Africa – KMAUPDATES

Sep52020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: UNESCO urges action to meet rampant $200 billion annual funding gap for education in poorest countries due to COVID-19

HEALTH

PARIS, France -- New research by the Global Education Monitoring Report at UNESCO shows an increase in the annual funding gap for education in the poorest countries to as much as US$200 billion a year. These findings are published in the new paper, Act Now: Reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the Cost of Achieving SDG4.The paper calls for the immediate introduction of emergency remedial programmes, which could reduce the potential cost of COVID-19 on education by 75%. This could also reduce the social cost of failing to meet the Sustainable Development Goal on Education (SDG4) which calls for the provision of inclusive quality education for all by 2030. It is therefore imperative for leaders to prioritize investment in education for low and middle-income countries and avoid the higher cost o...

Sep42020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

African countries engaging in ground-breaking COVID-19 vaccine initiative

HEALTH

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the) -- While the race to find safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines continues, African countries are signing up to a ground-breaking initiative, which aims to secure at least 220 million doses of the vaccine for the continent, once licensed and approved. All 54 countries on the continent have expressed interest in COVAX, a global initiative which is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The partners are working with governments and manufacturers to procure enough vaccine doses to protect the most vulnerable populations on the continent. Through the Gavi-coordinated COVAX Facility, the initiative seeks to ensure access for all: both higher and middle...

Sep42020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: COVID-19 Situation update for the WHO African Region, External Situation Report

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BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the) -- The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the WHO African Region continues to decrease in the past six weeks. Since our last External Situation Report 26 issued on 26August 2020, a total of 41 614 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1 363 new deaths were reported from 46 countries between 26 August and 1 September 2020. This is a 21% decrease in cases as compared to 52 544 cases registered during the previous reporting period (19-25August 2020). At the same time, a 13% (1 363) decrease in the total number of deaths was recorded compared to the previous week when 1 562 deaths were registered. Overall, South Africa continues to bear the highest burden of COVID-19 in Africa, accounting for nearly half of all new cases, 37% (15 242), repor...

Sep42020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: UNHCR Report – Coronavirus a dire threat to refugee education – half of the world’s refugee children out of school

Uncategorized

GENEVA, Switzerland -- In a report released yesterday, titled “Coming Together for Refugee Education,” UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, predicts that unless immediate and bold action is taken by the international community to beat back the catastrophic effects of COVID-19 on refugee education, the potential of millions of young refugees living in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities will be further threatened. The data in the report is based on the gross enrolment figures from the 2019 school cycle. While children in every country have struggled with the impact of COVID-19 on their education, the report finds that refugee children have been particularly disadvantaged. Before the pandemic, a refugee child was twice as likely to be out of school as a non-refugee child. This is se...

Sep32020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: COVID-19 will widen poverty gap between women and men, new UN Women and UNDP data shows

Uncategorized

PRETORIA, South Africa -- The pandemic will push 47 million more women and girls below the poverty line, reversing decades of progress to eradicate extreme poverty The COVID-19 crisis will dramatically increase the poverty rate for women and widen the gap between men and women who live in poverty, according to new data released today by UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The poverty rate for women was expected to decrease by 2.7 per cent between 2019 and 2021, but projections now point to an increase of 9.1 per cent due to the pandemic and its fallout. The projections, commissioned by UN Women and UNDP, and carried out by the Pardee Centre for International Futures at the University of Denver, show that while the pandemic will impact global poverty gene...

Aug302020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: International Organization for Migration (IOM) COVID-19 – Impact on internally displaced persons (IDPs) – Weekly Update

Uncategorized

GENEVA, Switzerland -- Important: This update strives to use terms in conformity with the IOM’s Glossary on Migration to describe issues faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak. Given the sensitive nature of the information, those terms are used to the best of our knowledge and within the limit of our possibilities to confirm political correctness while producing a weekly update. The update is external and the information contained in it is sensitive. Corrections are very welcomed and should be submitted to DTM COVID-19dtmcovid19idps@iom.int for ensuring consistency of information in the database repository. Download Report:https://bit.ly/2YNrQ7M Weekly updates on “Impact on IDPs” are a collaboration between DTM and CCCM in drafting and revi...

Aug232020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: Decrease of 25% in COVID-19 cases recorded compared to previous reporting period

HEALTH

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), August 22, 2020/ -- COVID-19 cases in the African Region continue to slow down during past two weeks. There is a 25% decrease in cases recorded compared to previous reporting period. For more detailed analysis, read our most recent COVID-19 Situation Report: https://bit.ly/3j04u6A 10 countries account for 88% (849,503) of all reported COVID-19 cases in the African Region: South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar & Senegal. South Africa accounts for 62% of all reported case.

Aug232020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: The Market Monitor

HEALTH

ROME, Italy, August 22, 2020/ --Highlights The costs of food baskets were affected 'severely' in 20 countries in Q2-2020, during which the COVID-19 pandemic has played a major role. Most notably, despite massive income losses, strong demand resulting from stockpiling in combination with disrupted trade flows led to steep increases in staple food prices in Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Afghanistan. Download Report:https://bit.ly/2CSSJzC Other key drivers behind surging food prices included: depreciating local currencies (Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Angola); panic-buying (Libya, Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti, Kyrgyzstan); and high seasonal demand (Ghana). Amid the escalating economic and political crisis, Lebanon recorded a staggering quarter-on-quarter food inflation of 93.1% in...

