Day: June 26, 2024

A21 Launches Host Applications for Walk for Freedom 2024

Celebrating a Decade of Impact

DALLAS, TX, June 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A21, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating human trafficking through awareness, intervention, and aftercare, is thrilled to announce that applications to become a host for the 2024 Walk For Freedom are now live. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the world’s largest anti-human trafficking event of its kind, taking place on October 19th, 2024.

Since its inception in 2014, Walk For Freedom has united people worldwide, activated cities, reduced vulnerability, and multiplied freedom. We have seen over 350,000 participants take millions of steps for freedom in over 500 cities globally. The event has reached over 2 billion people through media coverage and social media and distributed over 1.4 million awareness and prevention materials.

Bring Walk For Freedom to Your City

Hosts are the catalysts for local action and global impact. They set the foundation for community mobilization, inspire others to stand for justice, and help build a legacy of freedom for future generations. As a host, you can bring Walk For Freedom to your city, raising awareness and driving action against modern-day slavery.

How Awareness Leads to Recovery

Last October, one day after participating in the Walk for Freedom in Kolkata, India, a man noticed signs of trafficking in his neighborhood. Armed with the knowledge and resources distributed during the walk, he immediately alerted local authorities, who then raided the house and rescued the girls.

“This time, when I spotted it, it stirred my heart,” said Gourav Singha Roy. “We are educated people. We are young people, living in cities, [with] urban lives. Yet, we are blind to many things that seem very normal to us. For example, little children working in the shop below the age of 14 years is something which is not right, which is illegal.”

His awareness, sparked by the Walk For Freedom event, led to the rescue of two young girls from forced labor. This story underscores the profound impact of awareness, education, and local action in the fight against human trafficking.

For more on Roy’s story, watch the CNN Freedom Project Report here.

Key Details for Hosts

  • Event Date: October 19, 2024
  • Application Deadline: September 19, 2024
  • Eligibility: Hosts must be 18 years or older and have a co-host for the event.
  • Responsibilities: Hosts are responsible for organizing, preparing, communicating, managing costs, and promoting their local walk.

Host Application Process

  • Apply: Submit your application online.
  • Review: A21 will review your application.
  • Interview: Selected candidates will be invited for a 30-minute interview.
  • Decision: Applicants will be notified via email about their acceptance.

Support for Hosts

A21 provides comprehensive support to ensure the success of each Walk For Freedom event, including:

  • Direct Contact with A21: Access to a dedicated team via phone, email, Zoom, and webinars.
  • Digital Resource Kit: Includes posters, flyers, fact sheets, day-of signage, planning guides, and more.

Join the Movement

This year, we need your leadership more than ever. Together, we can disrupt modern-day slavery and create a world where freedom thrives. Apply to become a Walk For Freedom host and make a difference in your community.

For more information and to apply, visit www.A21.org/WalkForFreedom.

About A21:
A21 is a global nonprofit organization determined to eradicate human trafficking through awareness, intervention, and aftercare. Currently operating across over 20 countries worldwide, A21 is a global anti-human trafficking organization dedicated to abolishing slavery everywhere, forever. Through partnerships and the efforts of supporters all over the globe, A21 believes slavery can be prevented, victims can be identified and assisted, perpetrators can be brought to justice, and millions of survivors can step into a life of independence. A21.org

Interviews:
Should you be interested in speaking with an A21 representative about the Walk For Freedom or the impact of current events on human trafficking, please don’t hesitate to contact: lauren.w@a21.org

Press artwork:
Walk for Freedom Photos

Video:
2023 Walk For Freedom Recap Video

Attachments

Lauren Wittel-Henrie
A21
lauren.w@a21.org

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9169215

Anaqua Launches AI-Powered IP Management Platform AQX® 11

New IP management platform drives efficiency and surfaces insights empowering organizations to excel in a competitive landscape

BOSTON, June 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anaqua, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology, today announces the launch of AI-powered AQX® 11—Anaqua’s most significant platform release in 20 years—to help corporations and law firms achieve maximum value from their IP assets. The launch coincides with the first day of the Anaqua Experience Conference and is part of the company’s 20th-anniversary celebrations.

