Eid Mewlid Al-Nebi, marking the 1446 Hijri year, was celebrated colorfully across the country yesterday, 15 September.

Ministers, senior government and PFDJ officials, members of the diplomatic community, and leaders of various Christian churches attended the event at the Al-Khulafa Al-Rashidin Mosque in Asmara. During the celebration, Mr. Ahmed-Nur Haji Mahmud, Chairman of the Islamic Awkaf of Asmara, provided an extensive briefing on the historical background of the holiday.

Sheik Salem Ibrahim Almuktar, the Mufti of Eritrea, delivered a religious sermon and blessings. He also wished peace and prosperity to the Eritrean people and the Eritrean Defense Forces, calling for support to be extended to disadvantaged citizens.

The Eid-Mewlid celebration was highlighted by spiritual performances.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

The Ugandan Embassy in Beijing and the Ugandan Consulate General in Guangzhou Showcased Uganda’s Tourism Potential at the China International Tourism Industry Expo 2024 in Guangzhou, China, 13-15 September 2024.

The Expo highlighted Uganda’s rich cultural heritage, diverse wildlife, and stunning natural landscapes to attract Chinese tourists and investors.

The International Tourism Industry Expo was hosted by the Culture and Tourism Development and Support Center of Guangdong Province, China (Guangdong); the International Tourism Industry Expo kicked off at the China Export and Import Fair Complex, Guangzhou, from 13th to 15th September 2024. Known as China’s largest comprehensive international tourism expo, CITIE 2024 covered an exhibition area of 40,000m, 100 destinations, 500 tourism service providers and suppliers from more than 50 countries and regions, and 43,000 visitors. CITIE 2024 facilitated the exploration of the tourism market in southern China, enhanced the high-quality recovery of the industry, and jointly created a new pattern for the world tourism economy.

CITIE is an annual event that takes place once a year in September 

People were drawn to the Uganda stall because of Uganda’s rich and diverse cultures. The wildlife, mainly the Big Five lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo, and natural endowments like waterfalls, parks, freshwater bodies, and hot springs) and Ugandan Coffee

During the closing Ceremony on September 15th, the Ugandan Consulate in Guangzhou shone brightly, receiving an accolade as the Best Organizer. Recognized for its outstanding efforts in promoting Uganda’s tourism potential and fostering international partnerships, the consulate’s innovative initiatives and captivating exhibits showcased Uganda’s cultural richness and investment opportunities to a global audience. 

Other categories included Best Organising Prize, Best Supporting Unit, Best Design Prize, Best Travel Agency, and Best Airlines, which other Exhibitors won. 

Speaking feom Guangzhou after she received the award, a very happy Consul-General Nsababera said “The accolade underscores the consulate’s commitment to excellence and its role in positioning Uganda as a premier destination for travelers and investors, solidifying its reputation on the international stage” 

She also added that the Uganda Consulate was requested to co-organize next year’s Expo”. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Republic of Uganda – Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Government of Liberia (GOL) has adopted two key Public Financial Management regulations aimed at improving governance and the efficient management of public resources.

At an emergency Cabinet meeting held at the Executive Mansion, on Friday, September 13, 2024, the amended and Restated Public Financial Management (PFM) Regulations and the Revenue Sharing Regulations (RSR) were officially endorsed.

The adoption of these regulations comes as part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Liberia’s public financial management systems, aligning with the objectives of the 2024–2027 Public Financial Management Strategy.

The Amended and Restated PFM Regulations serve as the key implementing instrument for the Amended and Restated PFM Law of 2019. This regulatory framework supports Liberia’s broader goals of fiscal transparency, accountability, and effective resource management.  Notably, these regulations introduce significant structural changes to Liberia’s financial governance:

The regulations establish a clear distinction between the roles of the Comptroller and Accountant General from the Department of Fiscal Affairs. This separation is intended to enhance oversight and reduce conflicts of interest, ensuring that financial oversight is independently managed.

In alignment with Liberia’s decentralization policy, the regulations delegate revenue generation and expenditure management functions to local government authorities.

This shift is aimed at promoting greater local accountability and improving the efficiency of public service delivery at the regional and local levels.

These changes reflect Liberia’s commitment to improving fiscal governance by ensuring more transparent and efficient management of national and local resources.

The Revenue Sharing Regulations provide a comprehensive framework for implementing the Revenue Sharing Law of 2021, a key component of the Local Government Act, which has so far been hindered by the absence of necessary regulations.

