Day: June 29, 2023

BBNaija reunion: My relationship with Sheggz still intact — Bella

Ex-housemate of the Big Brother Naija television reality show, season 7, Esther Okagbue, known as “Bella”, has confirmed that her relationship with fellow ex-housemate, Sheggz, is still intact.

25-year-old Bella disclosed this during the ‘Level Up’ reunion show, aired on Wednesday night.

Asked by the host, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, what the duo was up to in their relationship, Bella said that in spite being told not to date Sheggz by her family members, she continued the relationship being an adult that knows what she wants.

“The moment I saw Sheggz, I knew I was in trouble, because he is my type of guy.

I never wanted to date any guy on national tv, but I had no choice.

“I knew what I felt for him was real.

I was told not to date him by my family but I am an adult and I have made my choice.

We are in a relationship as I speak,” she said.

On his part, Sheggz appreciated Bella for standing by him against all odds.

“I just feel like Bella is a real one, she really held it down, and I just want to say thank you publicly on live television. You mean a lot to me for sure.

“I saw lots of beautiful girls in the house but it was only Bella I felt connected to. I got to know her quickly and things moved on from there.

“I can never lie to someone’s daughter on national television. I have met her family members and they have asked me lots of questions and I explained everything to them.

“She has also connected with my family as well and there is peace. I want to say thank you to her for sticking by me all through,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bella and Sheggz were in a romantic relationship throughout the show, which aired for 72 days, from July 23 to Oct. 2, 2022, with 28 housemates.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Tinubu in Ogun on private visit to traditional rulers

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday arrived at the Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode on his way to private visits to some traditional rulers in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu alighted from a presidential chopper in Ijebu-Ode in company of his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

He also had with him the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, and the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategies, Dele Alake.

The President, after arriving at exactly 10.17 a.m, inspected the guard of honour.

He was received by Gov. Dapo Abiodun, his deputy, Noimot Salako -Oyedele, a former Ogun governor, Olusegun Osoba, some House of Representatives members and several All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters.

Tinubu, thereafter, left for the residence of the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, where he would have a private meeting with the traditional ruler.

Tinubu is also expected to have another meeting with the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, in his palace in Abeokuta the state capital later on Thursday.

NAN reports that Tinubu is scheduled to hold a private meeting with Oba Gbadebo, during which issues on Nigeria’s development and growth are also expected to be discussed.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Africa’s health crisis needs innovative, people-centred solutions- Africa CDC

Dr Nicaise Ndembi, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Public Health in Africa at Africa CDC, says Africa’s health crisis demands a departure from conventional approaches and a shift to innovative, people-centred solutions.

According to him, funding, governance, accountability, and workforce gaps have plagued Africa’s health systems for decades.

Ndembi spoke ahead of Africa Health Business Symposium 2023 (AHBS VIII), taking place on June 29 and June 30 in Johannesburg, South Africa, a statement by GHS said on Wednesday.

The theme for the AHBS VIII is: “The Role of the Private Sector in Africa’s New Public Health Order’’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AHBS VIII brings together esteemed stakeholders from the health and business sectors.

They will discuss and explore the critical role of the private sector in bridging the private-public health gap, advancing public health, and reshaping Africa’s health systems.

AHBS VIII provides a platform for comprehensive deliberations on Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order, a bold and ambitious framework that urges greater investment in Africa’s health institutions, health workforce, and medical manufacturing capacity, while calling for respectful, action-oriented partnerships across the continent.

“Addressing Africa’s health crisis demands a departure from conventional approaches and a shift to innovative, people-centred solutions that address the funding, governance, accountability, and workforce gaps that have plagued our health systems for decades.

“These gaps have resulted in us shouldering 26 per cent of the global disease burden despite accounting for just 16 per cent of the world’s population.

“This symposium, therefore, will seek to rally stakeholders across sectors to implement the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and collectively chart a path towards resilient and self-sufficient health systems for Africa,” Ndembi said.