An IP platform designed for operational and strategic advantage, AQX 11 brings a fresh look and feel to the world of IP management while dramatically enhancing decision-making capabilities and efficiency for IP attorneys and operations teams. A suite of new features includes:

AI Capabilities: AI Patent Summaries™ and AI Patent Auto-Classifier™ streamline patent review and classification processes, reducing manual work and enhancing data accuracy. With these AI capabilities, users can easily summarize patent claims and inventions, and automatically classify and map both internal and competitor patents to their organization’s proprietary classification system, providing a comprehensive view of the competitive landscape.

Attorney Workspace: For the first time, attorneys can quickly access critical data related to IP matters in one central place. Attorneys can accelerate and improve decision-making by having all pertinent information surfaced, including Office Actions, Foreign Filing, Annuity Decisions, and more.

Automation: Document Auto-Processing is a significant advancement, eliminating the manual work involved in docketing PTO communications, reducing errors, and enabling IP teams to concentrate on validating data accuracy and performing higher-level tasks, rather than data entry.

Domain Name Management: A new module tracks and manages Domain Name information alongside IP assets, providing a holistic view of an organization’s portfolio that is aligned with the way business owners manage these critical assets.

Innovation Management: Organizations can accelerate innovation and maximize value by facilitating early and frequent involvement of IP attorneys in strategic planning through Innovation Management. The module improves idea capture and development from the entire customer organization, streamlines collaboration across teams, and provides efficient tools for managing inventor and non-inventor contributions, ultimately enhancing speed to market and ensuring the best ideas are protected and implemented.

Product Management: A new feature gives visibility into patent contributions by tying patents, trademarks, and financial data to product families, enabling a clear understanding of the IP assets that drive product value. This enhanced visibility, including Patent Evaluation data in subject relationships, simplifies licensing opportunities and informs IP renewal decisions.

“Today is a milestone as we launch AQX 11,” said Bob Romeo, Anaqua CEO. “Powered by AI and enhanced automation, it’s a leap forward in IP management technology. As we celebrate Anaqua’s 20th anniversary, this release highlights our progress and commitment to innovation. We are excited to commemorate our anniversary and share this achievement with our global client community, who have been integral in making this possible.”

Vincent Brault, Senior Vice President of Product & Innovation at Anaqua, further emphasized the significance of the release: “AQX 11 reflects extensive collaboration with our valued client community. This release empowers our clients to optimize operational efficiency and strategic decision-making through groundbreaking AI capabilities and automation. By enabling IP practitioners to extract vital insights from essential data and streamline portfolio decisions and patent classification, AQX 11 sets a new standard in IP management technology.”

For more information about AQX 11 and to request a demo, please visit anaqua.com.

About Anaqua
Anaqua, Inc. is a premier provider of integrated intellectual property (IP) management technology solutions and services for corporations and law firms. Its IP management software solutions, AQX® and PATTSY WAVE®, both offer best practice workflows with big data analytics and tech-enabled services to create an intelligent environment designed to inform IP strategy, enable IP decision-making, and streamline IP operations, tailored to each segment’s need. Today, nearly half of the top 100 U.S. patent filers and global brands, as well as a growing number of law firms worldwide use Anaqua’s solutions. Over one million IP executives, attorneys, paralegals, administrators, and innovators use the platform for their IP management needs. The company’s global operations are headquartered in Boston, with offices across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia. For additional information, please visit anaqua.com, or on Anaqua’s LinkedIn.

Company Contact:
Amanda Glagolev
Director, Communications
Anaqua
617-375-5808
aglagolev@anaqua.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9157793

Anaqua lance la plateforme de gestion PI AQX® 11, alimentée par l’IA

La nouvelle plateforme de gestion PI permet d’améliorer l’efficacité et d’obtenir des analyses précises, permettant ainsi aux entreprises d’exceller dans un environnement compétitif

BOSTON, 26 juin 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Anaqua, fournisseur leader de technologies de gestion de l’innovation et de la propriété intellectuelle (PI), annonce aujourd’hui le lancement d’AQX® 11, alimenté par l’IA – la version la plus importante de la plateforme d’Anaqua en 20 ans – pour aider les entreprises et les conseils en propriété industrielle à tirer le maximum de valeur de leurs actifs de PI. Ce lancement coïncide avec le premier jour de la conférence Anaqua Experience et fait partie des célébrations du 20ème anniversaire de la société.

