ViiV Healthcare announces new grants in support of ending mother to child transmission of HIV

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0glXBP1Wzk/VHg7T67bJkI/AAAAAAAAE-4/RKoj4mi6Mfk/s1600/HIV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k0glXBP1Wzk/VHg7T67bJkI/AAAAAAAAE-4/RKoj4mi6Mfk/s1600/HIV.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The Positive Action for Children Fund (PACF) is proud to announce 103 grants for 2015 totalling £5 million. 54 new grants and 49 extensions will be funded to support community responses to help end mother to child transmission of HIV thereby delivering crucial services to mothers, children and HIV affected families.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">PACF partners with local organisations working to improve the health and wellbeing of women and children affected by HIV, and the communities they live in. All PACF projects work to strengthen ties between these communities, local health systems and governments, so that more families have access to information, prevention measures, testing and care for HIV. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://goo.gl/jDZfVi">Together</a> these interventions safeguard women’s and their families’ health in an effort to meet the targets set out in the Global Plan towards the elimination of new infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">PACF partners address a range of factors related to mother to child transmission of HIV in their community, ranging from promoting women’s and girls’ access to education and health services, to testing infants early for HIV, to improving retention of mothers in local HIV services. According to the Global Plan statistics, the total number of new HIV infections in children was halved between 2009 and 2011 in low- and middle-income countries. The Global Plan predicts that by 2015, the number of children acquiring HIV infection can be reduced by 90% from the baseline year of 2009.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In 2015, more than 50 organisations will be partnering with PACF for the first time. Thanks to these new partnerships, PACF will be reaching into previously unsupported countries, including Togo, Angola and Colombia. Their work will extend into 25 countries.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“It has been a rewarding year for PACF in terms of the quality, number and geographical coverage of grants awarded with increased focus on the support of small scale projects,” said PACF Board Chair Catherine Peckham.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Of the 103 new and extended partnerships announced for 2015, almost 90 partners are community based organisations focused on smaller initiatives, showing an ever stronger trend towards supporting localized projects. PACF aims to reach key populations that are often in rural areas and are underserved by health facilities.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">For those community based organisations in need of support to sustain their work, PACF provides unique capacity-building assistance through one-on-one mentorship with experts in the HIV sector. This special attention enables community based organisations to strengthen and sustain their programming, as well as extend HIV prevention and treatment services, and antenatal care to more people who need it.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“Supporting projects that bring real change for HIV-affected communities is the reason ViiV founded PACF in the first place,” said ViiV CEO Dominique Limet, “We are proud to be partnering with such groups across the world that are bringing this to fruition. They can really play an essential role into the mission we share. ViiV Healthcare is absolutely committed to communities affected by HIV and AIDS.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of ViiV Healthcare.</span></div> </div>

ViiV Healthcare announces new grants in support of ending mother to child transmission of HIV

The Positive Action for Children Fund (PACF) is proud to announce 103 grants for 2015 totalling £5 million. 54 new grants and 49 extension...

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Tigo Pesa returns TZS 3 Billion to customers as first quarterly payment

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsNbO0UrtRA/VHg6cWwSSNI/AAAAAAAAE-w/0bZ6Ur3PGW4/s1600/tigo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SsNbO0UrtRA/VHg6cWwSSNI/AAAAAAAAE-w/0bZ6Ur3PGW4/s1600/tigo.png" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.tigo.co.tz/">Tigo</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> announced today the first of its regular quarterly payments worth 3bn/- (US $ 1.8 million) to Tigo Pesa users. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This payment comes three months after the company paid a staggering profit of TZS 14.25 billion (US $ 8.64 million) accumulated in the Tigo Pesa Trust Account to become the first mobile money service in the world to pay profit to its users. Tigo Pesa has a subscriber base of 3.6 million customers.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Tigo General Manager Diego Gutierrez said “This second round of profit disbursement shows the company’s continued commitment to benefit and improve the lives of Tanzanians. The payment goes to all Tigo Pesa users including super agents, retail agents and individual users of the service.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“The first payment was bigger due to the fact that the profit had been accumulated over a period of three and a half years. This second payment is the profit accumulated from funds held in trust in commercial banks for three months in the quarter July to September 2014,” the General Manager said.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mr Gutierrez explained that, as before, the average return to a customer will vary based on their average daily balance in their Tigo Pesa e-wallet. This applies to super-agents, retail agents and individual customers. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Tigo Tanzania.</span></div> <div class="yiv0060664054MsoNoSpacing" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1417163584655_25627" style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> </div>

Tigo Pesa returns TZS 3 Billion to customers as first quarterly payment

Tigo  announced today the first of its regular quarterly payments worth 3bn/- (US $ 1.8 million) to Tigo Pesa users.  This payment c...

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BOAD launches bond loan issue of FCFA 40 billion

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eV0zQsaBgv4/VHg4S42AkQI/AAAAAAAAE-k/cFi2JZeqFlw/s1600/boad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eV0zQsaBgv4/VHg4S42AkQI/AAAAAAAAE-k/cFi2JZeqFlw/s1600/boad.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">As part of the implementation of its annual bond issue program, the West African Development Bank (<a href="http://www.boad.org/">BOAD</a>)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> is launching a bond loan issue of FCFA 40 billion through a public offering from 1 to 19 December 2014. The bond value will be FCFA 10,000 at 5.95% interest, net of taxes. Bonds may be purchased at BOAD headquarters in Lomé, at its resident missions located in the buildings of the national agencies of the BCEAO, or through WAEMU-approved MICs.(1)</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The funds raised in this new operation will enable BOAD to increase its efforts in support of merchant public sector and private sector projects in the West African Economic and Monetary Union.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">With 26 bond lines issued as of the end of October 2014 for over FCFA 750 billion in resources mobilised since its first operation in 1993, BOAD is currently the leading non-sovereign issuer in the regional capital market. Two operations successfully conducted in January and July of this year have made it possible to mobilise around FCFA 180 billion.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Returns, safety and liquidity of BOAD securities are guaranteed based on the institution's performance, and income from these securities is exempt from taxes and duties.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of the West African Development Bank (BOAD).</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div>

BOAD launches bond loan issue of FCFA 40 billion

As part of the implementation of its annual bond issue program, the West African Development Bank ( BOAD )  is launching a bond loan iss...

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SMEs expect to generate up to 50% of revenues internationally by 2019

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtkOmyWSr7A/VHg3hayhT0I/AAAAAAAAE-c/JOGAZr3mWr4/s1600/Dhl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DtkOmyWSr7A/VHg3hayhT0I/AAAAAAAAE-c/JOGAZr3mWr4/s1600/Dhl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">According to an in-depth study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on behalf of DHL <a href="http://www.dpdhl.com/">Express</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">, approximately 40% of global SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) do not perceive Africa as a growth opportunity, despite the positive economic growth stories and growing middle class in the regions.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The report further reveals that while many multinationals and state-owned companies are actively taking advantage of the opportunities that Africa offers, SMEs still remain apprehensive and are choosing to trade with other emerging markets instead.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Charles Brewer, Managing Director of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa, says that despite current challenges to attract global SME interest, the findings of the study highlight the untapped potential that still exists in the continent.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“The fact that SMEs expect to generate up to 50% of revenues internationally by 2019 is a massive positive and highlights the vast opportunities for Africa from an investment and job creation perspective.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Brewer says that according to the study, which surveyed 480 SME executives and experts from business lobbying groups, SMEs are deterred by Africa’s low average consumer spend, cultural and infrastructure challenges, as well as inefficiencies such as corruption and political risk in the region. .</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">He explains that overcoming different market environments is the biggest hurdle. The quality of a target market´s infrastructure, the stability of its politics, administrative costs for establishing a local presence and cultural differences in doing business were all cited by the executives surveyed as factors that deterred them from entering new markets. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“The unfamiliarity of foreign markets received particular attention, with 84% of respondents describing understanding a target market’s culture or language as important or very important in determining its attractiveness. This also explains why most SMEs often expand into markets that resemble their own.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“This is evident in Africa, as companies looking to expand into the continent, often make use of a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Due to the various cultures, languages and customs on the continent, vast amounts of research need to be done into each region, and the services and products need to be specifically tailored to each country. Africa is not one country,” says Brewer.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In terms of expansion tactics, the survey shows that partnerships are an important consideration for SMEs. The study identified a number of innovative approaches in this area, such as piggybacking on another company’s existing retail network to enter the sub-Saharan market in Africa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“A number of multinationals and corporates have experience great success in Africa, DHL being a prime example. And the good news for SMEs is that they have the advantage of being more agile to adapt quickly and exploit the opportunities available. An entrepreneurial spirit is vital for the success of small businesses, we ourselves started out as an SME in 1969, and as they say, the rest is history. We too have focused on partnerships in Africa, and now have a retail presence of over 3500 outlets across Africa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“We work with thousands and thousands of SMEs across Africa and have witnessed how these businesses are able to successfully establish a presence in the region. With the support of the right partners, a well-designed supply chain, clear understanding of their competitive strengths and the right mindset, SMEs can break through any border and make the world their market,” concludes Brewer.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The full EIU and DHL Express report, Breaking borders: From Canada to China, barriers overshadow growth for expanding <a href="http://www.economistinsights.com/countries-trade-investment/analysis/breaking-borders.">SMEs</a>.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Deutsche Post DHL.</span></div> </div>