Also, said Dr Amit N. Thakker, Executive Chairman, Africa Health Business, emphasised that creating stronger linkages between the private, public sectors and stakeholders can help prevent and prepare for future epidemics.

“There is an urgent need for African countries to bolster their health systems through sustained investment in the entire health ecosystem.

“From investing in infrastructure and well-trained, equipped, and motivated health workers, to creating markets for diagnostics, vaccines and medicines produced on the continent.

“Creating stronger linkages between the private and public sectors, development partners, academic institutions and community-based organisations can unlock the vast resources that Africa needs to prevent and prepare for the next pandemic and achieve health for all.”

Hon. Anifa Kawooya Bangirana, Minister of State for Health General Duties, Ministry of Health, Uganda, also commented.

“Africa, with its anticipated 14 percent share of global health business opportunities by 2030, could witness its health and wellbeing markets reach a value of US$259 billion in the next decade, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

“Governments and multilateral institutions can benefit from understanding how to better engage the private sector, given its significant contributions to health financing and delivery.

“These are the topics we will be exploring at the symposium, aiming to position our continent as an attractive investment destination rather than a perpetual aid recipient,’’ he said.

AHBS VIII is hosted by Africa Health Business and supported by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

It will feature interactive discussions, panel sessions, and networking opportunities that will facilitate the exchange of ideas, best practices, and innovative approaches to enhance collaboration among key stakeholders within Africa’s health sector.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

1st new TB vaccine in 100 years advances as organisations fund trial

Wellcome and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have announced funding to advance a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate, M72/AS01E (M72), through a Phase III clinical trial.

If proven effective, M72 could potentially become the first new vaccine to help prevent pulmonary TB, a form of active TB, in more than 100 years.

Wellcome and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made the announcement at a virtual news conference on Wednesday.

The event featured Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health at the Gates Foundation; Alexander Pym, Director of Infectious Diseases at Wellcome; and Nomathamsanga Majozi, Head of Public Engagement at the Africa Health Research Institute.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the only TB vaccine in use today, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), was first given to people in 1921.

It helps protect babies and young children against severe systemic forms of TB but offers limited protection against pulmonary TB among adolescents and adults.

TB is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, killing about 4,300 people per day, mostly those living in poverty.

In 2021, an estimated 10.6 million people fell ill with TB and 1.6 million died—about 4,300 people per day.

The disease primarily affects people in low and middle income countries, and those at highest risk are often living in poverty, with poor living and working conditions and undernutrition.

Up to a quarter of the world’s population is thought to have latent TB, a condition in which a person is infected with the bacterium that causes TB but does not have any symptoms and is at risk of progressing to active TB disease.

To support the M72 Phase III clinical trial, which will cost an estimated US$550 million, Wellcome is providing up to US$150 million and the Gates Foundation will fund the remainder, about US$400 million.

The vaccine, called M72, will be given from Year 2024 to 26,000 young adults in Africa and south-east Asia who have a latent infection with the bacteria that cause TB but no symptoms.

Commenting on the efficacy, Trevor Mundel, the Head of Global Health at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said that M72 had shown much promise in preventing TB in people with latent infections, but were not ill.

This, he said, was an important segment of the population to target.

However, “clear evidence about M72’s efficacy in preventing the emergence of active pulmonary tuberculosis will take several years to emerge from trial.

“Of course we’d be happy with 90 per cent efficacy but from our modelling, 50 per cent is good enough on the assumption that the durability is at least five years.

“Most of the vaccinologists who have looked at the data have said that is likely”.

He said the trial would probably last for four to six years.

Speaking on affordability, he said making the vaccine as affordable and as accessible as possible would be very important.

Julia Gillard, Chair of the Board of Governors at Wellcome, said: “TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.

“The development of an affordable, accessible vaccine for adults and adolescents would be game-changing in turning the tide against TB.

“Philanthropy can be a catalyst to drive progress, as shown by this funding of the M72 vaccine as a potential new tool in preventing escalating infectious diseases to protect those most affected.

“Sustainable progress against TB and wider disease threats will depend on global collaboration, financial backing, and political will.