Plateforme de PI conçue pour développer un avantage opérationnel et stratégique, AQX 11 prend une nouvelle apparence, tout en améliorant considérablement les capacités de prise de décision et l’efficacité des avocats, juristes et personnels administratifs en propriété intellectuelle. Parmi les nouvelles fonctionnalités, on peut citer :

Intelligence Artificielle : Les outils AI Patent Summaries™ et AI Patent Auto-Classifier™ optimisent les processus d’examen et de classification des brevets, en réduisant le travail manuel et en améliorant la précision des données. Grâce à ces fonctionnalités d’IA, les utilisateurs peuvent facilement résumer les revendications de brevets et les inventions, et classer et cartographier automatiquement les brevets internes et ceux des concurrents selon le système de classification propre à leur entreprise, offrant ainsi une vue d’ensemble du paysage concurrentiel.

Espace de travail des avocats : Pour la première fois, les avocats peuvent accéder rapidement aux données essentielles relatives aux questions de propriété intellectuelle en un seul endroit. Ils peuvent accélérer et améliorer leur prise de décision en ayant accès à toutes les informations pertinentes, y compris les actions de l’office, les dépôts internationaux, les décisions relatives aux annuités, etc.

Automatisation : L’automatisation du traitement des documents est une avancée significative qui élimine le travail manuel lié à l’enregistrement des communications des Offices des brevets et des marques, réduit les erreurs et permet aux équipes de propriété intellectuelle de se concentrer sur la validation de l’exactitude des données et l’exécution de tâches de plus haut niveau, plutôt que sur la saisie de données.

Gestion des noms de domaine : Un nouveau module permet de suivre et de gérer les informations relatives aux noms de domaine en même temps que les actifs de propriété intellectuelle, offrant ainsi une vision globale du portefeuille d’une entreprise, et qui s’aligne sur la manière dont les propriétaires d’entreprises gèrent ces actifs essentiels.

Gestion de l’innovation : Les entreprises peuvent accélérer l’innovation et maximiser sa valeur en facilitant l’implication précoce et fréquente des conseils en propriété industrielle dans la planification stratégique grâce à un module de gestion de l’innovation. Ce module améliore la capture et le développement d’idées provenant de l’ensemble de l’entreprise cliente, optimise la collaboration entre les équipes et fournit des outils efficaces pour gérer les contributions des inventeurs et des non-inventeurs, ce qui accélère la mise sur le marché et garantit que les meilleures idées sont protégées et mises en œuvre.

Gestion des produits : Une nouvelle fonctionnalité permet de visualiser les contributions en matière de brevets en liant les brevets, les marques et les données financières aux familles de produits. Ceci permet de comprendre clairement les actifs de propriété intellectuelle qui augmentent la valeur des produits. Cette visibilité accrue, y compris les données d’évaluation des brevets dans les relations avec les sujets, simplifie les opportunités de licence et éclaire les décisions de renouvellement de la propriété intellectuelle.

« Aujourd’hui est une étape importante puisque nous lançons AQX 11 », a déclaré Bob Romeo, PDG d’Anaqua. « Alimenté par l’IA et une automatisation améliorée, c’est un bond en avant dans les technologies de gestion de la PI. Alors que nous célébrons le 20ème anniversaire d’Anaqua, ce lancement souligne nos progrès et notre engagement en matière d’innovation. Nous sommes ravis de célébrer notre anniversaire et de partager cet accomplissement avec notre communauté mondiale de clients, qui ont joué un rôle essentiel dans la réalisation de ce projet. »

