Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Health Principal Secretary Susan N. Mochache has called for joint stakeholder efforts in ending Obstetric Fistula. Speaking during the commemoration to mark International Day to End Obstetric Fistula (IDEOF) at Kenyatta National Hospital, the PS noted that Fistula is driven by social, economic and health factors that can only be addressed through multi-sectoral approach.

The PS said that there is need to build capacity to ensure access to comprehensive emergency obstetric care, treat fistula cases and address the underlying health, socioeconomic, cultural and human rights determinants that undermine the national  agenda of ending obstetric fistula and ensuring every woman and girl enjoy their fundamental rights.
“This year’s theme Women’s rights are human rights! and the accompanying clarion call of End Fistula now!, is a timely reminder that Obstetric Fistula can be eliminated if we prioritise the rights of women and invest collectively in better health systems to cushion pregnant women from unpredictable adversity of child birth.” She emphasised.
She informed that Government efforts to enable expectant women access pre-natal, skilled delivery services and postnatal care in order to avoid preventable deaths and complications that arise during child birth are  bearing fruits and that eight out of ten births now occur within health facilities attended by a skilled health provider.
Ms Mochache reaffirmed Kenya’s commitments made during the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, to ensure progress towards ending Obstetric Fistula by 2030 as guided by strategic frameworks for Sustainable Development and the National Strategic Framework on Female Genital Fistula.
The PS  recognised and appreciated the commitment by H.E the First Margaret Kenyatta in championing advocacy to end Obstetric Fistula saying such high level patronage and leadership is an a guarantee for better maternal health. “We will leverage on this endowment, goodwill and outstanding leadership to ensure that each mother has access to quality health care and services during pregnancy and child birth, that will consign Obstetric Fistula to archives of History.” She said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Media files

Health Principal Secretary call joint stakeholder efforts to end fistula

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
Borry Jatta, the DRC Country Director at IRC, says, “The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is concerned about the continued risks in DRC’s Goma as earthquakes persist, destroying buildings, homes and other infrastructure and gas emissions, acidic rain and volcanic dust pose continued health risks. There have been more than 200 tremors in the past 2 days and for residents of Goma, the impact of the eruption is not behind them. The earthquakes as well as the possibility of a new eruption continue to cause alarm as the risk to their lives and homes persist. With at least 500 homes destroyed, many are sleeping outside out of fear of buildings collapsing due to cracks. Widespread fear has led more residents to flee the city, in addition to the 30,000 people who left after the eruption this weekend. Families have been separated and more than 170 children are still feared missing.”

“Researchers observing the volcano have a limited sense of the current risk level; the situation remains highly unpredictable as several warning signs emerge of the risk of a new eruption in the next few days, including multiple cracks on the ground, emission of gas and the worrying fact that the Kivu crater seems to have refilled very quickly, indicating another possible eruption. The IRC is preparing a response to meet the escalating humanitarian needs in collaboration with the government and other NGOs. There is now a desperate need for an increase in fundings and support from the international community.”
The IRC has been working in the DRC since 1996 providing emergency assistance and humanitarian aid to those affected by violence and uprooted from their homes. As the country struggles to recover from decades of conflict and widespread disease, the IRC is focusing our efforts in Tanganyika, Kasai Central, and North and South Kivu by providing emergency health care, shelter, water, sanitation, and emergency supplies to hundreds of thousands of people in eastern and central Congo.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Rescue Committee.

IRC is concerned about the continued risks in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo in the aftermath of the eruption

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

New Cases: 1 Total Confirmed: 4,122 Deaths: 79 Recovered: 3,125 Total in quarantine: 76 Discharged from quarantine: 14,891
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information and Communication, Sierra Leone.
Media files

Coronavirus – Sierra Leone: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
Daily: Laboratory Test: 4,823 Cases: 282 Severe Cases: 466 New Deaths: 9 Recovery: 851 
Total: Laboratory Test: 2,696,063 Active Cases: 34,052 Total Cases: 269,782 Total Deaths: 4,093 Total Recovery: 231,635 Total Vaccinated: 1,717,481
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.
Media files