SMEs expect to generate up to 50% of revenues internationally by 2019

According to an in-depth study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) on behalf of DHL Express , approximately 40% of global...

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Ask your questions LIVE to the Minister of Information and Communications of Sierra Leone

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mD3cMyde43Q/VHg1jkDLTQI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/ABaHJcob_VU/s1600/Sier.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mD3cMyde43Q/VHg1jkDLTQI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/ABaHJcob_VU/s1600/Sier.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Minister of Information and Communications of Sierra Leone, Alpha Kanu, will host an online press conference TODAY at 15 GMT.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Since Sierra Leone recorded the first case of Ebola on May 25th, this year, the President of the West African state Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma scaled down other development projects his Government was implementing under the “agenda for prosperity” by committing over 90 billion Leones (equivalent to about twenty million dollars) towards the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">President Koroma appealed to the international community for a more robust support and proclaimed a public state of emergency in desperate efforts to mitigate the spread of and the eventual eradication of the Ebola virus. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In spite of these efforts, the Ebola virus continues to ravage the country and had claimed the lives of 6 doctors and over 100 front line health workers, including nurses.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">During the online press conference, the Minister of Information and Communications Alpha Kanu will tell us where the country stands in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease in the midst of local and international efforts, with the British Government alone providing about 120 million pounds.</span></div> </div>

Ask your questions LIVE to the Minister of Information and Communications of Sierra Leone

The Minister of Information and Communications of Sierra Leone, Alpha Kanu, will host an online press conference TODAY at 15 GMT. Si...

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CFAO Announces the Launch of its Club of Brands in Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="yiv6509938501MsoNormal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416988249266_31528" style="padding: 0px;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lyJ6h3JYro/VHWR7JgxaBI/AAAAAAAAE-A/0nJdBr313x8/s1600/securedownload.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lyJ6h3JYro/VHWR7JgxaBI/AAAAAAAAE-A/0nJdBr313x8/s1600/securedownload.png" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://www.cfaogroup.com/" style="font-size: x-large;">CFAO</a><span style="font-size: large;"> announces the creation of its club of brands, a network of international brands wishing to support the rise of the African middle class.</span></div> <span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416988249266_31561" lang="EN-US"><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"> The following new-generation international brands are the first five members of this innovative club: La Grande Récré (Ludendo group), L’Occitane en Provence, Cache Cache and Bonobo(Beaumanoir group), and Kaporal.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> CFAO will operate the sales outlets of these new partners under exclusive agreements (franchises, brand and distribution concessions, and distribution agreements).</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The club of brands will include around twenty brands with sales outlets opening first and foremost in CFAO's shopping centers in eight African countries: Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal*.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> "CFAO acts as a catalyst for the development of international brands in Africa and as a springboard for brands that view the continent as a real growth lever. With our experience and our approach to consumption in Africa, we give them access to a high-growth market", explains Xavier Desjobert, Chief Executive Officer of CFAO Retail.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The launch of this club of brands goes hand in hand with the opening of CFAO's first shopping center in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire in the second half of 2015.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> According to Ludendo group President Jean-Michel Grunberg, "This franchise agreement bolsters La Grande Récré's international presence. Our expertise in toys and the strength of our brand concept are key in satisfying Africa's new consumption needs." </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The African middle class is expanding rapidly on the back of strong economic growth. Seven of the ten countries that will experience the strongest growth between 2011 and 2015 are in Africa**. In sectors related to services and consumption, revenue on the continent is expected to increase by between 4% and 5%*** per year by 2020, while the number of households bringing home annual revenue of more than USD 5,000 is likely to rise to 130 million compared with 85 million today.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> CFAO has a strong, longstanding presence in Africa and therefore boasts in-depth knowledge of the continent's markets and consumption patterns.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Through these recent initiatives, CFAO aims to offer African consumers a diversified high-quality products and services. This project demonstrates the confidence that CFAO and its partners place in Africa's economic impetus.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The club of brands’ first five members</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> La Grande Récré is a market-leading brand with 255 stores in France and worldwide. Its concept is based around a quality range of toys and games along with customer services such as advice and free gift wrapping in its lively, welcoming stores that range from 300 sq.m to 2,000 sq.m.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> L'Occitane group has 2,715 sales outlets worldwide. It is a global, natural and organic ingredient-based cosmetics and well-being products manufacturer and retailer with strong regional roots in Provence, France since 1976. The group is committed to developing high-quality, eco-friendly products that are rich in traceable natural and organic ingredients.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Beaumanoir group, which currently has over 2,700 sales outlets worldwide, is pursuing its international development strategy through a new multi-store concept in which several brands of a complementary nature are housed under one roof. Intially, the Cache Cache and Bonobo brands will be the two pillars of this multi-store strategy in Africa.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Its longstanding brand, Cache Cache, is the go-to international name for women seeking accessible fashion and wanting to enjoy and share a unique experience.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Bonobo is an accessible denim brand for young men and women aged 20 to 35.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Kaporal was created in 2004 in the home of Marseille denim. It has built its image around its jeans which are known for their inimitable fits. Over time the brand has made its mark on all aspects of the ready-to-wear industry and its stylish designs are now worn by 16- to 35-year olds on the lookout for a daring, creative clothing range and affordable prices. With more than 100 Kaporal stores and 1,300 multi-brand sales outlets in France and worldwide, Kaporal is positioning itself as a leading fashion industry name in the countries where it operates.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of CFAO Group</span><i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1416988249266_31562"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span></i></div> </span></span></div>

CFAO Announces the Launch of its Club of Brands in Africa

CFAO  announces the creation of its club of brands, a network of international brands wishing to support the rise of the African middl...

