that the campaign will give 10 deserving young people the opportunity to realise their aspirations by studying film at the university. Visual storytelling is a powerful communication tool in today&#39;s world, and we are excited to continue partnering with Canon to empower students and continue transforming lives.”

Somesh Adukia, Managing Director at Canon Central and North Africa added: “The Miraisha Programme is designed to give young people the tools and support to develop their skills and improve not only their own lives but also the lives of those in their communities. We look forward to seeing the scholars nurture their creative talents during their time at KCA University.”

These scholarships are the latest example of the direct support the Miraisha Programme offers to its participants to upskill. Across the African continent, Canon’s ‘train the trainer’ initiative, sees some participants in Miraisha programmes come back to help run future editions, it has already led to 3 local people becoming employed as Canon Miraisha Trainers. Now in its seventh year, Canon’s Miraisha Programme has educated more than 5,680 young storytellers across the continent since its launch in 2014.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).
Media enquiries, please contact: Canon Central and North Africa Mai Youssef e. Mai.Youssef@canon-me.com
APO Group &#8211; PR Agency Rania ElRafie e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com
About Canon Central and North Africa: Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2015 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region &#8211; by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://bit.ly/32zqNdl) &#8211; ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good.
Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com.
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Canon’s Miraisha Programme Selects Ten Future Professionals for Competitive University Scholarship

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We would like to inform the public of the official confirmation of location and date for the Rugby Africa Cup Repechage (www.RugbyAfrique.com). The tournament will be hosted by the Burkina Faso Rugby Union in the capital Ouagadougou, from the 5th to the 13th of June.

Talking on the sidelines of organizing the tournament Rolande Boro, the President of the Burkina Faso Rugby Union, preparations are underway and now at an advanced stage, with growing fan excitement cheering on.
Andrew Owor, Vice President of Rugby Africa, and President of the Rugby Committee, applauds the readiness of the Burkina Faso Rugby Union in organizing such an important tournament, which officially marks the start of the African Qualifiers for the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be held in France.
Four teams are expected to participate in a round robin tournament over three match days,namely Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, and Nigeria. After the dust settles and with the results in, the winner of the tournament will join Pool D of the Rugby Africa Cup, to be hosted in Tunisia in July. Pool D consists of the Zimbabwe and Tunisia national teams.
According to Andrew Owor, the top two teams of each of the four pools will progress to the final round of the Rugby Africa Cup in 2022. Thereafter the top 8 African teams will compete for one direct qualification to the Rugby World Cup and one slot in the repechage tournament, setting the stage.
Rugby Africa has presented the following schedule for fixtures to kick-start the tournament.
Thursday June 3
 	Arrival of Visiting Teams 
Saturday June 5
 	Nigeria vs Burundi 	Cameroon vs Burkina Faso 
Wednesday June 9
 	Nigeria vs Burkina Faso 	Burundi vs Cameroun 
Sunday June 13:
 	Nigeria vs Cameroon 	Burkina Faso vs Burundi 
Monday June 14
 	Departure of Visiting Teams 
African Rugby has evolved at a very fast pace over the years. This adds equally to both fan and player excitement, as the seasons come and go. Continentally we have seen improved levels of inclusion in the sport, which have seen greater participation of women as both players and fans.
Furthermore, we have seen the Webb Ellis Cup making its way into the continent through the Springboks, which gives us affirmation of the great quality of Rugby we play as a region. Judging from the last Rugby Africa Cup campaign, we remain bolted by the commitment of players, coaches, and fans alike, who have through their participation grown the entity of African Rugby into a globally competitive force.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
For media enquiries please contact: N: Lerato Chiyangwa E: Rugby@apo-opa.com
News &#038; results: Follow @RugbyAfrique on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Website: www.RugbyAfrique.com
About Rugby Africa: Created in 1986, Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), previously the African Confederation of Rugby (Confédération Africaine de Rugby – CAR), is one of the six regional associations composing World Rugby (www.WorldRugby.org), the international organization responsible for the governing of Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens. Rugby Africa unites all African countries which play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes the qualifying competition for the Rugby World Cup, and Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. Rugby Africa has 39 members.
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Rugby Africa Cup Repechage: Confirmed Dates and Location

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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Tanganyika Province, the armed violence that has raged for the past three years has seriously compromised access to health care. People living north-west of the provincial capital of Kalemie must often face illness alone as medical facilities are attacked and looted.