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 Reported Cases in Ethiopia (25 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

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

Out of these, six patients are from Quarantine Center in Gelaalo, Northern Red Sea Region. Three patients are from Quarantine Center in Assab, Southern Red Sea Region.  Three other patients are from Quarantine Center in Om-Hajer, Gash Barka region.  Two patients are from Quarantine Center in Senafe, Southern Region. The last two patients are from Quarantine Center in Asmara, Central Region.
On the other hand, thirty-eight patients who have been receiving medical treatment in hospitals in Gash Barka Region have recovered fully and have been discharged from these facilities.
The total number of recovered patients has accordingly risen to 3,749 while the number of deaths stands at 14.
The total number of confirmed cases in the country to date has increased to 3,948.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Media files

Coronavirus – Eritrea: Announcement from the Ministry of Health (25 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

37 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria;

Lagos-29 Akwa Ibom-3 FCT-2 Gombe-1 Kaduna-1 Kano-1

166,098 confirmed 156,528 discharged 2,071 deaths
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Media files

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 case update (25 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

382 people have tested positive for the disease, from a sample size of 3,719 tested in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate is now 10.3%. Total confirmed positive cases are now 168,925 and cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,787,093.

New cases by county; Kisumu 110, Kericho 37, Siaya 33, Nairobi 31, Busia 28, Mombasa 20, Kitui 19, Nakuru 19, Uasin Gishu 14, Homa Bay 14, Nyamira 10, Garissa 10, Makueni 7, Vihiga 5, Bomet 3, Machakos 3, Kakamega 3, Kiambu 2, Murang’a 2, Nyandarua 2, Meru 2, Elgeyo Marakwet 1, Embu 1, Kajiado 1, Kilifi 1, Laikipia 1, Migori 1, Nandi 1 and Turkana 1.
1,134 patients have recovered from the disease, 875 from the Home Based and Isolation Care, while 259 are from various health facilities countrywide. Total recoveries now stand at 115,813.
1,079 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities, while 4,756 patients are on Home Based Isolation and Care. 113 patients are in the ICU, 24 of whom are on ventilatory support and 65 on supplemental oxygen. 24 patients are under observation.
Another 98 patients are separately on supplemental oxygen with 91 of them in general wards and 7 in High Dependency Units.
VACCINATION: As of today, a total of 957,804 persons have so far been vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease countrywide. Of these 561,649 are aged 58 years and above among others, Health workers, 164,369, Teachers 150,807, while Security Officers 80,979.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Media files

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

COVID-19 daily update,25th May: we report 149 new cases out of 5,144 tests (3% positivity); 21 recoveries and no new deaths.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI).
Media files

Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 Daily Status Update (25 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Total daily tests: 616 New confirmed cases: 13 Cumulative confirmed cases: 18,570 Active cases: 44 Recoveries: 17,854 (9 new) Currently admitted: 5 New deaths: 0 Total deaths: 672 Total vaccinated to date: 35,227
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Media files

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (25 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Total cases: 26,780 (+50) Recovered: 25,283 (+139) | 94.4% Active cases: 1,148 In critical condition: 3 Tests: 1,414,886 (+4,840) Test positivity rate: 1% Vaccinated: 350,400  Deaths: 349 (+0) | 1.3%
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.
Media files

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

A collaboration between AstraZeneca (www.AstraZeneca.com) and Plan International Kenya to address non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention among young people; The Programme will operate in Nairobi inclusive of 5 villages in Kibera and 13 villages in Mathare; The Programme builds on five years of successful implementation and results in Kibera, Nairobi between 2016 and 2020.