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Regional Workshop Promotes Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YTx9U-DMyQ/VHNXPLvZv9I/AAAAAAAAE9w/7gRRvWmpDgo/s1600/CRC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="25" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5YTx9U-DMyQ/VHNXPLvZv9I/AAAAAAAAE9w/7gRRvWmpDgo/s1600/CRC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Zanzibar’s First Vice President H.E. Seif Sharif Hamad opened a Regional Workshop on Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education. <br /><br />The workshop is welcoming delegations from 16 countries from around Africa. The aim of the workshop is to support countries to plan and operationalise good quality national pre-primary programmes, including how to ensure these reach the most vulnerable young children. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Country delegations will share ideas across the region and receive guidance from global experts to strengthen their national pre-primary plans over the course of the workshop. The ultimate goal is that participating countries will improve their ability to provide quality pre-primary education to all children, so that every child will enter school ready to learn. <br /><br />The Regional Workshop on National Planning for Quality Affordable Pre-Primary Education for the eastern and southern African Region is being organized by UNICEF, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Secretariat, the World Bank, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Additional sponsors and supporters including the Association for Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), Save the Children, the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP), the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Dubai Cares, UNESCO, and the Open Society Foundation (OSF). <br /><br />In Tanzania, and across the region, there is an increasing focus on improving the quality of education and improving learning outcomes for all students. <br /><br />Extensive evidence shows that children who attend quality pre-primary education have improved early language, literacy and mathematics skills, in addition to the social capacities they need to succeed in school. The impact of quality pre-primary education is long-lasting, with improved learning outcomes in primary school, and even improved earnings later in life. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">According to the Lancet Journal, one dollar invested in pre-school will yield 7 to 17 dollars in higher future wages. Thus investing in early childhood education is one of the most cost-effective commitments a government can make. Yet while most countries now recognize the importance of establishing learning foundations before school entry, many countries have expressed an interest in receiving support on how to effectively scale-up quality pre-primary education. <br /><br />In Tanzania, only one third of children have access to pre-primary education. In 2013, the mainland showed a net enrolment rate of 35.5 per cent in 2013, while in Zanzibar it was slightly higher at 37.3 per cent. <br /><br />Yet both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar’s Ministries of Education have committed to expanding access to quality pre-primary education in order to improve school readiness and learning outcomes later in primary school. ‘There is a great deal of evidence confirming the critical importance of the early years of a child's life, in terms of shaping their body and mind for the future. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Nobel prize-winning economists have shown that the highest return on investments in education and training are those made in childhood’, says UNICEF Tanzania’s Deputy Representative, Mr. Paul Edwards. <br /><br />On Tanzania Mainland, investments in pre-primary education contribute directly to the goals of the ‘Big Results Now’ initiative – a new development strategy adopted by the Government in 2013 - by securing strong foundations for learning, including in the 3Rs (Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">‘We have set ambitious targets for improving the quality of learning in primary school, especially on the 3Rs, and we know that important foundations for early literacy and numeracy are established in quality pre-primary classes’, says the Hon. Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa, Minister of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT). <br /><br />Fursa kwa Watoto, “Opportunities for Children,” an initiative to provide quality-enhanced pre-primary education and evaluate the impact on school readiness and learning outcomes in Standard II, is one contribution to pre-primary in Mainland Tanzania. Fursa kwa Watoto is led by MoEVT and the Prime Minister Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), with support from Dubai Cares, UNICEF, Children in Crossfire and others. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">‘Dubai Cares decided to support work on pre-primary education after participating in the National ECD Forum in Arusha in 2012. We saw how committed both governments were to supporting early childhood, and we knew that because of this, investments in Tanzania would make a difference’, says Ana Nieto, Senior Technical Manager of Dubai Cares, which is also funding an early childhood initiative in Zanzibar. <br /><br />In Zanzibar, work on pre-primary education is also going strong, with efforts to strengthen quality and expand access as widely as possible via multiple modalities of pre-primary provision, including State preschools (including stand-alone preschools and preschool classes based at primary schools) ,Madrassa community-based early childhood and development programmes, and others, including TUTU Radio, which offers radio-based instruction for community-organized groups of young children facilitated by mentors. <br /><br />The workshop will conclude on 27 November, when a ‘Call to Action on Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education’ is expected to be drafted and approved. In addition, throughout the course of the workshop, country delegations will have developed a 2015-2016 Action Plan for Pre-Primary Education that will guide and contribute to national planning processes. <br /></span></div> </div>

Regional Workshop Promotes Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education

Zanzibar’s First Vice President H.E. Seif Sharif Hamad opened a Regional Workshop on Quality, Affordable Pre-Primary Education. The work...

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Wanaodhamini watoto kwenda kusoma nje wanapsawa kuwasiliana na Balozi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7CUVPNTiJo/VHLzMWuzOoI/AAAAAAAAE9g/IJCx_Ct0f3Y/s1600/644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J7CUVPNTiJo/VHLzMWuzOoI/AAAAAAAAE9g/IJCx_Ct0f3Y/s1600/644.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Mashirika Taasisi za Umma na zile binafsi pamoja na wazazi wanaowadhamini kimasomo wafanyakazi na watoto wao Nchini Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China wanapaswa kuwasiliana na Uongozi wa Ubalozi wa Tanzania Nchini humo ili kuepuka utapeli unaofanywa na baadhi ya mawakala wa sekta hiyo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi wa Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania Nchini China Balozi Abdulrahman Amir Shimbo alitoa kauli hiyo wakati wa dhifa maalum aliyouandalia Ujumbe wa Zanzibar ulioongozwa na Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi ulipofanya ziara yake Nchini humo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Dhifa hiyo iliyoshirikisha pia wafanyakazi wa Ubalozi huo ilifanyika katika Ofisi ya Ubalozi Wa Tanzania uliopo katika Bara bara ya Liang Ma He Naulu Mtaa wa Sanlitum Mjini Beijing Nchini China.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Shimbo alisema yapo matatizo mengi yanayoendelea kuwakumba Wanafunzi wengi wanaotoka Tanzania kwa kutumia Mawakala wababaishaji licha ya kwamba baadhi yao wamepata ufadhili usio na usumbufu.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alisema kitendo cha baadhi ya wafadhi pamoja na wazazi wa wanafunzi hao kutumia mawakala husababisha kuibuka kwa matatizo na gharama kubwa zinazoweza kuepukwa sambamba na kuuongezea mzigo Ubalozi.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Abdulrahman alieleza kwamba hivi sasa wanafunzi wengi wanapata fusa za masomo Nchini China ambapo wengi kati yao hupata ufadhili wa Serikali, Taasisi na Mashirika ya Umma pamoja na Wazazi binafsi.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi huyo wa Tanzania Nchini China aliuelezea ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar kwamba mwaka ujao Serikali ya Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China imeongeza nafasi 100 za masomo ya juu kwa Wanafunzi wa Tanzania kupata taaluma ya vyuo vikuu mbali mbali Nchini humo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alifahamisha kwamba Ofisi yake itawasiliana na Serikali zote mbili ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania na ile ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar katika uratibu wa kuzitumia nafasi hizo ili ziwafaidishe Vijana wa pande zote mbili za Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Akigusia ziara mbali mbali za Viongozi wa ngazi za Juu wa Tanzania wanaotembelea China Balozi Shimbo alisema Wafanyakazi wa Ofisi ya Ubalozi huo wamepata faraja kubwa kufuatia ujio wa Viongozi hao.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Shimbo alisisitiza kwamba Uongozi wa Ubalozi huo unaendelea kufuatilia utekelezaji wa makubaliano au ahadi zilizotolewa kufuatia ziara za Viongozi hao wakuu wa Tanzania China.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alisema ziara hizo kwa pande zote mbili kati ya china na Tanzania kwa kiasi kikubwa zimeleta na kuimarisha zaidi uhusiano uliopo kati ya pande hizo mbili rafiki.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Akitoa shukrani kwa niaba ya ujumbe aliouongoza Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi aliwakumbusha wafanyakazi wa Ubalozi huo wa Tanzania Nchini China kuzidisha mashirikiano yao kwa lengo la kupata ufanisi zaidi.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Seif alisema mashirikiano hayo yataendeleza sifa ya watendaji hao kufanya kazi katika misingi ya umoja na upendo kama utamaduni wao ulivyowalea na kuwanyooshea njia.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Akigusia ziara yao nchini China Balozi Seif alisema ujumbe wake umeona na kushuhudia maendeleo makubwa yaliyofikiwa na China katika kukuza uchumi na kuimarisha maendeleo ya ustawi wa Jamii.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alisema licha ya kujifunza huko lakini pia ziara ya ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar imesaidia kuimarisha uhusiano wa kihistoria unaoendelea kukua siku hadi siku kati ya China na Tanzania na Zanzibar kwa jumla.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alifafanua kwamba Zanzibar na China hasa kisiwa cha Jimbo la Hainan zimekuwa na mafungamano makubwa ya ushirikiano wa muda mrefu uliokuja kutokana na kufanana kwa mazingira ya visiwa hivyo viwili vilivyoko katika ukanda wa joto.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Seif alimuhakikishia Balozi wa Tanzania Nchini China Balozi Abdulrahman Shimbo kwamba mambo yaliyokubalika ndani ya ziara hiyo yatafuatilia ili kuona ufanisi unapatikana.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar aliwapongeza Wafanyakazi wa Ubalozi huo kwa dhifa maalum waliyouandalia ujumbe wake jambo ambalo ni moja kati ya utamaduni uliojengeka miongoni mwa Watanzania.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mapema Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi na Ujumbe wake walipata fursa ya kutembelea maegesho ya ndege katika uwanja wa Kimataifa wa Beijing sehemu ya Tatu { Terminal Three } iliyojengwa na Kampuni hiyo ya Beijing Construction Engeneering Group.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mkuu wa ujenzi wa Kampuni hiyo Mhandisi Tiger Nzu aliueleza ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar kwamba uwanja huo wenye urefu wa kilomita tatu una sehemu 96 zenye uwezo wa kuhudumia abiria mbali mbali wa safari za Kitaifa na Kimataifa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mhandisi Tiger alifahamisha kwamba huduma zote zinazopaswa kupatiwa abiria wakiwemo walemavu na watu wenye mahitaji maalum kama watoto a Wagonjwa zimepangiwa utaratibu maalum katika viwango vinavyokubalika Kimataifa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Wakati wa Tafrija ya chakula cha mchana iliyoandaliwa na Kampuni hiyo ya BCEG Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema kwamba uzoefu na utaalamu mkubwa uliyonayo Kampuni ya Kimataifa ya ujenzi ya Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China { Beijing Construction Engeering Grouop -BCEG } unatoa matumaini makubwa kwa kumalizika kwa mafanikio uwanja wa ndege wa Kimataifa wa Zanzibar.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alisema kazi kubwa inayoendelea kufanywa na Kampuni hiyo inayojenga maegesho ya uwanja wa ndege wa Zanzibar inatoa matumaini ya kuufanya uwanja huo kufikia hadhi ya Kimataifa.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar aliupongeza Uongozi na Wafanyakazi Kampuni hiyo ya { BCEG } kwa umakini wake ambao ndio saabu unayoupa fursa nyingi za tenda za ujenzi kampuni hiyo katika Mataifa mbali mbali Duniani hasa nchi za Bara la Afrika.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Naye Naibu Meneja wa Kampuni ya Ujenzi ya BCEG Bwana Ding Chuanbo alisema kukamilika kwa ujenzi wa maegesho ya ndege kwenye uwanja wa ndege wa Kimataifa wa Zanzibar kutaiwezesha Zanzibar kupiga hatua kubwa za kimaendeleo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bwana Ding alisema mabadiliko ya Kiuchumi ya Zanzibar yatazidi kuimarika kufuatia kuongezeka kwa mapato kupitia sekta ya Utalii inayoonekana kuchukuwa nafasi ya juu katika uchumi wa Zanzibar.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Naibu Meneja huyo wa Kampuni ya BCEG aliueleza ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar kwamba Kampuni hiyo iliyoasisiwa mwaka 1953 tayari imefanikiwa kiuzalishaji hali inayoifanya kuwa na Idara 24 za fani tofauti za utaalamu.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Seif na Ujumbe wake amemaliza ziara yake Nchini Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China akipitia Mjini Dubai kwa mapumziko mafupia ambapo anatarajiwa kurejea nyumbani mwisho mwa wiki hii.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Othman Khamis Ame</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</span></div> </div>