In 2017, communal violence and armed conflict broke out around Maurice Mwema&#39;s hometown of Kilasi, 80 kilometres from Kalemie. He and his family fled to the bush for shelter. They stayed for almost three years, unable to leave owing to the safety risks. &#8220;We got sick from the frequent rain and poor nutrition,&#8221; says Maurice. &#8220;The children&#39;s hair turned yellow, and they turned to skin and bones.&#8221;
When the violence died down, the traditional leaders came together to urge displaced people to return home. On returning, people saw that the attacks had devastated not just their homes and schools but also health-care facilities.
&#8220;There was nothing left inside, no supplies, no staff, and the buildings had been wrecked,&#8221; says Séraphin Kayite, the village head of Kilasi.
The consequences of these attacks on medical facilities have been tragic, particularly for young children. For more than two years, no children have been vaccinated. Families can only turn to traditional, often plant-based remedies. Trésor Kingombe, who oversees nutritional monitoring in the area, says, &#8220;We saw many deaths from measles and malaria epidemics, including infants between six and 11 months.&#8221;
Providing health care against all odds
Health-care professionals, who also fled the violence, have started to return with everyone else. Many, aware of the disastrous state of health care in the area, have brought back medications and basic medical supplies. But getting the hospitals up and running again has not been easy.
&#8220;We were only providing outpatient care, no matter the case,&#8221; says Benoît Mayenge, a nurse at the Mulolwa health-care centre.
&#8220;There wasn&#39;t even a single chair for patients,&#8221; says Jean Kabwe, a nurse in a health-care centre in Lukombe. As well, many rooms no longer had a roof and were exposed to howling wind and pelting rain.
And when medications ran low, the lack of available transportation made restocking an ordeal. &#8220;We didn&#39;t have bikes or motorcycles. To make the trip, I had to walk almost 20 kilometres and then take a motorcycle taxi for Kalemie. On the way back, I&#39;d do the same, carrying the medications on my head,&#8221; says Benoît.
Bringing communities lasting support
After evaluating the humanitarian situation in the area at the end of 2019, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) began to support three medical centres, serving more than 15,000 people in all, by providing basic equipment and medical supplies as well as essential medications.
&#8220;After a new evaluation, we went from giving ad hoc help to providing regular support,&#8221; says Jules Lugoma, a member of the ICRC&#39;s health team. To improve access to medical care, all vulnerable people would receive free care, and a flat fee was put in place for everyone else.
The ICRC also organized training for health-care personnel and promoted hygiene by improving the distribution of clean water, another challenge in the area. In addition, bicycles were made available to facilitate vaccination in remote villages far from medical facilities. &#8220;More than 800 children under 23 months, as well as 227 pregnant women, were vaccinated with our help,&#8221; says Jules.
After completing its work at the health-care centre in Lukombe in May 2020, the ICRC turned to the nearby facilities in Mulolwa and Lambo Katenga. Repair work at the centre in Mulolwa was finished at the beginning of January 2021.
Communal tensions persist in the area, and some armed groups are still active. Most of those who were displaced have come home, but their living conditions remain precarious.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

DR Congo: Armed violence in Tanganyika is depriving people of health care

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The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, just concluded a week-long visit to Ethiopia to acknowledge the country’s efforts to sustain essential health services alongside the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, learn about the progress and challenges in the health response to the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia, and reaffirm WHO’s commitment to support these efforts. 