Today, Plan International Kenya and AstraZeneca are pleased to announce the five-year renewal of the Young Health Programme Kenya, a global community investment initiative from AstraZeneca, focusing on young people and prevention of the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
In Kenya, young people between 10 and 24 account for over 33% of the total population [1], providing the country with a considerable socio-economic development opportunity. The period of adolescence is pivotal in reducing NCDs and maximizing health across all stages of life.
“We are very excited to build on five years of successful implementation in Kenya and expand our reach to 18 new areas, the remaining villages in Kibera and into the new area of Mathare,” says Kate Maina-Vorley, Country Director, Plan International Kenya. “Having successfully worked closely with the Nairobi County and National Government to support policies and guidelines on NCD prevention, and reached over 82,000 young people and 267,000 members of the wider community over the past five years, we are looking forward to continuing this vital work focusing on NCD prevention. Our recent external evaluation illustrated incredible results, including for instance that the number of young people using tobacco declined more than 40%, from 47.2% at baseline to 5.9% at the final evaluation. Combining our programme to empower young people to make healthier life choices, with the present significant political will to address the challenge, we hope to continue to have a huge impact on long-term health outcomes.”
The Young Health Programme addresses the primary NCD risk factors of tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and air pollution, as well as supporting the broader health and well-being of young people.
According to the World Health Organisation country profile of 2018, NCDs in Kenya are estimated to account for 27% of total deaths and 13% of premature deaths, with cardiovascular diseases and cancers being the leading cause of death, accounting for 8% and 10% respectively [2]. The Kenya 2015 STEPS survey revealed that 94% of Kenyans aged 18-69 are consuming less than the WHO-recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day [3], an alarming statistic that may compromise their current and future health.
Nancy, a 23 year old peer educator from Kibera said, “The programme built my capacity in different ways. At an individual level, I have become knowledgeable about the risk that can lead to NCDs and have learnt so much about NCDs compared to before joining the programme. At the community level, I have raised awareness about NCD prevention among young people. Most of them have taken it positively and as a result, have reduced the practices, especially those who were harmfully using alcohol.”

The Young Health Programme Kenya is a five-year programme that aims to contribute to the improved health and wellbeing of young people between 10-24 years of age in five villages in Kibera that were not reached through the 2016-2020 programme, and all thirteen villages in Mathare. Specifically, it aims to ensure that young people in Nairobi have increased knowledge about risk factors and NCD prevention, which gives them greater capacity to make informed decisions about their health, in the context of improved health services, an enabling support system and policy environment.

The Young Health Programme Kenya hopes to directly reach more than 88,000 young people with health information and NCD prevention programming. Indirectly, it is expected to reach an additional 400,000 young people and 196,000 members of the wider community through campaigns, events and awareness raising activities.
Globally, the AstraZeneca Young Health Programme has reached more than 5 million young people in 30 countries since it was launched in 2010.  
“Since the Young Health Programme launched in Kenya in 2016, I have seen the peer educators in action, and have been inspired by their desire to become champions for other youth in their communities to live healthier lives. The impact this can have shines through in the achievements of the programme to date and we are delighted to continue our commitment to adolescent health in Kenya,” said Dr Kennedy Njau, Government Affairs Director, Sub Saharan Africa, AstraZeneca.
For more information about the Young Health Programme, please go to the website:
www.YoungHealthProgrammeYHP.com
Expansion launch event 26 May 2021 on YouTube: YouTube Link (https://bit.ly/3fkkFwI)
[1] https://bit.ly/3wvsu8z
[2] https://bit.ly/3uh5xo0
[3] https://bit.ly/3oPjJ6s
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AstraZeneca.
About the Young Health Programme: AstraZeneca’s Young Health Programme (YHP) is a global programme with a unique focus on young people age 10 to 24 and prevention of the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cancer, diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease and mental ill health. Delivered in partnership with Plan International and UNICEF and informed by research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, YHP aims to support the development of protective environments and empower young people to make informed choices about their health.  YHP is part of our sustainability commitment to use our capabilities to make the most meaningful impact where society needs it &#8211; health.
The Young Health Programme:  Better health choices, brighter life chances.
www.YoungHealthProgrammeYHP.com
About Plan International: Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We strive for a just world, working with children, young people, our supporters and partners. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships for children, adolescents and youth for more than 80 years, and is active in over 75 countries across the world.
Plan International has been operating in Kenya since 1982 and to-date continues to work in 10 counties: Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Tharaka Nithi, Siaya, Kwale, Kilifi, Tana River, Homabay and Kisumu. 
About AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas &#8211; Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal &#038; Metabolism and Respiratory. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.
Media files