“By working with communities and researchers in countries with a high burden of the disease, we can get one step closer to eliminating TB as a public health threat.”

Nomathamsanqa Majozi, Head of Public Engagement at Africa Health Research Institute, said: “Despite being curable, TB remains one of the leading causes of death in South Africa.

“In the area where I live and work, more than half of all people have had, or will have TB at some points in their lives.

“The consequences are devastating, both at a personal and a community level. M72 offers us new hope for a TB-free future.’’

Alexander Pym, the Director of Infectious Disease at Wellcome, said TB was one of the biggest health challenges in the world.

“Treatment is still four to six months long. Diagnostics can still not diagnose early enough to prevent transmission.

“Added to that is the threat of latent TB.”

He said the human immune response to TB was much more complex than to an acute viral infection and this made the process of developing a TB vaccine much longer.

“The challenge is big. We need new approaches and tools,” he said.

According to Pym, a TB vaccine will really be a game-changer; there is a need for TB innovation.

Bill Gates, Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, commented in a joint statement by the organisations.

“With TB cases and deaths on the rise, the need for new tools has never been more urgent.

“Greater investment in safe and effective TB vaccines, alongside a suite of new diagnostics and treatments could transform TB care for millions of people, saving lives and lowering the burden of this devastating and costly disease.”

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, commended the support by the Gates Foundation and Wellcome to develop a new TB vaccine.

“WHO welcomes the commitments from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome to take forward development of this vaccine candidate.

“WHO will keep supporting vaccine development and access more broadly through its TB Vaccine Accelerator?Council.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Youth charged to leverage social media to boost businesses

Mr. Ian Tabalor Okwei, Marketing Consultant, has urged young people to use social media to engage present and potential consumers and advertise their businesses.

He noted that social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, were effective ways to connect with specific audiences, communicate with them, and exchange pertinent content with clients to help them realize their objectives.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema, Mr. Okwei, who also serves as TDC Development Company Limited’s Protocol and Administrative Officer, mentioned that there were other digital channels, such as email and search engines, through which customers could be connected through text or multimedia messages to increase their visibility.

He asserted that people would soon no longer need to wait in queue for everything they needed but rather could have it delivered to their houses, pointing out that delivery businesses were available all throughout the nation.

Mr. Okwei, who is also the proprietor of Big Joe Organic Waakye, added that having effective digital media strategies was essential for businesses of all sizes because people used the internet to find products and services.

He said having a strong online presence was crucial for businesses of all sizes, adding that social media had helped his enterprises by broadening their audience, and he advised the young people not to wait to start their own businesses until they had jobs.

To enhance brand awareness, drive sales and revenue, and foster customer loyalty, he underlined the need of branding oneself and selecting the appropriate channels and techniques to reach clients.

The marketing representative emphasized the significance of sellers remaining current with emerging trends and strategies to keep one step ahead of the competition and build sustainable success in their company.

Source: Ghana News Agency

SMEs in West Africa showcase new products at WACOMP Exhibition

Some 70 small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) drawn from Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone among other West African countries have converged in Accra to showcase new products and services at the West African Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) Made-in-ECOWAS Exhibition.

The three-day event, which commenced on Thursday, June 29, will end on Saturday, July 1, 2023. It will the exhibitors an opportunity to network and forge business partnerships.

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is organising the programme, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), under its flagship project; the WACOMP, with funding from the European Union.

It is on the theme: ‘Building SMEs Competitiveness for Intra African Trade’.

Addressing exhibitors at the opening ceremony in Accra, Dr Afua Asabea Asare, the Chief Executive Officer, GEPA, said the exhibition would provide a suitable platform for SMEs in the Sub-region to showcase their innovative products and services and establish potential business partnerships for export.

The exhibition, she said, focused on processed fruits such as mangos and pineapples, as well as root tubers like cassava.

Cosmetics and personal care value chain services are also on display.

The WACOMP initiative, implemented by GEPA and UNIDO since 2019, also aimed at increasing the performance and growth of prioritised value chains and associated services, as well as improving intra regional trade, export, sustainable livelihoods, and job creation.