Dr Moeti met with H.E. President Sahle-Work Zewde and discussed collaboration on promoting universal health coverage. She applauded the government’s early proactive efforts against COVID-19, which helped keep the pandemic under control during much of last year. However, she stressed the need for a whole of government approach in the current upsurge, as well as a recommitment to key public health measures such as physical distancing, limiting mass gatherings and wearing masks.
During her visit, Dr Moeti also met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Demeke Mekonnen, Minister of Peace, Honourable Muferiat Kamil, and Minister of Health, Honourable Dr Lia Tadesse. Together with Dr Lia, she inaugurated an Emergency Medical Team Training Centre in Addis Ababa which will train both regional and national health experts to better prepare and respond to health emergencies in Africa.
“This training centre will contribute to improving the region’s response to health emergencies by providing much needed hands-on training to health experts and improving the surge capacity of countries,” said Dr Moeti. “It will facilitate cooperation between countries and encourage knowledge sharing.”
Dr Moeti travelled to Tigray with the United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) and Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr Catherine Sozi, and visited a camp for internally displaced persons where she witnessed first-hand the health and humanitarian needs, and explored with the Interim Administration the adequate response to the humanitarian situation. She met with Honourable Mulu Nega, President of the Transitional Government of Tigray, and members of the interim government leadership for whom she highlighted the risk of disease outbreaks among displaced persons. Dr Moeti appreciated the efforts being made to restore the health system and promised to advocate for more resources to support the humanitarian response.
“WHO will work with national and regional health authorities as well as partners to rebuild the health system in areas affected by the conflict to facilitate the resumption of disrupted health services and speed up the response to health emergencies,” Dr Moeti said. “We will also advocate with our global and regional partners for the resources to sustain these efforts.”
The Regional Director also travelled to Amhara Region and discussed the region’s health needs with Honourable Dr Fenta Mandefro, Vice-President of the Regional State and his regional administration team. She commended the regional health authorities’ efforts to improve people’s access to health, including the successful implementation of the community health insurance scheme. During her visit to the Amhara Public Health Institute, Dr Moeti commended the Institute’s leadership in the region’s response to COVID-19 and other health emergencies and committed to continuing WHO technical support to this first sub-national public health institute.
During her visit to Ethiopia, Dr Moeti met with Honourable Amira Elfadil Mohamed, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at the African Union Commission, and discussed continental health challenges as well as WHO efforts and contribution in the establishment of the African Medical Agency and thanked her for the close collaboration on important regional issues.
Dr Moeti also met with the Director of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr John Nkengasong, to take stock of the partnership between their organizations and discuss current priority issues, including COVID-19 vaccine rollout and genomic sequencing of the SARS-Co V-2 virus to detect circulation of emerging variants.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa held virtual meetings with the newly appointed African Union Special Envoy for the African Medicines Agency, Honorable Michel Sidibé and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Dr Vera Songwe.
During the visit Dr Moeti was accompanied by WHO Regional Emergency Preparedness and Response Director, Dr Abdou-Salam Gueye, and the Director of the WHO AFRO Regional Director’s Office, Dr Felicitas Zawaira.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) &#8211; Ethiopia.
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WHO Regional Director for Africa wraps up visit to Ethiopia

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The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has delivered a shipment of COVID-19 supplies to the Zanzibar Ministry of Health.

USAID’s Global Health Supply Chain activity recently procured respiratory and sanitation supplies valued at $400,000. The supplies were delivered over the past month to the Port of Zanzibar and onward to public medical facilities through the central medical store. The shipment includes respiratory equipment such as pulse oximeters, pediatric and adult nasal cannulas, masks; and sanitation supplies such as backpack sprayers, and biohazard disposal bags.
Speaking on the delivery of medical equipment, Dr. Abdullah S. Ali, Director General of the Ministry of Health Social Welfare, Elderly, Gender and Children, Zanzibar remarked “We believe in partnership relations that deliver quality health care to the general population. The consignment of medical supplies received will fill the existing gaps in the reduction of the burden associated with the COVID 19 threat in terms of mortality, morbidity and hospitalizations.” 
The United States government is committed to working side-by-side with all collaborators in Tanzania’s health sector to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. The U.S. is the single largest contributor to the international response to COVID-19, and over the last year, the United States has dedicated $16.4 million to the COVID-19 response in Tanzania.
U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Donald Wright said that the U.S. Government is pleased to partner with the Zanzibar Ministry of Health to provide these critical supplies. 
“Our contribution of $400,000 worth of respiratory support and sanitation supplies is a symbol of our commitment to this partnership, and we look forward to working side by side with you and other stakeholders in the fight against COVID-19 and in our broader efforts to improve global health security,” he said.
“We also welcome President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s announcement that she intends to set up a taskforce to study COVID-19 and provide science-based advice on how to respond effectively. Additionally, the United States Government hopes a review of the evidence of vaccines is part of that process, as well as a commitment to enhanced reporting and data sharing.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