Award-Winning Young Health Programme expands to 18 new communities in Kenya

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation) announced the Call for Applications for their upcoming Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 and “Mask Up with Care“ Media Recognition Awards 2021 in partnership with African First Ladies at the 8th edition of “Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary”; The Merck Foundation Health Media Training was attended by African, Asian, and Latin American Journalists from more than 35 countries.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany conducted their Health Media Training through an online video conference, on the sidelines of the 8th Edition of “MERCK FOUNDATION AFRICA ASIA LUMINARY”, being held in partnership with the Government of Zambia. The conference was inaugurated by The President of Zambia, H.E. Dr. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU and Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp Chairman of both of Executive Board of E.Merck KG and Merck Foundation Board of Trustees. It was co-chaired by H.E. Mrs. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.
The Merck Foundation Health Media Training is a part of ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ community awareness Program and was organized to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence our society to create a cultural shift with the aim to Break the Stigma around Infertility, raising awareness about Infertility Prevention, and Empowering Girls and Women through Education.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother emphasized “I have always emphasized on the prominent role of media as I strongly believe that media has the capacity and ability to create a culture shift in our communities in a cost-effective way. Through this important training, we are aiming to educate media, especially the young journalists, on how to break the silence and be the voice of the voiceless in order to eliminate the stigma of infertility and raise awareness about male infertility and infertility prevention and emphasize the importance of girls’ education, through their day to day work”.
Merck Foundation Health Media Training was addressed by top fertility experts and stalwarts of media from countries like Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mauritius, and Senegal.
The Health Media training was attended by journalists from Print, TV, Radio and Online media from more than 35 African and Latin American countries.
During the session, Merck Foundation also announced two awards for media fraternity, Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards  “More Than a Mother” 2021 and Merck Foundation “Mask Up With Care” Media Recognition Awards 2021; two awards for fashion fraternity, Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 and Merck Foundation “Make Your Own Mask” Fashion Awards 2021.
Furthermore, Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies announced two other important awards:
1) Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 and 
2) Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021.
“All these awards are in partnership with my dear sisters the First Ladies of Africa. 20 First Ladies will lead these awards in their countries as Ambassadors of Merck Foundation More than a Mother. However,  the awards are open for all of Africa as well as Latin America which will be announced separately in Spanish and Portuguese next week”, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej added.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej also emphasized, “I strongly believe that media, art, and fashion play a significant role in raising awareness about sensitive topics like infertility and girl education and women empowerment, hence will contribute significantly to break the stigma around infertile women in Africa, if utilized properly. There are many infertile women out there; we witness their stories of suffering and humiliation every day, it is time to act and make a change. Through the awards under the “More Than a Mother” campaign, we would like to join hands with media, film, music and fashion fraternity to make a change and Break Infertility Stigma, a message that must reach every door, every community, every mind, and every heart. Another important message is to emphasize the importance of girl education in our communities.
Moreover, given the unprecedented times and second wave of coronavirus, it is important to sensitize communities and raise awareness about following best practices. Raising awareness about coronavirus in our communities will also contribute to supporting health workers who are at the forefront of COVID-19 response &#8211; providing high-quality, respectful treatment, and care. Hence, we came up with awards for media persons and fashion designers, so as to encourage people to wear masks during the Coronavirus pandemic and protect themselves and others.
Details of the Merck Foundation Africa “More Than A Mother” Media Recognition Awards 2021:
Who can apply:
Journalists from Print, Radio, Online, and Multimedia platforms from the following groups:
 	Southern African Countries 	West African Countries 	East African Countries 	African French Speaking Countries 	African Portuguese Speaking Countries 	Latin American Countries 
How to Apply:
Entries can be submitted via email to: submit@merck-foundation.com  
Last date of Submission: 30th August 2021
The Subject line of the mail should mention: Merck Foundation Africa “MORE THAN A MOTHER” Media Recognition Awards 2021
Please specify your name, country, category of application, and contact details in the mail.
Categories and Prize Money:
Categories
Print Media
Online Media
Radio
Multimedia
Prize Money
USD 500
USD 500
USD 500
USD 1000