Vincent Brault, Vice-président senior du produit et de l’innovation chez Anaqua, a souligné l’importance de cette version : « AQX 11 est le résultat d’une collaboration étendue avec notre communauté de clients. Cette version permet à nos clients d’optimiser l’efficacité opérationnelle et la prise de décision stratégique grâce à des capacités d’IA et d’automatisation révolutionnaires. En permettant aux acteurs de la propriété intellectuelle d’extraire des informations vitales à partir de données essentielles et de rationaliser les décisions relatives aux portefeuilles et à la classification des brevets, AQX 11 établit une nouvelle norme en matière de technologie de gestion de la propriété intellectuelle. »

Pour plus d’informations sur AQX 11 et pour demander une démonstration, veuillez consulter le site anaqua.com.

À propos d’Anaqua
Anaqua, Inc. est un fournisseur de premier plan de solutions et services technologiques intégrés de gestion de la propriété intellectuelle (PI). Ses logiciels, AQX® et PATTSY WAVE®, combinent les meilleurs outils pour définir une stratégie de PI avisée. Ses technologies, qui reposent notamment sur des workflows et des capacités d’analyses avancés, offre un environnement de travail intelligent conçu pour prendre de meilleures décisions et optimiser les opérations de PI. Aujourd’hui, près de la moitié des 100 premiers déposants de brevets américains et des marques mondiales, ainsi qu’un nombre croissant de cabinets de conseils en PI dans le monde, utilisent les solutions Anaqua. Plus d’un million de décideurs, avocats, juristes, gestionnaires et innovateurs utilisent les logiciels Anaqua pour leurs besoins de gestion de la PI. Le siège de la société est situé à Boston, avec des bureaux aux États-Unis, en Europe, en Asie et en Australie. Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez consulter le site anaqua.com, ou la page entreprise d’Anaqua sur LinkedIn.

Contact presse :
Amanda Glagolev
Directrice de la communication
Anaqua
+1-617-375-5808
aglagolev@anaqua.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9157793

MoH to meet leadership of MELPWU for negotiation


The Ministry of Health (MoH) has invited the Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) to a negotiation meeting on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Dr Cephas Kofi Akortor, General Secretary, MELPWU, said the invitation showed good faith by their Employer to reflect the orders given by the National Labour Commission (NLC) on 20th June 2024.

The NLC had directed that the Employer and the Union meet and negotiate the outstanding issues by Wednesday 26th June 2024 and report to the NLC on Thursday at 2:30 pm.

General Secretary, said the Union would honour the invitation in readiness to negotiate, with the expectation that the Employer’s Team would secure the appropriate mandate before the meeting to help resolve the impasse.

Meanwhile, laboratory facilities are in full operation on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, after the MELPWU suspended its five-day nationwide strike.

Mr John Kofi Nakoja, Chairman of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Chapter of MELPWU, confirmed that all members were at post and busily workin
g.

‘All laboratories in Korle-Bu, including the Central laboratory and blood banks are working in full capacity serving the ordinary Ghanaian, as you can see, everywhere is getting busy, our clients are coming and the Hospital has life again,’ he stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Stakeholders call on GHS to address growing indiscipline of health workers


Stakeholders in the health sector have raised concerns about the ‘unruly’ behaviour of some health workers, which is affecting people’s interest to visit public health facilities for medical care in the Bono Region.

They expressed worry that the growing level of indiscipline among some young medical officers and nurses working in public health facilities could slow down progress in quality health care delivery, if not tackled proactively.

The stakeholders, including the clergy, transport unions, Muslim leaders and civil society actors raised the concerns at an engagement meeting on immunization and Out-Patient Attendance (OPD) in Sunyani.

Organised by the Bono Regional Directorate of Health, the engagement meeting sought to seek the support of the stakeholders to improve immunization coverage and the declining level of OPD attendance in the region.

The stakeholders, therefore, called on the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to check and address the concerns and other unprofessional behaviour being exhibited by s
ome of the health workers for improved health outcomes.

According to them, the contemporary ‘protocol list’ associated with the admission of students into medical school and nursing training institutions was contributing to the problem.