United States Government delivers medical equipment to combat COVID-19 pandemic in Zanzibar

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Somalia is bracing for record levels of displacement this year as drought ravages parts of the country, leaving tens of thousands of people without water and livelihoods.

“Once again Somalia is facing the prospect of serious drought. Water and pasture resources are depleting every day and resulting in people abandoning their homes with their livestock to search for better conditions. We are worried that drought coupled with conflict could see record levels of displacement this year,” said Mohamed Abdi, Country Director for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Somalia.
According to data from the Protection and Monitoring Returns Network (PRMN), over one million people were displaced by floods, conflict and drought in Somalia last year, the highest figures recorded since 2016. So far, 112,000 have been displaced in the first three months of 2021, of whom 34 per cent were uprooted because of drought.
The last time more than a million people were displaced in Somalia was in 2017, when drought ravaged the country and caused widespread suffering and uncertainty.
“Drought will most likely be the driving factor displacing a large number of Somalis this year due to the poor performance of seasonal rains. Our staff on the ground are reporting that more than 50 districts are currently experiencing moderate to severe drought levels and it is expected to get worse,” Abdi said.
In Somalia, the impact of drought runs parallel with the impact of flooding in other parts of the country.
“It sounds contradictory but simultaneous flooding and drought are a reality in Somalia. Flooding was the main driver of high displacement last year. Some rains have dropped in the past number of days so our teams on the ground are also working towards flooding preparedness and to support those in critical need. We have to prepare for all climate shocks,” Mohamed Abdi explained.
The UN’s 2021 aid appeal for Somalia seeks $1.09 billion to assist four million people in dire need, as a result of widespread insecurity, recurring climate disasters and the indirect economic impact of Covid-19.
“Around 13 per cent of Somalia’s aid appeal has been donated so far, nowhere near enough to sustain the population as it battles drought and multiple other crises. The international community must not turn their back on Somalis, particularly pastoralist communities, who are impacted the most. We must do all we can to prevent another cycle of suffering in Somalia,” Abdi said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Norwegian Refugee Council.
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Somalia braces for record levels of displacement as drought takes hold

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Years of conflict, violence and recurrent climatic shocks have led to long-term displacement and economic adversity in Somalia. Currently, about 2.6 million people are internally displaced, 40% of whom live in extreme hardship. This situation has led to widespread trauma, social deprivation and substance abuse, with devastating consequences on people’s mental health. A 2010 WHO situation analysis estimated that one third of Somalia’s population suffers from some form of mental health problem, in a country where two thirds of the population is under 30 years of age and has had to live with violence their entire life. Despite this, mental health and psychosocial support services remain largely non-existent in the country, while stigma prevents many from seeking help. 