Sending multiple applications will increase the chances of winning the award.
For more information on the awards, please visit our website: www.Merck-Foundation.com.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.
Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard: Facebook: bit.ly/2LdbD8F Twitter: bit.ly/2LesKH8 YouTube: bit.ly/3sdHMxm Instagram: bit.ly/2LC26rm Flickr: bit.ly/2XqzQdU Website: Merck-Foundation.com Download Merck Foundation App: bit.ly/2MmNvAU
About ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ campaign: “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and change of mind-sets. This powerful campaign supports governments in defining policies to enhance access to regulated, safe, effective and equitable fertility care solutions. It defines interventions to break the stigma around infertile women and raises awareness about infertility prevention, management and male infertility. In partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information, Education &#038; Gender, academia, policymakers, International fertility societies, media and art, the initiative also provides training for fertility specialists and embryologists to build and advance fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries.
With “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, we have initiated a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility at all levels: By improving awareness, training local experts in the fields of fertility care and media, building advocacy in cooperation with African First Ladies and women leaders and by supporting childless women in starting their own small businesses. It’s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child. 
The Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” are: 

H.E. NEO JANE MASISI, 			The First Lady of Botswana
H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of The Gambia
H.E. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia
H.E. SIKA KABORE, The First Lady of Burkina Faso
H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana

H.E. AISHA BUHARI, The First Lady of Nigeria
H.E. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE,
The First Lady of Burundi
H.E. CONDÉ DJENE, The First Lady of Guinea Conakry
H.E FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of Sierra Leone
H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central African Republic
H.E. CLAR WEAH, The First Lady of Liberia
H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia
H.E. ANTOINETTE SASSOU-NGUESSO, The First Lady of Congo Brazzaville
H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of Malawi
H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of Zimbabwe
H.E. DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, THE First Lady of Democratic Republic of Congo
H.E. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of Mozambique

The Former First Lady of Burundi, H.E DENISE NKURUNZIZA, The Former First Lady of Chad, H.E. HINDA DÉBY ITNO, The Former First Lady of Malawi, H.E. PROFESSOR GERTRUDE MUTHARIKA and The Former First Lady of Niger, H.E AÏSSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU have worked successfully with Merck Foundation as Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Ambassadors to break the stigma of infertility and empower infertile women in their countries.

Merck Foundation launched new innovative initiatives to sensitize local communities about infertility prevention, male infertility with the aim to break the stigma of infertility and empowering infertile women as part of Merck Foundation More than a Mother COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, such as; • ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Africa Media Recognition Awards and Health Media Training • ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Fashion Awards • ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Film Awards • Local songs with local artists to address the cultural perception of infertility and how to change it • Children storybook, localized for each country

About Merck Foundation: The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality &#038; equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com); Facebook (bit.ly/2MU6Fht), Twitter (bit.ly/3scVf8t), Instagram (bit.ly/3boJ0jr), YouTube (bit.ly/3sf4aWX) and Flicker (bit.ly/3snPHZ8).
Media files

Merck Foundation Health Media Training and Media Awards 2021 conducted in partnership with African First Ladies to build Media capacity in breaking Infertility stigma and supporting Girl Education

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Total cases: 26,730 (+42) Recovered: 25,144 (+47) | 90% Active cases: 1,237 In critical condition: 3 Tests: 1,410,046 (+4,029) Test positivity rate: 1% Vaccinated: 350,400  Deaths: 349 (+0) | 1.3%
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.
Media files

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (24 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

Total daily tests: 459 New confirmed cases: 6 Cumulative confirmed cases: 18,557 Active cases: 40 Recoveries: 17,845 (12 new) Currently admitted: 3 New deaths: 0 Total deaths: 672 Total vaccinated to date: 35,227
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Media files

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (24 May 2021)

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

A cross-border data collaboration project involving 23 African countries above the Equator is proving to be a game-changer for the tracking and management of COVID-19 and other epidemic-prone diseases in the region &#8211; and is launching the first ever daily public COVID dashboard for countries in the Horn of Africa next month.

