President Wavel Ramkalawan, along with Health Minister Peggy Vidot and senior ministry officials, conducted a visit to key wards at Seychelles Hospital this morning.

The visit commenced at the Radiology Department, where President Ramkalawan inspected the newly acquired MRI facility. The delegation then toured various medical wards, conducting thorough assessments and engaging in on-site discussions about the specific improvements needed for each ward.

Throughout the visit, on-site discussions provided firsthand information and allowed the delegation to directly hear the views of staff and technicians. The delegation addressed all issues and proposed potential solutions to enhance the hospital’s services. Insights gained from these discussions will be valuable for incorporating necessary adjustments into the new Seychelles Hospital project. President Ramkalawan also observed the progress of ongoing renovations aimed at temporarily improving areas requiring urgent attention.

During the tour, President Ramkalawan engaged with healthcare workers and patients, listening to their concerns and experiences. He expressed gratitude to the healthcare workers for their unwavering commitment and dedication, reaffirming the government’s full support for their continuous efforts to providing exceptional care. Addressing lapses and areas needing improvement, supervisors discussed with the President how to bridge gaps and identify where additional support is required.

“From what I have seen today, there are pertinent issues we need to address, and I am satisfied that, along with the Ministry of Health team, we were able to hold important discussions about the corrective actions required. During the visit, I also witnessed how some of our medical technicians and health workers are devoted to improving the service they are providing to the people. They work really hard. At times, they even double their shifts in order to ensure the necessary care is being provided. I am encouraged and wish them courage and strength as we collectively continue to work towards improving our health system. I take this opportunity to urge members of the public to use the services and infrastructure being provided to them wisely and to show respect to our health professionals who are devoting their time and efforts to care for them,” stressed President Ramkalawan.

Wards visited during the tour included the Paediatric Ward, Maternity Ward, Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit, Female Medical, Male Medical, Hermitte Ward, D’Offay Ward, Operating Theatre, and Casualty.

This morning’s visit underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services and ensuring that Seychelles Hospital maintains its focus on delivering high-quality primary medical care and specialized treatments for the benefit of all citizens.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

In response to the high levels of malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria, the EU is providing €100,000 (over 171 million Nigerian Naira) in humanitarian assistance to help those most in need. The funding will help 160 000 people in the states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

This EU funding will enable the Nigerian Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to reduce malnutrition, with a focus on malnourished children, as well as pregnant and lactating women. Support will include cash grants to mothers and caregivers of malnourished children to help them cover their dietary needs, as well as information activities such as community workshops on nutrition and feeding practices. In addition, it is also foreseen to distribute water purification tablets and to carry out hygiene campaigns, in order to prevent diarrheal diseases.

This funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

In northeast Nigeria, the severe malnutrition crisis has been exacerbated by ongoing conflict, displacement, and limited access to essential services. Most cases are coming from hard-to-reach locations and children under 5 are particularly vulnerable.

Background

The European Union and its Member States are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent, and alleviate human suffering and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

The European Commission has signed a €8 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to support the Federation’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to ‘small-scale’ disasters, those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.

The Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) was established in 1979 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from the DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can be replenished by the donors. The delegation agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (within its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €8 million.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS.

The U.S. Embassy in Mozambique congratulates Augusta Maíta who was approved by the Council of Ministers on July 23, 2024, as the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) – Moçambique Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The MCA is the Accountable Entity designated by the government to implement the Millennium Challenge Corporation  (MCC) Compact in Mozambique.  The United States is proud to mark an important milestone in advancing the $500 million Connectivity and Coastal Resilience Compact to improve critical infrastructure, coastal development, and commercial agriculture in Zambezia province.

MCC Compacts are bilateral agreements founded on the principle of country ownership and commitments to democratic and human rights, transparency and accountability.  The hiring of all MCA staff, including the CEO, follows a competitive and transparent recruitment process managed by an international recruitment firm. Interview panels are composed of members from the public and private sectors, and academia—with United States Government MCC members participating as non-voting observers. The CEO role was one of twenty positions advertised earlier this year, generating over 4,500 applications. The next positions for recruitment will be announced on DEVAID Tenderwell  later this year and all interested candidates are encouraged to apply.

The Connectivity and Coastal Resilience Compact  encompasses three projects: the Connectivity and Rural Transport Project (CTR), the Promoting Reform and Investment in Agriculture Project (PRIA), and the Coastal Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project (CLCR)  and is expected to improve the lives of million people in Mozambique. The United States looks forward to working with CEO Maita, the MCA, and the Government of Mozambique for a more prosperous future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Mozambique.

Responding to the arrest and detention of more than a hundred youthful protestors in Uganda on Tuesday during anti-corruption protests, a chilling onslaught on protest in the region, coming hot on the heels of violent suppression of anti-government protests in Kenya, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa said;

“The heavy-handed tactics used by the Ugandan government to stifle and silence peaceful protestors show a manifest clampdown on dissent. People in Uganda have the right to express critical views against official corruption in government and human rights violations by the state and the expression of such views should not result in imprisonment.

“Ugandan authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all those who were arrested solely for exercising their right to peaceful assembly and remain unlawfully detained.

“Instead of silencing people for expressing their discontent and continuing to use unlawful force to stop peaceful protests, state authorities must address the demands of the people who are calling on them to deal with corruption among elected officials, and respect, protect and fulfil all their human rights obligations.”

Background

Tuesday’s anti-corruption protests in the capital Kampala as well as other towns in Uganda, follow mounting allegations of widespread corruption in government, especially against members of parliament, including the Speaker of Parliament in the country.  Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned on Sunday that protests would not be tolerated. On Monday police besieged opposition party headquarters ahead of the planned protests, and on Tuesday, the police arrested more than a hundred protestors in what termed a precautionary move. These protests mirror those organized by youth activists in neighboring Kenya, where the president was forced to withdraw controversial tax proposals and dissolve his cabinet.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.