It is in this context that WHO, as a lead agency in health, partnered with Somali health authorities, UNICEF, International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund to develop a unique project called “Improving psychosocial support and mental health care for young people affected by conflict in Somalia: a socially-inclusive integrated approach for peace-building.” The overall objective of the project is to improve access to mental health and psychosocial support services for young people affected by conflict in Somalia, using an approach that contributes to peacebuilding through community reconciliation and social integration. The project was officially launched during a ceremony in Mogadishu in March 2020, in the presence of the Federal Ministry of Health, H.E. Dr. Fawziya Abikar Nur. 
To achieve this goal, all project partners will work together to: train health workers to integrate care and treatment of mental illness into the primary health care services delivery at health facilities; establish community-based psychosocial support structures and services where youth are mobilized in delivering such services themselves and awareness-raising activities; and conduct a study on the linkages between mental health, conflict and peace-building in Somalia, with a particular focus on youth and gender dynamics. Indeed, these activities are aimed at helping to reduce stigma associated with mental health and psychosocial disorders, improve social cohesion, and reduce disenfranchisement and marginalization of young people – a recognized driver of conflict – thereby directly empowering youth to be agents of peace and positive change in their communities. 
The project directly targets 26 500 individuals living in camps for internally displaced persons in Kismayo, Baidoa and Dollow, with a focus on young women and men, as well as their families. It is expected that an additional 288 520 individuals will indirectly benefit from this project as well. 
As the first venture of its kind in Somalia, whereby institutional response to mental health and psychosocial issues is being undertaken as a means to address a critical barrier to reconciliation and sustained peace in the country, WHO and all project partners look forward to leveraging this unique opportunity in favour of improving and expanding access to mental health services across the country.
WHO expresses its sincere thanks to the Youth Promotion Initiative of the United Nations Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund for its generous support to this critical project and encourages other partners to step up their support to address Somalia’s silent mental health crisis. 
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.
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Somalia implements ground-breaking project aimed at improving psychosocial support and mental health care for young people affected by conflict through a socially-inclusive integrated approach for peace-building

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In a move to strengthen the cold chain system of the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sierra Leone, with support from GAVI, today handed over two vehicles and Cold Chain Equipment to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

The two vehicles will be used for the strengthening of the national EPI Programme Management and Oversight function through regular monitoring and supervisory visits to service delivery level. The vehicles will also support other critical elements of effective health care delivery, including surveillance, logistics and improve outreach programmes to reach children with critical services.   The Cold Chain Equipment, which includes 11 sets of larger solar refrigerators, each with a storage capacity of 220 liters and which will support the establishment of district vaccine stores at Falaba and Kerene, 171 sets of solar refrigerators to be installed across health facilities in the country and 260 cold boxes, will help to ensure that vaccines remain potent and effective at all levels.
 “The pandemic has given rise to reduced rates of routine immunization coverage which places children at greater risk. We are appreciative of UNICEF’s contribution in bolstering immunization coverage to raise immunity levels among children in Sierra Leone” said Dr. Austin Demby, Minister of Health and Sanitation.
 The handover of the vehicles and the Cold Chain Equipment is timely as in December, the country reported the first known cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). As of now, there are a total of 14 cVDPV2 cases confirmed in the country.
 According to data collected and released in 2020 by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Gavi and the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the provision of routine immunisation services has been substantially hindered a global scale by the COVID-19 outbreak. Health delivery system is overstretched, responding to the current COVID-19 outbreak, while some children have fallen back on their immunisation schedules as some parents were unable to leave home because of restrictions on movement, lack of information or because they fear infection with the COVID-19 virus.
 “It remains very important for children and babies to keep their vaccinations up to date, even during this period when we are responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said UNICEF Representative, Dr. Suleiman Braimoh. “Vaccination is key to protecting our children and building safer communities free from harmful vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio, measles, tetanus.”   The donated vehicles and cold chain equipment will be extremely helpful as the country plans to conduct a series of vaccination campaigns in 2021, including novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) campaign in response to the polio outbreak, Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) and routine immunisation catch-up campaign, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) catch-up campaign and COVId-19 vaccine deployment.
 With support from GAVI, UNICEF worked to provide ongoing support to Sierra Leone’s EPI programme, including through strengthening effective vaccine management practices, engaging communities to create vaccine demand, provision of solar refrigerators for vaccine storage and the procurement and delivery of vaccines, including during the peak period of COVID-19, when most air companies were not operating.

 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UNICEF Sierra Leone.

UNICEF hands vehicles and Cold Chain Equipment to Ministry of Health and Sanitation’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Programme

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The ECOWAS Commission is set to organize, from 28th April to 10th May 2021, by videoconference, an international conference to share with its partners and the other regions of the world, the experience of its regional food security storage system. The official opening ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 28th April 2021 at 12:00 GMT, will be broadcast live on the Facebook page of the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) and those of the ECOWAS Commission and its Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development.

