Dr. Desta Tiruneh, the newly appointed World Health Organization Representative for Zimbabwe, officially presented his credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honorable Frederick Shava, marking the commencement of his tenure.

His appointment took effect on 1 April 2024.

Hon. Shava welcomed Dr Tiruneh and pledged the Government of Zimbabwe’s full cooperation during his tenure. He expressed gratitude for WHO’s invaluable technical support in addressing public health challenges, including ongoing cholera and polio outbreaks.

Hon. Shava noted that Zimbabwe will continue to work with the WHO to ensure that it improves and strengthens health systems and the health sector in general as well as building the capacity of health sector experts to enable them to deal with and control various diseases emerging in society.

“We acknowledge the role of WHO and appreciate the work being done in various pillars to support country priorities,” he said.

Acknowledging Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to address health challenges amidst issues like brain drain, Dr. Tiruneh, praised the country’s commitment to health sector reforms and collaboration with international bodies like WHO.

Dr. Tiruneh brings over two decades of development experience to his role. He served as WHO Representative in The Gambia from September 2017 to March 2024.

A medical doctor by profession, Dr. Tiruneh previously served as an assistant professor at a medical school and held various leadership roles in health program management at district, regional, and national levels in Ethiopia. He holds M.D. and M.P.H. degrees from the University of Addis Ababa. Following his entry into WHO in 2021, he served as an advisor for over 17 years in immunization programmes and communicable and non-communicable disease prevention, control, elimination, and eradication efforts.

In his new role, Dr. Tiruneh looks forward to collaborating with the Government of Zimbabwe, the UN system, bilateral and multilateral partners, civil society, and the private sector to accelerate progress towards achieving health-related goals, with a particular focus on strengthening the country’s health systems.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organzation (WHO) – Zimbabwe.

Last week Premier Alan Winde and members of his government received a status update from the team of structural engineers appointed by the Western Cape Government (WCG) to investigate the cause of the George building collapse, that occurred on 6 May 2024.

V3 Consulting Engineers is leading the provincial government’s investigation, which comprises several phases.
The search and recovery operation was concluded on Friday, 17 May, and the site was then handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The WCG’s probe was launched just a day after the tragedy. “While we are aware of other investigations that are under way by other bodies, this incident happened in our province and impacted our residents. As Premier I have a responsibility to our residents to ensure that we get the answers that everyone is seeking,” said Premier Winde.

It was emphasised that the collecting of samples from the site had to be done as soon as possible before the rubble was removed to ensure the integrity of the process. At the same time, it was important to ensure that no investigation interfered with the search, rescue, and recovery operation.

Material samples needed to be collected and meticulously documented. “The process began as soon as the investigating team arrived on site and was undertaken with the cooperation of the SAPS. Evidence was collected under the supervision of the SAPS. “We will continue to work together until the conclusion of all investigations. 

We will do everything possible to ensure this entire process is handled with the professionalism and delicacy that it deserves. But we also have a commitment to the residents of this province to help them understand what happened and if steps need to be taken what actions should be taken,” the Premier said.

Documents that are being sourced include:

Construction drawings;
Planning and approval applications;
Occupational Health and Safety reports; and
Site diaries.

Once all the documents are sourced and all materials are collected, they are accordingly analysed.

Technical testing will also be carried out, which is part of a geotechnical assessment.  Interviews will also be conducted with service providers involved in the project.

Premier Winde stressed that this must be a clinical, thorough process to ensure that all evidence that is processed and documented will be sufficient enough to hold up in any ensuing legal matter. “There must be consequences for this tragedy,” he emphasised, adding, “We owe this to the victims and their families. We also have a responsibility to ensure that everything is done to prevent a similar tragedy like this happening in our province again.”

The Premier extended his condolences to the loved ones of another patient who was extracted from the debris but has since passed away in hospital.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

In the remote district of Kapoeta East County, Eastern Equatoria State, life is a daily struggle for its 376 224 residents. This county, which borders Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, faces severe health challenges due to harsh climatic conditions and food insecurity, including drought and seasonal flooding that hinder transportation and access to essential services.

The health system in Kapoeta East is grappling with numerous challenges. Only half of its 24 health facilities are fully operational, leaving the other half-crippled by a lack of support. Healthcare workers are scarce, medications frequently run out, and many residents live far from the nearest health facility. Cultural practices like early child marriages further complicate the health landscape.