Wanaodhamini watoto kwenda kusoma nje wanapsawa kuwasiliana na Balozi

Mashirika Taasisi za Umma na zile binafsi pamoja na wazazi wanaowadhamini kimasomo wafanyakazi na watoto wao Nchini Jamuhuri ya Watu wa Ch...

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Philips and SNV collaborate to increase access to clean, efficient cooking solutions for communities in Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEOgUcncKE4/VHLwihfyXJI/AAAAAAAAE9U/JLebRKxMfbo/s1600/phy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dEOgUcncKE4/VHLwihfyXJI/AAAAAAAAE9U/JLebRKxMfbo/s1600/phy.png" width="316" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: <a href="http://www.philips.com/">PHIA</a>)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and the <a href="http://www.snvworld.org/">SNV</a> Netherlands Development Organisation</span><span style="font-size: large;">, will be working together to improve access to clean cooking solutions in Africa by introducing clean and efficient household cook stoves to rural communities across the continent. The partnership aims to improve the health and well-being and income of rural populations while having a direct positive impact on the environment and will include research, community education and access to financing for adopting clean cooking technologies.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">According to the World <a href="http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/WEO2012_free.pdf">Energy</a> Outlook 2012, a staggering 2.6 billion people still depend on traditional cook stoves or open fires for cooking and heating their homes. The health and environmental risks of this are considerable. Every week, 75,000 people – mostly women and children - get sick or even die as a direct result of inhaling smoke. And each day, 3.9 million tons of fuel wood are burnt, contributing to the daily loss of 200 km2 of forest (1). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">There are cleaner and more efficient cooking solutions available. But communities in rural areas do not know the benefits of clean cooking alternates or cannot access or afford to invest in them. Philips and SNV are joining forces to address this issue.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Philips’ ambition is to create meaningful innovations that matter to people and address the key challenges that confront society; this is why for the last 3 years, Philips has invested in the design and manufacturing of an innovative fan driven cook stove that can improve the lives of those who rely on wood or biomass for their daily cooking. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">These specially designed cook stoves can reduce smoke and carbon monoxide emissions by more than 90% compared to an open fire (2) thus reducing the health risks of indoor cooking. The cook stove utilizes pellets, wood or other biomass for cooking in a healthy, environmental friendly and fuel efficient manner. Philips is testing different financing and go-to-market models to ensure that this solution become accessible to people that would not be able to afford them otherwise. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SNV Netherlands Development Organisation has extensive experience with increasing access to clean cooking solutions for low income communities. They collaborate with and build capacities of local retailers to promote clean cooking solutions and increase local availability of cook stoves. SNV studies what people can afford, and sets up market based solutions including access to finance for households and small to medium businesses.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Over the years, SNV has invested in research to learn which cooking solutions are the healthiest, most economical, user-, and eco-friendly. Philips produces some of the cleanest products currently available on the market. To increase access to these products, SNV and Philips are now joining forces. They will collaborate in further research and promotion of clean cooking solutions.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">According to Andy Wehkamp, SNV’s director of Renewable Energy, the partnership with Philips is a natural step. “We believe that inclusive business can play an important role in poverty reduction and low carbon growth. We want to increase the income and health of low-income groups in a climate smart way, while at the same time generating benefits for participating companies. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">By joining forces with Philips we expect to reduce the amount of people dependent on open fires or inefficient cook stoves for cooking. This contributes to a better environment, while low-income groups can enjoy better health and living conditions”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">For Philips, the attraction of SNV is in their extensive Africa-wide network and deep understanding of the local environment. Christoph Castellaz, Head of Strategy and New Business Development, Philips Africa states “We welcome the opportunity to partner with SNV; Philips is passionate to invent and apply technology to help people but we need meaningful partnerships to co-create new solutions and new business models that can make innovations like our cook stove accessible and affordable to communities that need them the most.” </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The collaboration between SNV and Philips will initially focus on Kenya (East Africa) and Ghana (West Africa); an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and Philips will be signed on 20 November 2014 during the assembly of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC) in New York.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Royal Philips.</span></div> </div>

Philips and SNV collaborate to increase access to clean, efficient cooking solutions for communities in Africa

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA )  and the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation , will be working together to improve access to...