The overall objective is to lay the foundations for a renewed multilateral partnership to strengthen, in a sustainable manner, the resilience of the West African Food Security Storage System and its capacity to respond effectively to the amplification and complexity of food, nutrition, and pastoral crises in the region. Participants will specifically discuss issues such as (i) vulnerability of West Africa and the Sahel to food and nutrition insecurity, (ii) food reserves and management of cyclical food, nutrition and pastoral crises in West Africa, (iii) role of stocks in the promotion of sustainable food systems and the building of the regional food market, (iv) role of food reserves in the building of the resilience and social protection of households, (v) partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms and the strengthening of the resilience of the Regional Food Storage System and its capacity to respond effectively to the amplification and complexity of food, nutrition, and pastoral crises.
The conference falls within the capitalization of the EU-funded Support Project to the West African Food Security Storage System which allowed effective kick-off in 2015 of the operationalization of the West African Food Security Storage Strategy.
This strategy is built on four complementary lines of defense, hereafter (i) local stocks set up and managed by local producers’ organizations or decentralized communities, (ii) national security stocks managed by States or co-managed by States and their financial partners, (iii) the Regional Food Security Reserve set up and managed by the ECOWAS Commission, and (iv) the resort to international Aid, when no solution can be found at the first three lines of defense.
After 5 years of implementation of the Support Project, an internal capitalization of the results made it possible to systematize important achievements, challenges and lessons learned for scaling up to make the Regional Food Security Storage Strategy, a pivotal instrument for the elimination of hunger in the region by 2030.
Attendance is open to all food security storage stakeholders: national (Member States), regional (CILSS, UEMOA, Networks of Producers’ and Women’s Organizations – ROPPA, ROAC, RBM, APESS, Gender Network, Women’s Network for Conflict Prevention and Management, the private sector, etc.) and international partners (technical and financial partners, UN System Organizations, NGOs, research centers and universities).
The official opening is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 28th April 2021 at 12:00 GMT under the chairmanship of Her Excellency, Mrs Shirley Ayorkor BOTCHWEY, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana, and Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers. It will be followed by an introductory session on food reserves in the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

International Conference on the West African Food Security Storage System: ECOWAS to build a multilateral partnership around its experience

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Active cases: 389 New cases: 51 New tests: 1,085 Total confirmed: 5,784 Recovered: 5,225 (+15) Deaths: 170 (+0) Vaccinated: 19,634
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, The Gambia.
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Coronavirus – Gambia: COVID-19 update (20 April 2021)

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Newly confirmed cases: 102 Recoveries:193 Active cases: 1303 Deaths: 4
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Social Services, Namibia.

Coronavirus – Namibia: COVID-19 update (20 April 2021)

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Eleven patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests carried out today at Quarantine Centers in Northern Red Sea, Gash Barka, Central and Anseba Regions.

Out of these, seven patients are from the Quarantine Center in Mahmimet, Northern Red Sea Region. Two patients are from a Quarantine Center in Tessenei, Gash Barka Region.  Another patient is from the Quarantine Center in Keren, Anseba Region.  The last patient is from a Quarantine Center in Asmara, Central Region.
On the other hand, seven patients who have been receiving medical treatment in hospitals in the Central Region have recovered fully and have been discharged from these facilities.
The total number of recovered patients has accordingly risen to 3341 while the number of deaths stands at ten.
The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date has increased to 3548.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
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Coronavirus – Eritrea: Announcement from the Ministry of Health (20 April 2021)

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629 people tested positive to Covid-19 on Tuesday, from a sample size of 5,832 tested bringing the total number of confirmed positive cases to 152,523. From the cases, 612 are Kenyans while 17 are foreigners. 358 are males and 271 are females.

The youngest is a one-year-old child while the oldest is 92 years. The country’s positivity rate stands at 10.8%. Total and cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,611,679.