The USAID-funded Regional Action Through Data (RAD) programme is tackling COVID-19 in West and East Africa through two initiatives, respectively involving the sharing of real-time regional disease data online and tech-enabled cross-border immunisations. These initiatives are enabling governments to better collaborate to protect their roving pastoral populations from epidemics and to overcome the data issues of the Ebola era.
Game-changing COVID-19 dashboards enable daily regional epidemic tracking 
Ebola became a deadly disaster six years ago due to inadequate and irregular, at best weekly, information sharing among affected countries. But this scenario will soon be a thing of the past, with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) (https://bit.ly/3bT4wvX) trade bloc in Central and East Africa getting its own daily online disease outbreak dashboard (https://bit.ly/3fCWZ5C) before the end of June 2021. Currently the tracker shows monthly graphs, but soon new daily regional information will be available as well. The dashboard allows its eight member countries in the Horn of Africa, Nile Valley and African Great Lakes regions to share epidemic data on a daily basis for the first time.
The IGAD dashboard follows on RAD’s recently unveiled “disease outbreak dashboard” for the West African Health Organization (WAHO) (https://bit.ly/3bTNFcr). The WAHO COVID-19 Dashboard (https://bit.ly/3um5maW) is freely available on the WAHO website and offers information, maps and tables to reflect how COVID is manifesting daily in the region. It will soon also track other epidemic-prone diseases. WAHO is the health arm of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and serves 15 countries including Ghana, Nigeria and Mali.
The RAD programme was launched in 2016 in response to the Ebola pandemic to identify and co-create actionable solutions for pressing African health needs and pivoted to deal with COVID last year. It is a USAID collaboration with both WAHO and IGAD, with implementation led by BroadReach Health Development.
Implementation partner BroadReach’s health-tech experts are providing prime oversight and support, in collaboration with Duke University and Jembi Health Systems NPC, who provide policy and technical support.
“These publicly accessible online dashboards are an absolute game-changer for all partnering countries, especially in jointly managing the health of migratory populations in real-time,” says Geoffrey Arunga, Regional Analyst for the RAD project in BroadReach, who manages the data functionality of the dashboards. 
Dr. Andrew Kitua, BroadReach’s Regional Programme Director of RAD, who manages the implementation of the programme, says: “The emergence of COVID-19 has again highlighted how diseases can emerge from anywhere and spread rapidly across continents in this globalised era, but now through our RAD work we are able to use real-time data sharing to empower health authorities to respond immediately to outbreaks &#8211; outbreaks that have no respect for borders.”
“This kind of data-sharing could future-proof Africa against the next pandemic, by driving the supply of data, sharing and policy, and managing actual demand for health products and production,” said Kitua. It also motivates health workers who can now see the fruits of their labour and “helps defeat COVID denialism” in political leaders who are now confronted with robust regional data.
Ground-breaking cross-border childhood immunisation programme
IGAD which comprises Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, has also launched a ground-breaking cross-border childhood immunisation programme, called the “Journey Solution”, which uses credit card technology to ensure that nomadic populations stay on track with essential childhood vaccinations across borders.
The Journey Solution gives parents custodianship of their children’s electronic health data through electronic immunisation cards that health workers can swipe to see the child’s immunisation history, which is also stored in the Cloud.
“This card technology helps us run ahead of diseases. It can follow in the footsteps of the yellow cards issued for citizens of countries with a high prevalence of Yellow Fever, and can be the forerunner to a type of COVID passport for the region that will become necessary once immunisations become the norm and require tracking,” says Arunga.
The RAD project wraps up in September 2021, but was designed to enable governments, regions and their health partners to sustainably continue tracking and managing epidemic-prone diseases into the future.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BroadReach.
About Broadreach Group: BroadReach Group is a group of social impact businesses focused on harnessing innovation and technology to empower human action. Through its business Vantage Health Technologies, they provided training and support to thousands of healthcare workers who have performed more than six million community screenings on the Vantage cloud platform, in partnership with local health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.Broadreachcorporation.com.
Media files

Public-private data project a COVID game-changer in West and East Africa

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.