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SkyVision provides Cable & Wireless Seychelles with State-of-the-Art IP Trunking and Managed Private Network solution

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i82FhryG8fo/VHLut2QN4LI/AAAAAAAAE9I/NXFc2sP5eeQ/s1600/sk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i82FhryG8fo/VHLut2QN4LI/AAAAAAAAE9I/NXFc2sP5eeQ/s1600/sk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.skyvision.net/">SkyVision</a> Global Networks Ltd.</span><span style="font-size: large;">, a leading global communications provider, today announced the commencement of its managed IP Trunking and Private Network solutions to Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS), part of the Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) group of companies operating in 38 markets worldwide. The project, managed by SkyVision, consists of providing IP Trunking to the main island of Seychelles (Mahe), and a private VSAT network for its surrounding islands.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Established in 1893, Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS) is the leading telecommunications company in Seychelles, where over 95% of local businesses make up the company’s broad customer base. In an effort to provide viable communications between the main island and 12 neighboring, smaller islands, CWS required a reliable and efficient network solution that would include fibre restoration for back-up, and Internet service with additional back up for their key customers.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">To meet CWS’s immediate needs, SkyVision commissioned its IP Trunking service, based on the latest technology developments of DVB-S2X, enabling a cost-effective yet Telco-grade solution. In addition, SkyVision installed and deployed its proprietary Private Network solution for a government project, in close cooperation with Seychelles’ Cable & Wireless office, the Islands Development Company (IDC). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Connection from the main island to smaller remote islands was successfully implemented using the Romantis VSAT platform which SkyVision recently introduced to the market. This unique solution modernizes the communication between main and remote islands. SkyVision’s 24/7 Network Operations Centre (NOC) supervises the services, enabling CWS to efficiently manage their network and focus on their core objectives and reach operational efficiencies. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“We see an increase in the need for reliable and cost-effective satellite communications, even in countries where submarine cables have been existent for several years now. As last mile connectivity remains a necessity, SkyVision intends to continue expanding its reach and providing its customers with the best suited solution for their business requirements,” comments Dror Limor, SkyVision VP Sales.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This project further reinforces SkyVision’s leading market position as a key global communications provider. This is made possible through the company’s network of local partners and representatives, and subsidiaries in Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and South Africa, coupled with the company’s hubs and PoPs in multiple locations in Africa and worldwide.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of SkyVision Global Networks Ltd.</span></div> </div>

SkyVision provides Cable & Wireless Seychelles with State-of-the-Art IP Trunking and Managed Private Network solution

SkyVision Global Networks Ltd. , a leading global communications provider, today announced the commencement of its managed IP Trunking ...

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Raising the stakes in Africa: Gambling outlook 2014-2018 (South Africa – Nigeria – Kenya)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekc_q7reQrY/VHLt6FNZrGI/AAAAAAAAE88/Igeg7Rf8P8E/s1600/lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ekc_q7reQrY/VHLt6FNZrGI/AAAAAAAAE88/Igeg7Rf8P8E/s1600/lo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: large;">Gross gambling and casino revenues showed subdued growth in 2013 in the wake of a faltering economy. Gross gambling increased only 4.3%. The slowdown in gross gambling revenue was centred on casinos, the largest category at 76% of the market or R16.5 billion.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Some casino operators in certain regions believe the slowdown in 2013 was due in part to growing competition from electronic bingo terminals, limited payout machines (LPMs) and sports betting shops, which are becoming more prevalent in the industry.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">These are some of the highlights of <a href="http://www.pwc.com/">PwC’s</a> third annual edition on the gambling industry entitled ‘Raising the stakes in Africa: Gambling outlook 2014-2018 (South Africa – Nigeria – Kenya). The publication focuses on segments within the gambling industry with detailed forecasts and analysis. The National Gambling Board of South Africa is the source for South African historical data.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Of the three countries included in the analysis, South Africa has the largest overall gambling market as well as the largest land-based casino gambling market. Gross land-based casino gambling revenues totalled R16.5 billion in South Africa in 2013 compared with only R428 million in Nigeria and R195 million in Kenya.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Nikki Forster, PwC Hospitality and Gambling Industry Leader for South Africa, says: “The South African gambling industry is a vibrant and dynamic sector, but is facing the challenges of a slow economic climate and a changing regulatory environment. In particular the casino sector is facing increasing competition from other gambling facilities.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“We expect slower economic growth to lead to slower gross casino gambling revenues in Nigeria and Kenya and continued slow growth over the next two years. We then look for a pick-up in growth in each country as economic conditions improve,” adds Forster.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The South African gambling market</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Casinos are by far the largest component of the gambling industry with 76% of total gross gambling revenue. To counter the slower growth, casino upgrades and expansions to existing facilities are expected to boost a growth in revenue.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bingo, the smallest category, continued to be the fastest-growing category in 2013 with gross gambling revenues rising 67.5%, the result of the introduction of bingo in Mpumalanga, the North West and the Eastern Cape. LPMs increased 17.8% and sports betting rose 18.5% in 2013 compared with 4.6% growth for horse racing.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“Gross gambling revenues as a whole are expected to expand from R21.8 billion in 2013 to R29.5 billion in 2018, a 6.2% compound annual increase,” says Forster.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Gambling taxes and levies</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Gambling taxes and levies totalled R2.2 billion in 2013, up 6.6% from 2012. Most of the gambling taxes and levies in 2013 were generated in Gauteng (R848 million), KwaZulu-Natal (R535 million) and the Western Cape (R459 million), which together accounted for 82% of the total. Eastern Cape at R122 million was the only other province above R100 million in 2013.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The estimated deemed output VAT collected on gambling revenues from casinos in 2013 amounted to R1.8 billion, or 11% of gross gambling revenue.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Casino gambling</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Gauteng was the leading province in casino gross gambling revenues at R7 billion in 2013, down from R7.2 billion in 2012. KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape were next at R3.1 billion and R2.5 billion, respectively, each up from 2012. These three provinces accounted for 76.4% of total casino gross gambling revenues.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“Improving economic conditions and casino upgrades and expansions are anticipated to lead to faster increases during 2016 to 2018,” adds Forster. For the forecast period as a whole, growth will average 3.9% compounded annually to R20 billion in 2018.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Limited payout machines</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">LPMs, primarily located in bars, clubs and restaurants, accounted for 8% of gross gambling revenues in 2013, up from 7% in 2012. Continued installation of LPM machines in new locations is expected to expand the market. However, competition from electronic bingo terminals is likely to lead to slower LPM growth during the latter part of the forecast period.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In contrast with the casino market, Gauteng ranked only third in LPM in gross gambling revenues at R287 million in 2013, representing 16.5% of the total. The Western Cape had the largest market in 2013 at R551 million with KwaZulu-Natal next at R404 million.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Sports betting</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Horse racing is the dominant component of the sports betting market with R1.8 billion gross gambling revenues in 2013, compared with R1 billion for betting on other sports events. “Horse racing is a relatively mature market with growth during the past three years at less than 5% annually. On the other hand, sports betting has been expanding rapidly, rising by 18.5% in 2013 and more than five fold since 2009. “The proliferation of sport betting shops and online wagering is driving this market. We expect sports betting to overtake horse racing within the next five years,” Forster adds.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Aided by a boost in FIFA World Cup wagering in 2014 and 2018 and the Rugby World Cup in 2015, gross gambling revenues are projected to expand at a 12% compound annual rate to an estimated R5 billion in 2018 from R2.8 billion in 2013.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bingo</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bingo is the smallest category accounting for only 3% of total gross gambling revenue, a 2% increase from 2012. In July 2014, 12 shopping malls applied for licenses to install electronic bingo terminals. These applications have been challenged by anti-gambling campaigners who contend that access to these terminals will contribute to gambling addiction. It is expected that electronic bingo terminals will continue to expand in the provinces where they are already available.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bingo is projected to become the fastest-growing category during the next five years with a projected 19% compound annual increase in gross gambling revenues from R732 million in 2013 to R1.8 billion in 2018.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">National lottery</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The National Lottery is expected to remain the slowest growing category in the industry. Gross gambling revenues are projected to rise from R2.4 billion in 2013 to a projected R2.5 billion in 2018, a 1.2% compound annual increase. A new operator takes over in 2015.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Casino gambling in Nigeria</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Currently there are three licensed casinos in Nigeria. Most forms of gambling are illegal, other than skill-based card games, backgammon, and the national online lottery. Casino gross gambling revenues have grown at double-digit rates during the past three years, including a 19.4% increase in 2013.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">As a result of a slowing in the economic growth rate and the adverse impact on tourism due to the Ebola outbreak in that country, slower growth is expected in the industry. Growth is expected to drop to 5% in 2014 and to 4.5% in 2015. For the forecast period as a whole, gross gambling revenues will expand at a projected 7.7% compound annual rate to USD58 million in 2018.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Casino gambling in Kenya</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Almost all forms of gambling are permitted in Kenya, including online and mobile gambling. The casino market held up well in 2013 despite concerns about terrorism, particularly after the Westgate shopping mall attack in September 2013. Gross gambling revenue rose 7.6%, an improvement over the 5.6% increase in 2012, but well below the double-digit gains recorded in 2009-11.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Casino gambling revenue growth is expected to drop to 4.9% in 2014 and to 4.1% in 2015 following the imposition of a withholding tax on gambling winnings and slower economic growth. For the forecast period as a whole, gross gambling revenue growth will average 6.8% on a compound annual basis, rising from USD18.4 million in 2013 to USD25.6 million in 2018.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Casinos never sleep, nor should digital</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">South Africans are increasingly attracted to land-based casinos and large shopping malls. This, together with a rise in the number of shopping centres, has resulted in a convergence in the retail, restaurant and gambling industries. There is a heightened need for casinos to find the best way to gain the competitive edge on their rivals and ultimately increase revenues. Nowadays it is essential that casinos are ‘on’. Being ‘on’ means creating 24/7 virtual open networks in the form of free Wi-Fi spots that connect people on the floor to casinos.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In addition, casinos need to adopt a scientific approach to their marketing and customer service strategies by analysing and identifying their ‘key players’ and understanding how best to engage with them.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Forster concludes: “Overall, the gambling industry is vibrant and dynamic. However, as a business the margins are low, a large portion of the costs are fixed, regulatory compliance is stringent and profitability depends on volume.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“On the whole, the outlook for the industry is positive, with the further rollout of LPMs and electronic bingo machines in the pipeline that will further contribute to the expected growth in revenues.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distribué par APO (African Press Organization) pour PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).</span></div> </div>