The newly adopted regulations outline mechanisms for equitable revenue distribution between central and local governments, including but not limited to following responsibilities:

Local governments will now have greater access to revenue generated from public services provided within their jurisdictions.
Revenues derived from the extraction and use of natural resources will be shared between central and local governments, providing local authorities with a greater stake in the economic benefits generated by resources within their territories.
A portion of real estate taxes and fees will also be allocated to local governments, empowering them to reinvest in local development projects and public services.

These regulations are designed to promote fiscal decentralization and empower local governments to effectively manage their financial resources in accordance with the Local Government Act.

The adoption of these two instruments represents a significant milestone in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its public financial management architecture. They will play a vital role in supporting Government’s decentralization agenda, fostering economic growth, and promoting good governance at all levels of government.

“By the ushering of these financial management instruments, it is my Administration’s efforts to ensuring that the necessary tools and frameworks are in place to guarantee fiscal responsibility, equitable revenue sharing, and transparent governance across Liberia.” President Boakai remarked.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.

Under shelling and gunfire, Esraa cradled her newborn son. As the war in Sudan broke out in April 2023, she was trying to reach a health clinic for treatment for her baby, who had been struggling with infections and breathing difficulties. But with the roads blocked by fighting, the young mother never made it to the clinic; her son died in her arms.

When she became pregnant again in August last year, she was haunted by the fear of losing another child. “There’s only one functioning maternal hospital left in Khartoum,” said Esraa. “It’s incredibly dangerous to move around the city – one of our neighbours died on her way to the hospital.”

Throughout the war, Esraa and her family have been forced to move repeatedly as areas that were safe one day became lethal the next. They eventually found refuge in a crowded shelter with other displaced people from Khartoum.

‘It was like moving from one grave to another’

Once the largest city in Sudan, Khartoum now has vast areas that resemble ghost towns. In shelters set up for people forced from their homes, conditions are dire: Overcrowding is rampant and basic hygiene essentials mostly missing. Food is also increasingly scarce, leaving many battling severe hunger as Sudan faces the worst levels of acute food insecurity ever recorded in the country.

As the crisis deepens and diseases like polio and cholera spread, accessing health care has become one of the most critical challenges for the people of Khartoum. Most medical facilities have been forced out of service due to destruction and a severe lack of supplies.

“I was five months pregnant when I arrived at the shelter,” said Esraa. “For me, it was like moving from one grave to another. We were constantly expecting something bad to happen. Hope had no place in our hearts.”

Roving responders

Amid these dire conditions, a mobile health team supported by UNFPA arrived at the shelter to provide reproductive health and protection services to the women and girls living there. “The mobile health teams play a crucial role in preventing maternal deaths, offering a comprehensive range of medical services in war-affected areas of Sudan,” explained Mohamed Hasan Nahat, coordinator of the team.

Esraa received antenatal care and micronutrients from the team, who made regular visits to care for her and the other women and girls in the shelter. “They not only helped me with medical care but also gave me a sense of safety and hope that I hadn’t felt in months,” she said.

Four months later, Esraa gave birth to a healthy baby boy, assisted by the mobile team. “I gave birth in the shelter. They took care of me and the baby – I even named him Mohamed after the doctor who helped me.”

UNFPA has deployed 56 mobile health teams across 11 states in Sudan, which provide sexual and reproductive health services and gender-based violence protection and response. Since the war began, the teams – including doctors, pharmacists, lab technicians, psychologists and midwives – have conducted over 150,000 medical consultations.

Although they are saving lives and providing the only medical assistance many have received, humanitarians like social worker Nisreen Kamal Abdulla felt there was still more they wanted to do for these communities.

“The time available at the clinic was not enough to treat everyone – we should visit every community more frequently to reach more people and provide consistent care,” she told UNFPA. “Most of the women we met who have psychological issues have stopped their treatment because they can’t afford the medicine.”

Reaching remote communities 

The mobility of the teams is crucial for increasing access to vital services in remote areas, preventing maternal deaths due to unsafe childbirth and high-risk pregnancies. Too often a lack of transportation means many simply cannot get to a health centre in time – or at all.

On average, a team will cover three different locations per week, spending one to two days in each, based on the community’s size and needs.

“Even though I did not leave Khartoum during the war and continued working in its hospitals, this experience was different,” explained Dr. Nahat.

“I reached far-away areas and connected with people I had not been able to reach before. It was a great morale boost for them to know there are organizations that care about them and are not leaving them behind.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN News.