Day: June 16, 2023

Posted on

SA recognizes Cameroonian scientist Prof. Muki Shey for TB vaccine race

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has recognized Cameroon-born Prof. Muki Shey[MS1] for “outstanding scientific contributions to health research” in South Africa.

This was during the 9th SAMRC Scientific Merit Awards which recognise excellence in health research.

Muki’ s award was in the silver category, meaning it is “conferred to emerging and upcoming scientists and those committed to capacity development” according to a statement from SAMRC which CNA saw.

Muki received the award in his category alongside two other South African scientists in recognition of his work towards his research to find a cure or vaccine for tuberculosis (TB), a disease that currently only has the BCG [Bacillus Calmette-Guérin] vaccine which is only more effective in treating TB in children and not in adults.

Speaking to CNA reporter Hans Ngala in Cape Town, the 43-year-old scholar from Nkumkov-Nseh in Bui Division of the North West expressed gratitude for the recognition and says he knows that finding a vaccine is not easy as it can take 5 years or even 20 years because many trial studies have to be done to test the efficacy of a vaccine.

Prof. Shey who is an infectious disease immunologist at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is also an active member of the Bui Family Union (BFU) Cape Town Chapter and credits his elder brother Prof. Charles Wiysonge who sponsored him through school (while still studying as well) and both of them ended up graduating Doctoral (Ph.D) degrees on the same day from UCT.

Prof. Shey explains that the start of his scientific career was not easy as he struggled at the start of his career in the early 2000s, selling belts and phone covers over the weekends to help him pay for part of his medical school.

Prof. Shey is an infectious diseases specialist and doubles as the Chief Research Officer at the UCT’s Department of Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Posted on

Seychelles works to align marine spatial plan with biodiversity action plans

Implementing the Marine Spatial Plan (MPS), undertaking species restoration projects, and controlling and eradicating invasive species are among the priorities of Seychelles to align its National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) to the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

This was shared with SNA by the senior project coordinator and focal point for Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Indira Gamatis, after an inception workshop on Wednesday. The aim of the workshop was to introduce stakeholders to the objectives of the Global Biodiversity Framework – Early Action Support project.

Participants were representatives of different environment not-for-profit organisations, officers from the ministries of environment, tourism and education, and trade and investment partners.

Gamatis said that having signed the biodiversity convention, Seychelles has an obligation to update its NBSAPs.

Participants at the inception workshop on Wednesday. (Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment) Photo License: CC-BY

“In COP15, held December last year, we adopted the new framework for biodiversity and all countries that have signed the convention need to implement it nationally. The implementation will be carried out through our National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. We are looking at how we can align the NBSAP with the global framework and that will mean outlining our national priority projects for biodiversity, and how we will put them in line with the new GBF,” said Gamatis.

Restoration of degraded areas, helping threatened species, and mobilising resources and capacity building are also other areas of priority for Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.

Gamatis shared that the project has four components – the alignment, financing, and how to mobilise resources, how to update Seychelles’ national plan to finance biodiversity projects, and look at policies and align them with the NBSAP and global framework.

The project, which is expected to end next year, is being financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The half-day workshop, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), also sought to review initial project deliverables and baselines. It also sought to review implementation arrangements as well as refresh Seychelles’ progress on the NBSAPs

“This is the start of the process of setting our national targets and seeing how they align at the global level so that we can also implement our global targets and goals. It will enable us as a country to lay our role and implement them,” said Gamatis.

During the workshop, participants were introduced to project management, monitoring, and evaluation, key components, outputs, and outcomes.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Posted on

200 doctors, health personnel equipped with enrollment process of UHC

Universal Health Coverage, (UHC) is a concept set up by the government of Cameroon with the aim of offering its population quality care at a lower cost. Nearly 200 doctors and health medical personnel have therefore been drilled on the enrolment process of the Universal Health Coverage, (UHC).

They were trained from June 12-13, 2023 in Bafoussam by a team from the Ministry of Public Health. The session was coordinated by the Regional Delegate of Public Health in Bafoussam, Dr Chinmoun Daouda.

The team of trainers began by enlightening the health practitioners on the application to be used and then step by step on the process of online and offline enrollment which allows users to enroll even in areas where there is no internet connection.

After the theoretical training, the participants grouped themselves and went to different facilities in the city of Bafoussam to practice the lessons received.

According to the Regional Delegate, Dr. Chinmoun Daouda, you must be registered before you can benefit from the privileges offered.

Some inhabitants who enrolled stated that they were moved and encouraged by the numerous benefits awaiting them.

“It will help me a lot in taking care of my child, because in a situation where she is sick and I don’t have money at the moment, I can present the card and treat the child and pay when I am able to,”.

“I was moved to register because the lady explained to me that it can be very helpful, especially for pregnant women and children from 0-5 years. She said when you are sick or the child, you can immediately present the card and you are taken care of,” some inhabitants said

In this first phase of the UHC, the priority target is children from 0-5 years, pregnant women, and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Posted on

Angolan president warns of contempt for democracy

Angolan head of State João Lourenço has voiced concern about disrespect for the basic principles of democracy in Africa, having slammed the seizure of political power through unconstitutional means.

In his speech delivered at the opening of a conference on Friday, ahead of the 15th anniversary of the Constitutional Court (TC), João Lourenço referred to Angola, stating that “some people never recognised the election results, in a clear contempt for the people’s will freely expressed in the polls.

According to the President, “the State-owned institutions and the patriotic civil society committed to democracy, convey a clear message to those who want to reach the power by unsuitable and unconstitutional means.

We are witnesses of the situations like these ones in which the assault on power has taken the form of an effective assault on the centres of executive power, in some cases, and legislative power in others, which fortunately have been counteracted for the survival of democracy, he added.

In his speech, the president João Lourenço also mentioned the global peace and security as facing permanent challenges which, according to him, are threatened due to the emergence of the new armed conflicts.

The Head of State blamed these conflicts for humanitarian, food and energy crises, coupled with climate change and its serious aftermaths.

The Constitutional Court is commemorating 15 years since it was institutionalised on 17 October

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Posted on

Seychelles’ President describes his state visit to Maldives a success

Seychelles’ President Wavel Ramkalawan has described his state visit to Maldives as highly successful, said State House on Friday.

Ramkalawan visited several key Maldivian projects and facilities in order to observe best practices and possible exchanges of expertise on Thursday.

These included the new Maldives International Airport project, the Ghanzee primary school, tuna fishing port, fish and vegetable markets and various cultural sites, including mosques in the capital Male.

“The relations between Seychelles and the Maldives are now at a higher level. We have now identified various common issues on which we will stand by each other on the international scene. These include climate change, economic development, development of the tourism industry and putting emphasis on the establishment of the Multi-dimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and the Loss and Damage fund,” said the President.

The Maldivian tuna fishing port. (State House) Photo License: CC-BY

He added that “as Indian Ocean neighbours, the support to each other to maintain the Indian Ocean region as a zone of peace and for greater cooperation in the domain of maritime security are also important obligations we will fulfil.”

Ramkalawan also wished the Maldives peaceful elections and said that “may their democracy continue to be strengthened.”

The first round of election in Maldives is scheduled for September 9 and seven candidates have declared their intention to contest in the upcoming election.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Proudly powered by WordPress