Raising the stakes in Africa: Gambling outlook 2014-2018 (South Africa – Nigeria – Kenya)

Gross gambling and casino revenues showed subdued growth in 2013 in the wake of a faltering economy. Gross gambling increased only 4.3%....

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ZTE yakusudia kuisaidia Afrika

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cTJJHjVSt-w/VG2yby1m07I/AAAAAAAAE8k/p1UyCnWFY7k/s1600/387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cTJJHjVSt-w/VG2yby1m07I/AAAAAAAAE8k/p1UyCnWFY7k/s1600/387.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Kampuni ya Kimataifa ya Mtandao wa Mawasiliano ya Teknolojia ya Kisasa ya ZTE imeahidi kuendelea kuunga mkono katika kusaidia maendeleo ya Nchi za Bara na Afrika ikiwemo Zanzibar na Tanzania kwa ujumla ili zifikie hatua bora zaidi kwenye matumizi ya mfumo huo wa Teknolojia.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Makamu wa Rais wa Kampuni hiyo Bwana Chen Jinsong alieleza hayo wakati akiuongoza Uongozi wa Kampuni yake kwenye mazungumza ya pamoja na Ujumbe wa Zanzibar unaoongozwa na Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi hapo Makao makuu ya Kampuni hiyo yaliyopo kwenye Mji wa Shengzhen Nchini Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bwana Chen alisema China ina wajibu na kila sababu ya kuona utajiri, Fedha, rasilmali pamoja na Teknolojia iliyonayo inatumika katika kusaidia Mataifa rafiki ya Bara la Afrika ili yafikie hatua ya kujiendesha yenyewe Kisayansi na Teknolojia.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Makamu wa Rais huyo wa Kampuni ya ZTE ambayo tayari imeshafungua Tawi lake Dar es salaam Tanzania na Ofisi ndogo Zanzibar alisema ipo Bajeti maalum inayotengwa kila mwaka na kampuni hiyo katika kusaidia Bara la Afrika. “ Suala la kuunga mkono ni la msingi katika kusaidia nchi rafiki hasa zile zilizomo ndani ya Barala Afrika “, Alisema Bwana Chen Jinsong.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Alifahamisha kwamba Kampuni hiyo imekuwa ikitoa huduma za mawasiliano, afya zikiwemo shughuli za amali kupitia Teknolojia mpya katika kiwango kinachomuwezesha mwanaadamu wa kawaida kuwa na uwezo wa kupata huduma hizo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Naye kwa upande wake Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema Zanzibar inaendelea kuhitaji nguvu za msaada wa kitaaluma kutoka Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China katika kuimarisha uchumi wake. Balozi Seif aliueleza Uongozi wa Kampuni hiyo ya ZTE kwambaTaasisi yao iko huru katika kuitumia fursa ya uwekezaji iliyotolewa na Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar kwa kuongeza miradi yao ya uwekezaji.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Wakati wa jioni ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar ulihudhuria chakula cha jioni kilichotayarishwa na wenyeji wao hao wa Kampuni ya mawasiliano ya mtanadao wa Tekonolojia ya kisasa ya Huawei.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Tafrija hiyo ilikuwa na burdani za aina yake iliyoambatana na muziki laini ya kiutamaduni uliotumbuizwa na wasichana warembo waliopendeza wa kampuni hiyo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Cha kufurahisha zaidi kwenye tafrija hiyo ni ule umahiri wa mwana sanaa wa Jiji la Shengzhen Bwana Liu Qi Pei aliyeonyesha kipaji cake cha kuchora picha za ujumbe wa Zanzibar katika muda mfupi na kuwapa kama zawadi maalum ya kutembelea Kampuni hiyo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mapema asubuhi Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar na Ujumbe wake walitembelea Makao Makuu ya Kampuni ya Kimataifa ya Mtandao huo wa mawasiliano ya Huawei iliyomo Mjini Shengzhen na kuona harakati zinazoendelea kufanywa na Kampuni hiyo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Akizungumza na Uongozi wa Kampuni hiyo mara baada ya kukagua shughuli mbali mbali katika vitengo tofauti vya Taasisi hiyo Balozi Seif alisema Teknolojia ya Mawasiliano iliyopo hivi sasa ulimwenguni iko katika kiwango kikubwa kiasi cha kuifanya Dunia kuwa kama kiganja cha mkono badala ya Kijiji.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Balozi Seif alisema hatua hiyo ambayo inaonekana kutoa msukumo mkubwa kwenye maendeleo ya kiuchumi na ustawi wa jamii inaonekana kuwa ni hatua ya mafanikio kwamwanaadamu ikilinganishwa na karne nyingi zilizopita.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif aliupongeza Uongozi wa Kampuni ya Huawei kwa juhudi inazoendelea kuchukuwa katika kusaidia maendeleo ya Teknolojia ya mawasiliano { ICT } hasa katika sekta ya Elimu Nchini Tanzania ambayo imeshaonyesha muelekeo wa mafanikio.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Akitoa Taarifa fupi za shughuli za Kampuni hiyo ya Huawei Meneja mtandao wa mauzo wa Kampuni hiyo ambae ni Mtanzania Bwana Kenguka Kenguka alisema program ya elimu iliyoandaliwa na Kampuni hiyo hivi sasa iko katika hatua za mwisho kukamilika ambayo imelenga kutolewa katika skuli 10 za Tanzania.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bwana Kenguka alieleza kwamba programu hiyo itakuwa rahisi kusambazika kwa haraka kutokana na ukaribu wa mashirikiano yaliyopo baina yake takriban na makampuni yote ya simu za mikononi yaliyopo nchini Tanzania.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Mtaalamu huyo wa masuala ya ICT aliueleza ujumbe huo wa Zanzibar kwamba mfumo huo wa Teknolojia ya Kisasa kwa kiasi kikubwa unasaidia kuunganisha uimarishaji wa uchumi na maendeleo.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bwana Kenguka alitolea mfano hai uliopo wa maendeleo hayo ya kiuchumi katika suala la ajira ndani ya Kampuni hiyo ambapo tayari zaidi ya wafanyakazi Laki 150,000 wameajiriwa na Kampuni hiyo jambo ambalo limeimarisha nguvu za kiuchumi kwa upande mmoja.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Naye kwa upande wake Naibu Rais wa Kampuni ya Huawei Bwana Daniel Zhang alisema taasisi yake itaendelea kutoa msukumo katika kutoa huduma za mitandao ya mawasiliano kwa Nchi mbali mbali Barani Afrika.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Bwana Zhang alisema ipo miradi tofauti ikiwemo ya Elimu na Umeme wa kutumia jua iliyobuniwa na kupendekezwa na Uongozi wa Kampuni hiyo iwekezwe katika baadhi ya nchi za Afrika. Balozi Seif na Ujumbe wake amekamilisha ziara yake katika Kisiwa cha Jimbo la Hainan kwa kupitia katika Mji wa Shengzhen na Guanzhou ambapo atamalizia ziara hiyo katika Mji Mkuu wa Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China Beijing.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Othman Khamis Ame</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</span></div> </div>

ZTE yakusudia kuisaidia Afrika

Kampuni ya Kimataifa ya Mtandao wa Mawasiliano ya Teknolojia ya Kisasa ya ZTE imeahidi kuendelea kuunga mkono katika kusaidia maendeleo y...