The Reverend Michael Konadu Boateng, an Associate Pastor, Sunyani Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, called on the GHS to check the uncontrolled use of mobile phones by health professionals while on duty.

He said the GHS ought to do more and address the alleged public concerns about neglect of patients at some public and private health facilities too.

Rev Boateng said it was unfortunate that nowadays many nurses and other health workers do not have passion, but rather enter the profession just to make ends meet.

Mr Peter Kavaare, the Bono Regional Treasurer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) observed that the negligence and unprofessional behaviour of some nurses and medical officers were becoming alarming in the country.

‘Because of protocol, students who have
the passion for the profession are always denied admission,’ he stated, and called on the GHS to tackle it too.

Nana Bofo Bene IV, the Paramount Chief of Dwenem Traditional Area in the Jaman South Municipality, also advised parents and guardians to desist from forcing and pushing their children into the health profession.

He expressed worry that because some parents forced them, their children enter into the health profession without any passion for the career and also disregarded ethics as well.

‘Ghana is for all of us, and we must be bold enough to stand against issues, inimical to our growth and development,’ the chief stated.

As the embodiment of the people, Nana Bene IV, called on the GHS to strengthen relationships with traditional authorities and help improve quality healthcare provision in the local communities.

Nana Ama Gyankomah, the Bono Regional Promotion Officer, indicated that patients also had their rights, and entreated the stakeholders to endeavour to report indiscipline health workers f
or action to be taken against them.

Earlier, Dr Prince Quarshie, the Deputy Director, Public Health, Bono Regional Health Directorate, expressed worry about the decline in immunization and OPD attendance in the region over the past three years.

He, therefore, called on the stakeholders to support the GHS to intensify public education on the relevance of immunization for the region to improve coverage and avert the outbreak of child-killer diseases.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Heath screening circumcises 332, diagnosed 150 people for hernia in Krachi East


Health professionals from Dominion Centre in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region have embarked on a medical outreach exercise organised by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary candidate, Mr Nelson Kofi Djabab.

The four-day health screening and treatment was held in Abrewankor, Kpelema, Dormabin and Tokuroano all under Krachi East Constituency.

The medical team circumcised over 332 young and teenage residents, while some patients with hernia were diagnosed and booked for surgery at WoraWora Government Hospital for free.

Mr Djabab told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the motive behind the exercise was to improve the health and well-being of the people in their life’s status.

He touted his achievements stating that he had done a lot, but more would follow if elected as their representative in Parliament in the impending elections in the December polls.

He told the GNA that he supplied mathematical sets for BECE candidates last year, organised free health screening exercise for co
nstituents, drilled and repaired boreholes, sponsored tertiary students, supported selected farmers with farming inputs, sponsoring NDC communication team and serial callers among others.

Mr Djabab urged constituents to vote for Mr John Dramani Mahama, the Flagbearer of the NDC, irrespective of their political affiliation, to complete the ‘Building the Ghana we want’ agenda.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Health Minister to ensure completion of Ashanti Regional Hospital


Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister for Health, has pledged to work closely with contractors and all parties to ensure the completion and operationalization of the Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua in the Bosomtwe District.

‘We all have a duty to ensure that this facility becomes operational.

We are going to work hard, we have made some calls on the power situation and within 14 days, we expect to complete the power bit in terms of the project.

In 60 days or two months, our expectation is that everything that must be done here is completed and the hospital ready to be used.

Once there is drainage done and the margin of the road is defined, we shouldn’t take forever for the roads linking to the hospital to be fixed,’ he stated.

Dr. Okoe-Boye gave the assurance during an interaction with contractors and engineers working on the project site at Sewua.

The Minister is on a three-day working tour of some ongoing and operational health facilities in the Ashanti Region.

He observed that the Sewua Hospital projec
t, which started in 2008 ‘should run out of excuses by now’ adding that ‘our charge is to finish this project.’

The 250-bed capacity hospital, according to the Health Minister, would bring a lot of relief to facilities, including the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the second largest referral facility in Ghana, and improve the quality of health services rendered to the clients.

As part of the tour, the Minister visited the Bekwai Municipal Hospital where he interacted with the management of the facility to document needs assessment and suggested workable solutions.