Dr Asare expressed the belief that the event would provide an avenue for SMEs to increase awareness of the high-quality products in the Sub-region and encourage sourcing of components and raw materials to support manufacturing.

‘Business is not as usual anymore. We must be deliberate with every decision and step we take, taking into account the huge market potential and benefits thereof,’ she said.

She highlighted some of the initiatives undertaken by GEPA to support SMEs to market their products across Africa such as the establishment of the Ghana Trade House in Nairobi, Kenya, to stock premium Ghanaian products, the Women’s Icon Regional Exhibition, and GEPA’s Impact Hub, which provides information technology facility for the business community to access trade information.

Dr Charles Kwame Sackey, the Chief Technical Advisor for WACOMP, said the exhibition would provide an avenue for the SMEs to forge business partnerships to scale up export to new markets, citing instances where some previous exhibitors had secured business deals to export to the United States and some European countries.

‘You should pay attention to all customers or clients who visit your stands since those could be potential business partners,’ he advised the participants.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources launches URBAN-WASH project

The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) has launched USAID-supported Urban Resilience by Building and Applying New Evidence in WASH (URBAN-WASH) project in Ghana.

It is a five-year USAID research and learning activity (2021- 2026), an initiative to generate evidence through applied research to promote sustainable, equitable and climate-resilient WASH and Water Resources Management policies and programming in urban and peri-urban areas.

The primary goal of the URBAN WASH project is to address knowledge gaps of Service Providers and Government institutions in USAID priority countries, including Ghana and to strengthen the evidence base for decision-making.

The research to be undertaken would be in two-fold – one would focus on pro-poor subsidy projects in Accra that are scalable, financially sustainable and effective at reaching the most vulnerable. The other would primarily be on water quality, water equity and non-revenue water in Kumasi and Tamale.

Mrs Patricia Sampson, the Director of Administration of the MSWR who read the keynote address on behalf of the Minister at the launch said the research was some of the challenges faced by the country and that Ghana was fortunate to be one of the countries selected.

‘Ladies and Gentlemen, I am extremely happy that this project is being implemented now as it will enhance efforts that Government and Partners are already making to provide sustainable water and sanitation services in the country. It also aligns with the Ministry’s WASH Sector Development Programme (GWASHSDP) 2021-2030 launched two weeks ago,’ she stated.

She said even though evidence showed that access to basic water services in urban areas stood at 96.4 per cent per the Ghana Statistical Service Population and Housing Census, 2021, there was evidence that some segments of the population within the lower income group still lack access to basic water services.

‘The Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has made and is still making great efforts to make WASH services accessible to all. Several strategies are therefore being adopted to ensure universal water access,’ Mrs Sampson stated.

She expressed gratitude to the USAID, Aquaya and other development partners who have shown their willingness to support the initiative.

Mr Daniel Asseh Allan, Senior Manager Water Utilities Performance Monitoring- PURC in the early 2000s PURC through its social policy study realised that the poor paid more for water than those connected.

‘Through various engagement with stakeholders including study tours of some African countries it became clear that the poor were a key and peculiar stakeholder in the urban water value chain.

‘Kenya decided to take care of its urban poor by doing pro poor interventions because they realised that if you do not take care of them, they can vandalise your system and still get water while your

costs increase through loss of water and negatively affect water quality in the distribution systems and even reduce pressures and thus ability to serve utility customers,’ Mr Allan stated.

He noted: ‘If the poor do not get water, even if they do not vandalise the system, they are less likely to report when they see bursts and rather capitalise on it to get water.

The Senior Manager said over the years PURC worked with Ghana Water Company Limited to encourage the creation of a Pro Poor unit to help in this endeavour and that ‘We have been involved with many studies and interventions over the years to promote the progress of these pro poor programs.’

Mr Allan said looking at the sector it had been important to look at the full integrity of the system in terms of not just water and its quality but Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) as well.