WHO’s targeted health interventions

To address these challenges, the World Health Organization (WHO), with funding from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF), has been working with the Ministry of Health and local health authorities to initiate a series of interventions to save the lives of the community in Kapoeta East County.

WHO delivered and distributed medical supplies and drugs, including the Interagency Emergency Health Kits, to support health facilities and mobile outreach services.

In addition, WHO has established three mobile medical clinics to reach the most isolated communities. These clinics provide critical health services, including maternal and child health services, immunizations, and treatment for common illnesses. Overseen by a dedicated WHO Public Health officer, they have become a lifeline for the community.

WHO’s efforts extend beyond immediate medical care. The team trained 60 healthcare workers on integrated community health case management and disease surveillance to enhance, promote, and deliver basic and effective primary healthcare services to the community and ensure that local health needs are met with skilled health workers.

Additionally, 40 health workers received specialized training in Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) offering effective maternal and newborn care from different healthcare facilities in Kapoeta East.

WHO has also focused on addressing gender-based violence (GBV), training 68 healthcare workers in GBV awareness and clinical management of rape. This initiative has empowered local communities to support survivors and promote timely reporting and treatment.

During a monitoring visit to Naliel Boma, Mr Nakali Lochumpa, the County Health Director of Kapoeta East, underscored the profound impact of the mobile clinics, stating, “Thanks to WHO’s support, the mobile clinic is surpassing Primary Health Care Centers inpatient turnout, enabling us to reach many children with vital vaccinations.”

Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative for South Sudan, said, “Thanks to the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, despite difficult circumstances, our targeted health interventions and the combined efforts of WHO, the Ministry of Health, and other partners have been crucial in saving lives and bringing positive change, leading to improved health outcomes.”

The impact of these efforts is already evident. Over 5000 individuals have benefited from WHO’s medical support, and more than 1400 were reached by the end of 2023. Despite some challenges, the medical services have made a significant impact on the community.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – South Sudan.

Policymakers and businesses in West Africa now have an online tool to track their countries’ trade competitiveness and to find new business opportunities in the region, with the launch of the West African Competitiveness Observatory.

The ECOWAS Commission and the International Trade Centre (ITC), with financial support of the European Union (EU), launched the online platform at a high-level event on 21 May 2024, in Abuja, the Nigerian Capital city, to help unleash economic growth across West Africa, where more than half of intraregional export potential, valued at $3.2 billion, remains untapped. West Africa’s exports are more competitive within the region than on the rest of the continent or in global markets.

The West African Competitiveness Observatory serves as a monitoring tool for assessing the trade competitiveness of West African countries and the region. Its primary function is to aid policymakers in crafting policies that promote trade competitiveness and facilitate the development of value chains, which also support local firms, especially small businesses, in integrating into regional value chains. The Observatory offers three modules that enable policymakers to monitor and analyze trade competitiveness at both national and regional levels. Businesses can use the platform to identify business opportunities and engage with buyers and suppliers across markets in the region.

The Trade Competitiveness Module enables comprehensive monitoring and analysis of countries’ trade competitiveness, presenting data on at the global, continental, and regional levels. The Regional Value Chain Module enables policymakers and businesses to assess and integrate regional value chains, providing insights into five key sectors: apparel and textiles; beauty, wellness and personal care products; food preparations for infant use; processed fish and crustacean products; processed fruits, vegetables, and roots.

The Business Matchmaking Module facilitates cross-border collaboration for businesses by promoting products and services and allowing them to connect with partners across the region, aided by automatic translation in English, French and Portuguese.

“The Observatory will provide important information for Policy makers and businesses to take advantage of international markets. Supporting SMEs to effectively access the market and generate employment and contribute to economic growth.” stated Madame Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Commissioner, Economic Affairs and Agriculture, ECOWAS Commission.

Madame Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture at the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the critical role of the Observatory in her recent statement. She remarked, “The Observatory will provide important information for policymakers and businesses to take advantage of international markets. Supporting SMEs to effectively access the market and generate employment and contribute to economic growth.

“Policymakers and businesses, use the Observatory for insights into your region’s great untapped trade potential and turn that potential into tangible economic benefits,” said ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton. “We hope to see businesses, especially small businesses, make the most of this tool to find buyers and explore new markets.”

The launch of the Observatory comes at a time when West Africa navigates the challenges posed by globalization, technological advancement, and an evolving trade landscape. With its three modules, the Observatory aims to position West Africa as a hub of economic growth and opportunities on the global stage. According to ITC’s export potential estimates, West Africa could add $45.7 billion in exports to the world by 2027.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).