He advised the team at Bekwai to continue rendering quality healthcare to clients they came into contact with.

The Minister will also be visiting other facilities, including the KATH and Kumawu Government Hospital.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Gov’t working to complete all health projects in Ashanti – Dr Okoe-Boye


The government is working to complete all ongoing health projects in the Ashanti region.

Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, the Minister of Health, who stated this, said Ashanti region was currently benefiting from some ongoing health projects and all of them would be completed soon and follow through with construction of access roads linking these facilities to make them easily accessible.

Dr Okoe-Boye, who was speaking at Suame as part of his three-day visit to the Ashanti region, discounted claims by some people that the region had not benefitted from development projects under the government.

He said the region was privileged to have five, out of the twelve 40-bed capacity hospital projects, which began in 2020, under the Vamed project.

‘Ashanti would have a total of 200 beds out of the 480 beds.

And this shows how much the Ashanti Region has not been left out’, he stated.

Dr. Okoe-Boye explained that, the hospital projects were initiated by the government in 2020 where the Ministry of Health awarded the turnkey
project to Messers Vamed Engineering at a contract sum of 71.5 million euros to construct 12 hospitals at Ahafo, eastern, Ashanti and Greater Accra regions.

He said one of the 40 bed-capacity hospitals at Suame, which was a typical fit-for-purpose primary health facility, upon completion in September 2024, would help the people of Suame to access quality healthcare.

The Minister noted that all these facilities were outside Agenda 111, adding that ‘Agenda 111 is just coming to complement these facilities.’

He pointed out that, although health insurance was good, health facilities must be closer to the people for the two (health insurance and health facilities) to work together.

This way, he said Ghana could achieve a full universal health coverage by 2030.

Source: Ghana News Agency

US-based Ghanaian organisation donates medical supplies to two hospitals in Wenchi


The Hope Global Ghana, a US-based Ghanaian charitable organisation has presented medical supplies valued GHC300,000 to two health facilities in the Wenchi Municipality of the Bono Region.

The beneficiaries were the Wenchi Methodist Hospital and the Koase St Joseph Hospital in the Municipality.

Each of the facilities received boxes of modern medical devices, and equipment including, surgical guns, face shields, hand gloves, syringes, modern thermometers, wipers, disabled electric chairs, orthopedic and theatre devices, and other suppliers.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of separate presentation ceremonies held at Wenchi and Koase, Dr Pastor Emmanuel Akumfi Ameyaw, the Director, Hope Global Ghana, was determined to help bring quality healthcare delivery to the doorstep of the vulnerable in society.

He said quality health remained essential in reducing poverty, hence the need to support the health facilities with the medical supplies to well position them to meet the health
demand needs of the people.

Dr Pastor Ameyaw said he was optimistic that authorities of the beneficiary facilities would use the items for the intended purposes for the benefit of patients.

At Koase, Mr Martin Amoako, the Administrative Manager of the St Joseph Hospital, thanked the donor for the gesture and pledged to ensure that the supplies were used for their intended purpose.

Ohemaa Frema Kyere, a storekeeper at the Wenchi Methodist Hospital also thanked the organisation and appealed for more of such support.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Striking doctors at Oncology directorate of KATH return to work


Striking doctors at the Oncology Directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, have returned to work.

This followed a meeting held between the doctors and the management of the hospital under the auspices of the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association (KADA) and the Ashanti Regional Division of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).

The doctors laid down their tools on Monday June 24, 2024, in protest of the delays in the repair and restoration of a LINAC machine required for the treatment of cancer patients at the directorate.

They said the absence of the machine was affecting healthcare delivery at the directorate and resulting in the death of cancer patients.

However, the hospital’s management expressed disappointment over the actions of the doctors and said the doctors were aware of all the process management had gone through to acquire a water phantom machine required to calibrate the LINAC machine and bring it to good condition.

The management said it had completed all the arrangements
and released the amount of $ 109,000.00 to purchase the water phantom machine and is waiting for delivery from the supplier.

Source: Ghana News Agency