This month, Botswana became the first country in Southern Africa, and the third in Africa, to pilot drone technology for health-care delivery. The Drones for Health pilot project aims to reduce preventable maternal deaths by delivering maternal health supplies and commodities – including essential obstetric care drugs, blood, blood products and laboratory specimens – particularly in hard-to-reach communities and health facilities.

UNFPA is partnering on the initiative, along with Botswana’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, and Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST).
“Women experience massive blood loss due to haemorrhage during childbirth, with many of them requiring a blood transfusion,” said Beatrice Mutali, the UNFPA country director in Botswana, at the launch of the initiative. “Blood and blood-based products are therefore critical.”
Life-saving medicines
Botswana has a maternal mortality ratio that is almost double the average for upper-middle income countries – 144 per 100,000 live births according to 2017 UN data, or at 166 deaths per 100,000 live births according to 2019 government data. The main causes of maternal deaths in Botswana are postpartum haemorrhage, complications after abortion and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
To provide life-saving emergency obstetric care, health facilities must be equipped with the supplies and skills needed to handle such emergencies. Medication can effectively treat post-partum haemorrhageand hypertensive issues like eclampsia, for instance, but in this large and sparsely populated country, delivery of such medical supplies is often a challenge.
“The need to invest in innovative options to bridge the long distances, reduce current transportation costs, overcome road infrastructure challenges, and improve timely availability of essential emergency obstetric care drugs, commodities and supplies is therefore urgent,” said Dr. Edwin Gorataone Dikoloti, Botswana’s Minister of Health and Wellness.
“The sustainable reduction of maternal, newborn and child deaths and overall improvement of health care in general, including sexual, reproductive and adolescent health, remains a high priority for the Government of Botswana,” said Dr. Dikoloti.
Slashing delivery times
The use of drones to deliver essential medical supplies is expected to reduce the delivery time from hours to minutes, meaning that obstetric emergency supplies could arrive in time to save lives, according to BIUST Vice Chancellor, Professor Otlogetswe Totolo.
Each battery-powered drone has a delivery distance of 100 km and can carry cargo with a weight of up to 2kg at a time.
Four villages were involved in the pilot project: Lecheng, 32 km from Palapye by road and 11 km via drone; Mokgware, with a distance of 55 km by road and 32 km by drone; Mogapi, 108 km away by road and 75 km via drone; and Moremi, 75 km away by road and 36 km via drone.
Community members in the pilot areas have supported the project by building landing pads at designated health posts. UNFPA provided seed funding for the project. Successful test runs have been carried out in all four targeted villages, with the drones delivering dummy specimens.
Transforming health care
The Drones for Health initiative, which was conceived in 2018, is being implemented in three phases. Phases I and II are dedicated to proof-of-concept and viability testing.
Following a successful rollout, Phase III will involve the development of the business model, identify sustainable partnerships, and the scale up and transfer of innovation solutions to the Ministry of Wellness and Health.
“Technology and digitally driven solutions have the potential to transform health care, particularly for women and girls in underserved communities, often left behind due to geographical proximity…as they live in hard-to-reach areas,” said Ms. Mutali.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Media files

Piloting drones to deliver life-saving products for women in rural Botswana

President Muhammad Buhari signed the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 into law on August 7, 2020. The law replaced the 1990 CAMA with provisions reflecting current realities and opportunities that can improve the business environment. The new company law contributes to improvement in formation, registration and governance of companies including health enterprises. It enables entrepreneurs to start single-member companies, with flexibilities in appointment of auditors and company secretaries. There is also provision for Limited Liability Partnerships and Limited Partnerships.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Muhammadu_Buhari_-_Chatham_House.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-376011" width="709" height="731"/></figure>



 As the world embraces accelerated digitalization, the law allows use of virtual platforms for knowledge management and corporate governance. The Act is a significant piece of legislation for the growth of the private sector which is crucial for job creation and poverty reduction. According to Nigeria’s Bureau of Statistics, nearly 22 million Nigerians are currently unemployed while about 83 million people are poor. The private sector is the engine of economic growth particularly through the employment opportunities created by small and growing businesses. 