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The sweet potato was chosen to highlight its role in improving the nutrition and health of millions of children and women throughout sub-Saharan Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPsOQSSysPg/VGo5NTCLHBI/AAAAAAAAE8U/JYtjjwHpOXc/s1600/securedownload.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPsOQSSysPg/VGo5NTCLHBI/AAAAAAAAE8U/JYtjjwHpOXc/s1600/securedownload.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">For the first time, this year’s crop in the U.S. White House kitchen garden included orange sweet potato (OSP), a root vegetable rich in vitamin A, that is becoming popular in Africa. The sweet potato was chosen to highlight its role in improving the nutrition and health of millions of children and women throughout sub-Saharan Africa by providing essential vitamin A. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major public health problem in many countries. It impairs immunity, increases the risk of illnesses such as diarrheal disease, and causes eye damage that can lead to blindness and even death. Annually, up to 500,000 preschool children go blind from VAD, and about two-thirds will die within months of going blind. In Africa, VAD prevalence is estimated at 42 percent among children under five.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is now funding efforts to provide 285,000 Ugandan farming households not only with orange sweet potato but also beans that are richer in iron, as part of the US Government’s global hunger and food security initiative, Feed the Future.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">"Through Feed the Future, President Obama's landmark food security initiative, we are scaling up the use of orange sweet potatoes in thousands of communities vulnerable to undernutrition and stunting," said USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah. "In the last year alone, we have helped seven million farmers boost their harvests with new technologies like this, and reached 12.5 million children to tackle undernutrition—one of the leading contributors to child death that also undermines global growth.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Orange fruits and vegetables, dark leafy greens, and animal products are good sources of vitamin A but are not always available, or may be too expensive in some regions. In many part of sub-Saharan Africa, people eat large amounts of staple foods like sweet potatoes. However, the types commonly eaten are yellow and white in color and a poor source of vitamin A. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The orange varieties are extremely rich in vitamin A and have been adapted to growing conditions in Africa, and to local tastes. In addition to being a rich source of vitamin A, orange sweet potato is also high yielding, virus resistant, and drought tolerant. In Africa, the crop is also referred to as orange-fleshed sweet potato.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Farming communities in Uganda, where orange sweet potato is now being grown on a large scale as a result of US Government assistance, have substituted more than one-third of their traditional white and yellow sweet potatoes with orange varieties. This has helped to ensure that large numbers of children and women receive their daily needs for vitamin A. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">One study found that in these communities orange sweet potato contributed to more than half of the vitamin A intakes of young children aged 6 months to 3 years old. This is notable because the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, counted from the start of a woman’s pregnancy until the child is two years old, is the most critical period of growth and development. All it takes is one ice-cream scoop’s worth of orange sweet potato to provide a young child with his or her daily vitamin A requirement. Farmers are also able to sell their surplus crop to earn extra income.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Agnes Amony, a Ugandan farmer who is part of this project, says: “I began feeding my child on these nutritious foods following the knowledge I attained in the recommended feeding practices for children under five. My child began gaining weight steadily and I am in no doubt that these foods have saved my child’s life. I am forever grateful and will never stop feeding my child on these food crops.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In the mid-1990s, USAID played a seminal role in convincing agricultural scientists that improving yields of staple food crops was not enough—they also had to make them more nutritious. Vitamin A-rich OSP emerged as one of the first nutritionally-enhanced—and most successful—staple food crops to date.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Under First Lady Michelle Obama, the White House kitchen garden has been expanded and reinvigorated to include a wide range of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. It serves to educate people, especially children, on the importance of good nutrition and the role that vegetables and fruits can play in improving health. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The sweet potatoes that were planted in the garden were provided by North Carolina State University (NCSU) and include Covington, a variety developed at NCSU, and Beauregard, a variety developed at Louisiana State University. Beauregard has become one of the most popular OSP varieties, and is being grown as far afield as northern Brazil.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of HarvestPlus.</span></div> </div>

The sweet potato was chosen to highlight its role in improving the nutrition and health of millions of children and women throughout sub-Saharan Africa

For the first time, this year’s crop in the U.S. White House kitchen garden included orange sweet potato (OSP), a root vegetable rich in...

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Africa SME Champions Forum wrap-up: creating an ecosystem to support African champions

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fEEkU1K_yzU/VGo394mR89I/AAAAAAAAE8I/tl_QqOe5igU/s1600/adb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fEEkU1K_yzU/VGo394mR89I/AAAAAAAAE8I/tl_QqOe5igU/s1600/adb.png" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Africa <a href="http://www.africa-smechampions.com/">SME</a> Champions Forum</span><span style="font-size: large;"> closed on 12 November in Dakar, but its work in support of African champions is only just beginning. Bringing together over 300 SMEs and around 100 African economic and political policymakers, these two days of dialogue produced the foundations for a very concrete roadmap. This roadmap will guide the actions of the Africa SME Champions community in anticipation of the next forum, to be held in Nairobi in November 2015.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">"Africa SME Champions is so much more than just a conference. We will offer the business and institutional community a framework to meet their needs and enable them to interact with one other. SMEs need money, but they especially need support as well," explains Didier Acouetey, founder of the specialist recruitment agency AfricSearch and creator of the event. "This is why we decided to launch Africa SME Champions, a platform to support African SMEs."</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Scheduled to launch in early 2015, this platform aims first to offer support tools to SMEs based on information derived from the fifteen or so thematic sessions presented at the forum. These sessions dealt with issues such as writing a business plan, marketing techniques and customer relations. The partner institutions and enterprises, including the IFC, the African Development Bank, OCP, investment funds and consulting firms, will all contribute input to this database of expertise.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In addition to the website, the Africa SME Champions platform will offer very concrete support and consulting services. "Once SMEs find the information they need on the website, a dedicated team will be on hand to connect them to the relevant funds and consultants who can help them to raise the necessary funds. An entire ecosystem will be available in support of African Champions," explains Didier Acouetey.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Africa SME Champions Forum community has also made plans to create the "African Champion" label. This label will be attached to SMEs based on several criteria, such as their ability to create jobs, their role in regional integration, their implementation of good governance principles, etc. With this label, they will be able to enjoy favourable conditions in the partner countries. In addition to tax advantages, they will also be able to access public procurement contracts, recruitment aid and guarantee funds.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The pan-African bank Ecobank, an event partner, has itself announced the creation of Ecobank SME Clubs. Albert Essien, the bank's general director, described this project: "SMEs merit special attention. These clubs will be privileged spaces for dialogue to better evaluate funding needs and make it easier to obtain funding. The criteria for joining the clubs will be extremely simple."</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The forum also offered an opportunity to recognise champions. The African SME Champions Awards, sponsored by the African Guarantee Fund, honoured three enterprises, which were selected following a rigorous and transparent process. The director of Village Group in Rwanda was awarded the Young Entrepreneur Award. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Tabaki, a Kenyan SME, won the Regional SME Award. Finally, this year's top award for SME of the Year went to SoSoMa Industries, another Rwandan SME specialising in agro-business. "We wanted to celebrate SMEs by spotlighting champions capable of transforming the continent and creating value," explained Amadou Kane, former Finance Minister of Senegal, who was selected to lead the awards panel. "They are the torch-bearers of the Africa SME Champions community."</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Africa SME Champions Forum.</span></div> </div>

Africa SME Champions Forum wrap-up: creating an ecosystem to support African champions

The Africa SME Champions Forum  closed on 12 November in Dakar, but its work in support of African champions is only just beginning. Br...