In terms of County distribution; Nairobi 201, Kericho 43, Nakuru 37, Kiambu 36, Machakos 31, Uasin Gishu 30, Garissa 25, Kilifi 22, Meru, Kitui, Kisumu and Nyamira 17 cases each, Turkana 15, Mombasa 15, Siaya 13, Kirinyaga 10, Nandi, Isiolo and Kajiado 9 cases each, Bomet and Homa bay 8 cases each, Nyandarua and Taita Taveta 7 cases each, Kakamega 5, Nyeri and Laikipia 4 cases each, Makueni and Narok 3 cases each, Murang’a 2, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kisii, Kwale and Migori recorded 1 case each.

18 deaths were also recorded, 2 having occurred in 24 hours, 8 on diverse dates within the last one month, while 8 are late deaths reported after conducting facility record audits. This now pushes cumulative fatalities to 2,519.

1,560 patients have recovered from the disease, 1,358 from Home Based and Isolation Care while 202 are from various health facilities across the country.

Total recoveries now stand at 103,838 of which 75,650 are from Home Based Care and Isolation while 28,188 are from various health facilities.

A total of 4,698 health care workers have so far contracted the virus, out of which 2,562 are females and 2,136 are males. The fatality for health care workers stands at 38.

VACCINATION UPDATE: A total of 721,509 persons have been vaccinated against COVID-19 disease across the country.

Of this, 409,711 are aged 58 years and above, 143,050 are Health workers, 109,593 are Teachers while 59,155 are Security Officers. In terms of gender, 404,164 men have been vaccinated with 316,951 women having received the jab.

Nairobi has the highest number of persons vaccinated to date with 229,385 followed by Nakuru with 43,590, Uasin Gishu is third with 36,576, Kiambu is fourth at 35,711 and Nyeri is fifth with 25,977.

Vaccination numbers from the other counties is as follows: Kakamega 18,367, Murang’a 18,211, Kajiado 18,076, Kisumu 18,013, Meru 17,970, Mombasa 17,542, Nyandarua 14,657, Trans Nzoia 14,445, Laikipia 14,091, Bungoma 13,897, Machakos 13,470, Nandi 12,620, Embu 12,102, Kirinyaga 11,204, Kericho 10,970, Kitui 10,382, Homa Bay 9,942.

Others are Vihiga 8,892, Kisii 8,791, Busia 7,521, Nyamira 6,803, Baringo 6,484, Bomet 6,396, Siaya 6,239 Migori 5,798, Elgeyo Marakwet 5,751 Tharaka Nithi 5,376 Narok 4,964, Makueni 4,531, Kilifi 4,478, Samburu 2,953, West Pokot 2,953, Taita Taveta 2,784, Turkana 2,680, Kwale 2,448, Wajir 1,942, Garissa 1,805, Mandera 1,641, Isiolo 1,392, Tana River 680, Lamu 537 and Marsabit 472.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (20 April 2021)

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New cases: 9 Cumulative confirmed cases: 33,968 Active cases: 882 Total recovered: 31,810 (36 new) Currently admitted in treatment units: 12 (2 new) New discharges from treatment units: 0 Total tests conducted: 227,956 (320 new) Total deaths: 1,142 (3 new) Total vaccinated to date: 260,614 (2,507 new)
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Population, Republic of Malawi.
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Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (20 April 2021)

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Daily: Laboratory test: 7,346 Severe cases: 965 New recovered: 1,290 New deaths: 47 New cases: 1,524

Total: Laboratory test: 2,514,749 Active cases: 59,779 Total recovered: 181,935 Total deaths: 3,439 Total cases: 245,155
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.
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Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (20 April 2021)

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Tests conducted: 10,379,089 Positive cases identified: 1,568,366 Total recoveries: 1,494,630 Total deaths: 53,887 New cases: 853
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa, Department of Health.
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Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (20 April 2021)

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120 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria;

Enugu-53 Lagos-22 Rivers-18 Ogun-8 FCT-7 Abia-6 Kano-5 Bauchi-1

164,423 confirmed 154,406 discharged 2,061 deaths
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
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