Every legal and policy reform that makes the tough business climate better can open new doors to lift many people out of poverty with positive externalities for their health indices and wellbeing. Despite genuine concerns about some sections of the law which must be resolved quickly, strengthening regulatory institutions and systems is in the best interest of all Nigerians. The law aligns with ongoing reforms to create a continental market through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. A new World Bank report shows that the agreement can accelerate economic diversification and job creation in Africa, enabling countries that maximize its opportunities to lift millions out of poverty.



 Nigeria’s membership of the Africa Trade Insurance Agency and recent tax and business reforms are important building blocks of a viable environment that allows the country to seize opportunities of robust domestic and continental markets. A better business environment is key for local production of goods consumed on the continent. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic shows that Africa relies heavily on imported food items, medical supplies and drugs for its 1.2 billion people with serious implications for health and food security. While there are several socio-economic and sector-specific factors necessary to boost local production, timely laws that ease tax and regulatory provisions for innovative businesses create vital incentives.



 These reforms encourage policy makers, private sector players and development partners to work together on a longterm vision of resilience in the post-COVID world. Nigeria represents a strategic market where a convergence of talents, capital and technologies can enhance local production of medical goods and food for regional and continental consumption. The law positions the country better to attract new investments. The 2019/2020 Global Investment Competitiveness Report shows that investors prioritize political economy and regulatory systems in target countries. 



Although foreign direct investment may fall by 25 – 40% in Africa due to COVID-19, putting together the right building blocks can position the country for speedy recovery and new investments in the post-COVID era. Nigeria is one of the most improved countries with increasingly better business environment globally, according to the World Bank 2020 Doing Business Report. However, the country ranks 131 out of 190 countries globally and 17th in Sub-Saharan Africa on the Doing Business Index far behind Rwanda, Kenya and South Africa. Nonetheless, recent tax and business reforms send the right message to investors that the nation is making progress in removing bottlenecks that can impede business entry and growth. With access to capital, business and social enterprises can grow and thrive. 



Biodun Awosusi is Health Economist at Health Systems and Development Enterprise

health

Health Principal Secretary call joint stakeholder efforts to end fistula

IRC is concerned about the continued risks in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo in the aftermath of the eruption

Coronavirus – Sierra Leone: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 Reported Cases in Ethiopia (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Eritrea: Announcement from the Ministry of Health (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 case update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 Daily Status Update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

Award-Winning Young Health Programme expands to 18 new communities in Kenya

Merck Foundation Health Media Training and Media Awards 2021 conducted in partnership with African First Ladies to build Media capacity in breaking Infertility stigma and supporting Girl Education

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (24 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (24 May 2021)

Public-private data project a COVID game-changer in West and East Africa

Piloting drones to deliver life-saving products for women in rural Botswana

OPINION: Reform in Nigeria can help health entrepreneurs

News Tips

Advertise With Us

health

Health Principal Secretary call joint stakeholder efforts to end fistula

IRC is concerned about the continued risks in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo in the aftermath of the eruption

Coronavirus – Sierra Leone: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 Reported Cases in Ethiopia (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Eritrea: Announcement from the Ministry of Health (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 case update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 Daily Status Update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (25 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (25 May 2021)

Award-Winning Young Health Programme expands to 18 new communities in Kenya

Merck Foundation Health Media Training and Media Awards 2021 conducted in partnership with African First Ladies to build Media capacity in breaking Infertility stigma and supporting Girl Education

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (24 May 2021)

Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (24 May 2021)

Public-private data project a COVID game-changer in West and East Africa

Piloting drones to deliver life-saving products for women in rural Botswana

OPINION: Reform in Nigeria can help health entrepreneurs

News Tips

Advertise With Us

Newsletters