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GSK launches first call for proposals for research in to non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Oh_xTAaNqQ/VGZC1udyB6I/AAAAAAAAE74/mis6XSInh3I/s1600/gsk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Oh_xTAaNqQ/VGZC1udyB6I/AAAAAAAAE74/mis6XSInh3I/s1600/gsk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.gsk.com/">GSK</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> today launched the first call for proposals for its Africa NCD Open Lab, to support much-needed scientific research into non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa. Up to £4m will be available in this first funding round, to support successful proposals from researchers in Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana, The Gambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Africa NCD Open Lab was established by GSK earlier this year, with a commitment of £25m funding over five years, as part of a series of strategic investments in sub-Saharan Africa. In this region, and across developing countries, non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, are becoming more prevalent, and we need to learn more about how – and why – these diseases manifest differently in this setting. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Africa NCD Open Lab aims to address this through the creation of an innovative research network that will see GSK scientists collaborate with researchers across Africa on high quality epidemiological, genetic and interventional research, from its hub at GSK’s Stevenage R&D facility in the UK. The aim is that this will specifically inform interventions for the prevention and treatment of five priority diseases - cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and chronic respiratory disease – while helping build local expertise and creating a new generation of African NCD experts.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This builds on the success of GSK’s Open Lab in Tres Cantos, Spain which provides independent researchers access to GSK facilities, resources and knowledge to help them advance their own research projects into diseases of the developing world such as malaria, tuberculosis and leishmaniasis. Since the Tres Cantos Open Lab was established, 15 projects from world class institutions have been completed, progressing much needed research into diseases of the developing world. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">An independent external advisory group, comprising clinical and scientific experts in the field of NCDs, will review applications to the NCD Open Lab, with recommendations for funding based on scientific merit. The group will consist of a majority African membership to ensure that only locally-relevant research is funded.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A second call for proposals in South Africa is planned for early in 2015 which will be launched in collaboration with the Medical Research Councils of South Africa and the UK, with a combined £5m funding.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Mike Strange, Interim Head of the Africa NCD Open Lab, said: “We believe the highly collaborative research network we’re creating through the Africa NCD Open Lab has the potential to dramatically improve understanding of NCDs in Africa – and could ultimately, accelerate the development of new, better medicines to treat these.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“The launch of our first call for proposals is an important milestone for this initiative, and we encourage researchers working in the field of NCDs who are based in the eight eligible countries to consider applying for the funding and expert support available to them through this.” </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).</span></div> </div>

GSK launches first call for proposals for research in to non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa

GSK  today launched the first call for proposals for its Africa NCD Open Lab, to support much-needed scientific research into non-commun...

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Merck Supports Free Diabetes Screening For More Than 19,000 Community Members in India and Africa on World Diabetes Day, as Part of Merck Diabetes Capacity Advancement Program (CAP)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPH144EvgZs/VGZB3-G7dJI/AAAAAAAAE7w/9qW-koEs00g/s1600/dibe.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rPH144EvgZs/VGZB3-G7dJI/AAAAAAAAE7w/9qW-koEs00g/s1600/dibe.png" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">On the occasion of World Diabetes Day (WDD), Merck is conducting Diabetes awareness camps in India, Kenya and Ghana in collaboration with Maharashtra University and Government in India and with Kenya Ministry of health, Diabetes Management and Information center (DMI) and National Diabetes Association of Ghana.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.merckgroup.com/">Merck</a></span><span style="font-size: large;">, The world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company, has rolled out today its Diabetes awareness and prevention campaign in collaboration with Universities of health sciences, Ministries of health and Diabetes patients associations in Africa and India in order to improve diabetes awareness and community health level.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, Merck, the German pharmaceutical and Chemical Company has played a great role to improve access to better diabetes care through supporting Diabetes awareness at 15 medical colleges in Maharashtra and several locations in both Kenya,Ghana and Uganda, aiming to screen and educate more than 19,000 community members across Asia and Africa. Dubbed ‘Get Informed- Get Active- Get Healthier’, the campaign aims to reverse this worrying trend by preventing or delaying the development of diabetes.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">This great initiative is part of Merck Diabetes Capacity Advancement Program (CAP) which has been launched in 2012 with a target to reach 30000 community members with free diabetes screening and education by end of 2018. The Merck Diabetes CAP has reached 23000 community members by 2014, which exceeds their initial target for this period.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Stefan Oschmann, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Pharma said: “By partnering with universities, Ministries of Health, patients associations and local research institutes , we hope to quickly achieve our objective of advancing healthcare capacities and contributing to social and economic development of Africa and Asia. Our goal is to improve the healthcare sector in those continents through educating and empowering those affected by diabetes on how to manage and prevent it.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Rasha Kelej, Vice President, Head of Global Business Responsibility and Market Development of Merck Serono said at their awareness campaign in India “This is only a start, more awareness campaigns and outreach programs in cooperation with Academia and Ministries of Health will be supported by Merck as part of our long term commitment to the social and economic development of Africa, Asia and Latin America in the near future”.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">She emphasized “We are pleased to join Ministries of Health and Universities to celebrate the World Diabetes Day (WDD) focusing on “Healthy Living and Diabetes” in order to improve access to better Diabetes. Supporting Diabetes education and Diabetes community outreach programs of Academia will contribute significantly to improving awareness, early diagnosis and prevention of the disease across developing countries and underserved population”.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The Cabinet Secretary of Kenya Ministry of Health James Macharia has applauded Merck for its Capacity Advancement Program that was launched successfully in 2012 in Kenya. “The Ministry of Health is supporting private public partnership with reputable companies like Merck to promote key health guidelines and raise awareness about diabetes so that people learn how to prevent it” .he added.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">After the successful Merck Diabetes CME tour in 10 medical and pharmacy colleges, in 8 universities in 7 Sub-Saharan countries which just ended on the 7th of November in University of Ghana, this initiative is a natural evolution of the education program for medical and pharmacy students who will be the future healthcare providers. “It is time to focus on community and support the universities outreach programs and Patents association’s activities”. Kelej added on the celebration event of WDD.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Macharia emphasized “The cost of managing diabetes is enormous and places a huge burden on already strained healthcare system. The lack of awareness on disease symptoms makes many diabetes patients to be diagnosed late when they have already developed complications such as blindness, foot ulcers or gangrene, heart diseases among others”.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Merck has provided the necessary support to conduct Diabetes free screening and education to each of the 15 medical colleges in Maharashtra University during the week of the WDD to raise awareness about diabetes and empower community members on how to better manage and prevent the disease. Aiming to screen more than 15,000 person across the state.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">While in both Kenya and Ghana Merck supported 4000 free diabetes screening on the same day and they are aiming to triple this number in 2015</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Dr Pravin Shingare, Director of Medical Education and Research, Government of Maharashtra, India emphasized “The cost of managing diabetes is enormous and places a huge burden on already strained healthcare system. The lack of awareness on disease symptoms makes many diabetes patients to be diagnosed late when they have already developed complications such as blindness, foot ulcers or gangrene, heart diseases among others. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">There is a strong, new argument that by combining screening to find pre-diabetes and early diabetes, along with management aimed to keep glucose levels as close to normal as possible, we can change the natural history of the disease and improve the lives of our patients. Hence, I urge all Indians to get screened and be active in order to get healthier”.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Merck plays a great role in building healthcare capacity in Africa with special focus on diabetes and chronic diseases.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">“The lack of financial means is not the only challenge in Africa, but a scarcity of trained health care personnel capable to tackle the prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes at all levels of the health care systems. It was clear for us from the start that if not addressed as a matter of urgency, diabetes, will soon threaten the economic viability of Africa. And sadly, many people who survive HIV and AIDS may die of diabetes” Kelej added</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The 5 year program was kicked off in India last month and has been implemented successfully in 7 sub- Saharan countries which are Kenya, Uganda, Namibia Angola, Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique and will further expand to other Sub-Saharan and Asian countries in 2014.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">As part of the Merck Capacity Advancement Program (CAP), by end of 2015, more than 3,000 medical students from the Maharashtra University of Health sciences will benefit from European-accredited clinical diabetes and chronic diseases management training, which is seeking to equip them with skills to avert the diabetes epidemic. Merck is planning to target more than 12,000 students and 60,000 community members by the end of 2018 expanding to more African and Asian countries.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Merck KGaA.</span></div> </div>

Merck Supports Free Diabetes Screening For More Than 19,000 Community Members in India and Africa on World Diabetes Day, as Part of Merck Diabetes Capacity Advancement Program (CAP)

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day (WDD), Merck is conducting Diabetes awareness camps in India, Kenya and Ghana in collaboration wit...

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