‘We are very pleased with this study and this launch and ready to contribute to ensure that Ghana’s Water Sector gains from evidence that have been gathered from around the world and for Ghana to share its own knowledge as the sector grows and improves especially with a view to apply new evidence to the progress of the sector.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Bono Minister donates GHS 5,000.00 to support upgrade works at Sunyani Coronation Park

Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister has donated GHS 5,000.00 to the Bono Regional Office of the National Sports Authority (NSA) to facilitate ongoing renovation works at the Sunyani Coronation Park.

The need for the renovation of the Coronation Park had become a matter of great public concern in Sunyani following the qualification of Bofoakwa Tano FC, one of the traditional teams of the Bono Region back to the Ghana Premier League to use the park as its home venue.

But the park, after years of neglect, would require an upgrade of the dressing room, safe zone, inner perimeter, press centre and the playing pitch to a befitting premier league standard to enable Bofoakwa Tano FC to play its home matches.

Madam Owusu-Banahene in a brief speech during the donation said citizens could not depend on the government for support, and therefore decided to set the pace for other citizens of Bono to emulate for the Coronation Park to receive the required facelift.

She gave the assurance that it was not going to be the last of such gestures but would visit again until completion of the work.

Mr Foster Kwame Opoku Boakye, the Acting Bono Regional Director of the NSA, receiving the donation on behalf of the Authority commended the Minister for her contribution towards sports development in the region.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Births and Deaths Registry Introduces New Instruction Manual

The Births and Deaths Registry (BDR) has crafted a new comprehensive Instruction Manual for Births and Deaths registration in Ghana.

The feat was realised in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ghana Health Service (GHS), the National Identification Authority (NIA), and United National Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and with support technical and financial from UNICEF.

It comes on the back of the passage of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 2020 (Act 1027) and the Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 2021 (L.I. 2436).

This came to light at a workshop held in Ejisu, Ashanti Region, from the 22nd to the 24th of June 2023 to validate the comprehensive and resourceful document.

The workshop, supported by UNICEF, brought together stakeholders from various organisations, including the Ministry of Local Government Decentralization and Rural Development, the Office of the Head of Local Government Service, the Local Government Institute, Ghana Immigration Service, the Passport Office, and all 16 Regional Registrars of the Births and Deaths Registry.

In an address, Madam Henrietta Lamptey, Registrar, BDR, said, the collaborative efforts and the valuable inputs from stakeholders had culminated in the development of an instruction manual that ‘serves as a comprehensive guide for birth and death registrations in Ghana.’

It reflects the best practices and international standards in civil registration and vital statistics, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and data security.

‘The new instruction manual offers several key benefits for both the registry and the citizens of Ghana. Firstly, it aligns the registration processes with the national identification system overseen by the NIA.’

This integration fosters synergy between the two vital components of citizen identification and registration, streamlining administrative procedures and reducing duplication, she said.

According to her, the collaboration with the GHS enabled a seamless transfer of birth and death records from health facilities to the registry. This integration ensures that vital events are promptly captured and recorded, creating a more efficient and reliable system of registration.

‘The manual places a strong emphasis on data quality, privacy, and security, addressing the evolving technological landscape and the need for robust data protection measures.

By implementing stringent protocols, the Births and Deaths Registry aims to safeguard the personal information of individuals while providing accurate and reliable vital statistics.’

The Registrar thanked all stakeholders and participants for their invaluable contributions.

‘Together, we are forging a stronger and more inclusive civil registration system that will have far-reaching benefits for the people of Ghana.

As we move forward, we encourage all citizens to familiarize themselves with the new instruction manual and engage with the Births and Deaths Registry to ensure their vital events are accurately recorded. ‘

By doing so, we can collectively strengthen our civil registration system, enhance data accuracy, and empower individuals with the necessary documentation to exercise their rights and access vital services.

The Births and Deaths Registry remains committed to upholding the highest standards of civil registration and vital statistics. We believe that this milestone will pave the way for an improved and more efficient system that will benefit all Ghanaians, Madam Lamptey pledged.

Source: Ghana News Agency