Ceremony to Commemorate the Birth of Pancasila on June 1, 2024 at the Indonesian Embassy in Tripoli – Libya. The ceremony was led by the Chargé d’Affaires Ad Interim (KUAI) Dede Achmad Rifai and attended by all staff of the Indonesian Embassy in Tripoli. The ceremony went smoothly and solemnly.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Tripoli, Libya.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has provided training to Police criminal investigation officers from Hirshabelle State to help them detect and combat financial crimes and disrupt terrorism financing.

Facilitated by the ATMIS Police component, the training included both theoretical and practical sessions. Officers enhanced their skills on financial intelligence, detecting money laundering, investigating corruption and fraud, and understanding investigative methods and procedures.

“ATMIS recognises the need to build the capacity of our Somali counterparts and provide them with knowledge in the face of the ever-growing trend of financial crimes and terrorism financing in Africa and globally,” said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ernest Agbo, the ATMIS Police lead trainer in Jowhar.

He added “We are happy with the outcome of the training. This was evident during the question-and-answer sessions, where the officers displayed a high level of commitment. We are confident they are now well equipped to detect and stop illegal financial dealings and win the war on terrorism”.

The Hirshabelle State police traffic commander, Col. Hassan Daud, thanked ATMIS for the continued support and mentorship of the Somali Police Force. He requested more such training from ATMIS.

“I want to express my gratitude to ATMIS for the capacity building training they offered to the Hirshabelle State Police. I urge the officers to make efficient use of the skills they have acquired and request ATMIS to conduct more training and mentorship programmes for us,” said Col.Daud at the end of the training.

In attendance at the closing ceremony were ATMIS Civil Affairs officer for Hirshabelle State, Christopher Aria, and the ATMIS Burundi deputy contingent commander, Col. Dismas Hakizimana together with other senior officers from the Somali Police Force.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

The number of cholera cases in Zimbabwe is declining thanks to the expanded and decentralized cholera response activities undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), supported by WHO and other partners. While current figures remain higher compared to the same period last year, this reduction is a welcome development, given the alarming surge between November and January this year.

At the peak of the outbreak in Manicaland Province, Lovemore Mudzingwa, an Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP) at Zvipiripiri Rural Health Centre, played a critical role. He tirelessly responded to rumors in the community, providing essential information and disinfecting homes of suspected patients after assisting with their transportation to the clinic.

Driven by a commitment to making a difference, Lovemore works hard to ensure his community has accurate information on cholera and other diseases. He actively identifies and addresses potential contamination sources, conducting regular inspections of water and food facilities to enforce hygiene standards.

“Our responsibility extends beyond responding to outbreaks,” says Lovemore. “We strive to prevent them altogether. By educating communities on the importance of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene practices, we empower them to protect themselves and their families from cholera.”

Lovemore’s dedication saved lives.

In Mutorera Village, Zvipiripiri, his intervention helped 11 members of a single family survive cholera, with one succumbing to the disease.

One survivor, 21-year-old Clara Marime**, expresses her deep appreciation for Lovemore and the other health workers at Zvipiripiri. Coming from a religious group that often avoids modern medicine, her experience was particularly challenging.

“I’m grateful to be alive,” she narrates. “By the time I reached the clinic, I was completely disoriented. I only realized where I was a day later.”

While their efforts often go unnoticed, EHPs play a vital role in cholera outbreaks. They manage funerals during outbreaks, coordinate emergency response efforts, and provide crucial support to affected communities. From setting up cholera treatment centers to conducting contact tracing and disease surveillance, their expertise is vital for containing the spread of the disease and saving lives, not just from cholera.

Since February 12th, 2024, Zimbabwe has been grappling with a cholera outbreak. As of 11 May 2024, a total of 33,914 suspected cholera cases have been reported nationwide, with 87 confirmed deaths, 623 suspected deaths, and 3,963 confirmed cases. Manicaland Province alone recorded 6,596 cases during the same period.

In Zvipiripiri, WHO leveraged funding from the Health Resilience Fund (HRF) to strengthen the cholera treatment center. The facility was expanded from eight beds to twelve and provided essential medical supplies like rehydration fluids, antibiotics, and other cholera-specific treatment materials. Additionally, WHO supported the installation of sanitation facilities like waste pits and emergency latrines to promote hygiene and prevent further transmission. Triage points were also established to ensure an organized flow of patients and staff, minimizing infection risks. Furthermore, in November 2023, WHO provided the province with essential supplies including medicines, personal protective equipment (PPE), information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, and cleaning and disinfection supplies to bolster response efforts.

In addition, WHO, with the support from HRF and Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF), spearheaded training programmes for EHPs, reaching over 60 individuals from all districts across the country. These trainings focused on water quality monitoring, equipping EHPs with the knowledge and skills to effectively test and analyze water samples. To further strengthen water quality surveillance in communities and especially in CTCs, WHO procured and distributed water quality kits and consumables.

Additionally, WHO provided training on food safety for 115 EHPs, empowering them with current food trends, standards, and knowledge on foodborne illnesses. They gained valuable skills in preventing and controlling cholera and other diarrheal diseases, including vital measures to be implemented in communities and CTCs. On the job mentorship to EHPs on infection prevention and control and community engagement activities in CTCs and communities in response to the cholera outbreak is still being provided.

“The significant decline in cholera cases in Zimbabwe is a testament to the collective efforts of the MoHCC, WHO, and other partners. However, our work is far from over. We must continue to support communities to strengthen prevention efforts to ensure a lasting impact on public health,” notes Dr Sally-Ann Ohene, WHO Zimbabwe Cholera Incident Manager.

**Names changed to protect identity of the contributor.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Minister Radegonde engaged in further bilateral talks at the SIDS4 Conference, meeting with Mr. Richard R. Verma, United States Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, to discuss progress in key areas of US and Seychelles cooperation, notably maritime security and defence.

Furthermore, the Minister held discussions with Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister and Second Minister for Education and for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, focusing on collaborative efforts regarding climate change, digitalization, and global challenges. Dr. Osman provided insight into Singapore’s new technical assistance package, “SIDS of Change,” aimed at enhancing SIDS’ capacity to implement the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.

Minister Radegonde was accompanied by Ambassador Ian Madeleine, Permanent Representative of Seychelles at the UN; Mr. Herve Pool, Second Secretary at the Foreign Affairs Department; Mr. Jeremy Radegonde, Second Secretary at the Seychelles Mission in New York; and Ms. Marie May Hollanda, Protocol Officer at the Foreign Affairs Department.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.