Aug232020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus: Africa urged to avoid prevention fatigue as countries begin to ease lockdowns

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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, August 22, 2020/ -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AfricaCDC has urged the continent to avoid coronavirus "prevention fatigue". At a media conference on Thursday 20th August, Director of the AfricaCDC, Dr John Nkengasong noted “a slight decrease” in infection rates on the continent, and said this "gives some signs of hope that we are beginning to bend the curve slowly". He however cautioned the continent to maintain and increase the use of masks, social distancing, and to ramp up testing, even as countries begin to ease lockdown measures. “We do not want the population to show prevention fatigue", he said, adding that "We are dealing with a delicate virus that can easily flare up again very quickly, as has been witnessed in other p...

Aug232020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

To implement Emergency Medical System & Ambulance Scheme (NEMSAS), Dr. Osagie Ehanire sets up Committee of Guild of Medical Directors, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) to synergize with Federal Government (FG)

HEALTH

ABUJA, Nigeria, August 22, 2020/ -- The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has set up a Committee to implement the National Emergency Medical System and Emergency Ambulance Scheme (NEMSAS) after the recent approval of the project by the National Council on Health. The Committee, the Honourable said will ensure that the assets and resources of the private sector are pulled to complement those of the Federal Government to bring about NEMSAS since according to him, the project is all “about public service” and that the assets and funds at the disposal of the Government cannot implement this very needed project that could be found elsewhere but in Nigeria: “We can’t set up NEMSAS relying on Government assets. We want to use all assets available – public and priva...

Aug222020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Coronavirus – Africa: Saving lives, economies and livelihoods campaign launches in Africa

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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, August 21, 2020/ -- H.E. Amira Elfadil Mohammed, Commissioner for Social Affairs, African Union Commission; H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy; and Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the “Africa Against COVID-19: Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods” campaign during the Africa CDC weekly press briefing on COVID-19 on 20th August. The Saving Lives, Economies and Livelihoods campaign will facilitate the development of a harmonized strategy to protect borders, travellers, economies, livelihoods, and schools in Africa from the risk of increased COVID-19 transmission as countries begin to re-open their borders. The campaign is being implemented by the Africa...

Aug212020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: President Museveni assigns Owiny-Dollo as new Chief Justice

AFRICA

since 1962 when Uganda got it's independence. Likewise, Supreme Court Judge Richard Buteera was appointed Deputy Chief Justice. The two names have since been sent to Parliament for vetting. Justice Owiny-Dollo has been the Acting Chief Justice since June 20 when then substantive Chief Justice Bart Katureebe retired upon clocking 70 years. The Chief Justice is the head of the Judiciary, which is one of the three arms of State, and it is the fourth most powerful office in the country after that of the President, Vice president and Speaker of Parliament. Justice Owiny-Dollo becomes the first Chief Justice to be elevated from the position of Deputy Chief Justice. The past Chief Justices were appointed from the Supreme Court Bench. He became famous for having preside...

Aug202020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Ralph Mupita assigned as new MTN Group President, CEO

Business, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA

Mr. Ralph Mupita, MTN Group’s new president (PHOTO/Courtesy). JOHANNESBURG – MTN Group on Wednesday 19, announced Ralph Mupita as its new group President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Zimbabwean born is set to assume office from September 1, 2020 replacing Rob Shutter who has been at the helm for a period of four years. Ralph has served as the MTN Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) since April 2017, won accolades and has played a critical role in the development and execution of the group’s strategy, capital allocation processes, financial performance as well as in the resolution of a number of complex regulatory matters. In a statement, MTN Group chairman Mr Mcebisi Jonas said: “After a rigorous and extensive search process, we are pleased to have appoin...

Aug202020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Hon. Namuganza , Hon. Kadaga in clashes amid NRM polls.

AFRICA, UGANDA

State minister for Lands Persis Namuganza yesterday attacked Speaker Rebecca Kadaga over a contentious Parliament motion that sought to discredit President Museveni as the two candidates made the final push for votes ahead of today’s elections for the ruling NRM party. The party’s national delegates conference convenes at the various regional offices across the country to elect party leaders. Ms Namuganza and Ms Kadaga are competing for the 2nd national vice chairperson female slot in a contest that has pitted the young against the old guards of NRM.Ms Kadaga was facing three challengers, but two others pulled out of the race and left Ms Namuganza to take on the Kamuli Woman MP who has used her exposure and experience to market her candidature. Ms Jane Frances Amongin and Ms Debo...

Aug202020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: 2 LDUs accused of torturing Mityana District Chairman acquitted

AFRICA, UGANDA

KAMPALA – The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces’ (UPDF) 1st Division Court Martial chaired by Col Sam Mugyenyi has acquitted two Local Defence Unit (LDU) Personnel of the charge of assault causing bodily harm to Mityana District Chairperson, Mr. Joseph Luzige. The court also reduced the same charge placed against a third militant to common assault after the complainant was found to have falsely accused the militants and initiated the scuffle. The trio; LDU Okello Isaac, LDU Odeke Solomon and Lance Corporal Angulia Simon Peter had been arrested and charged for assault causing bodily harm following an incident of July 7,2020 where they were filmed in a scuffle with the LC V Chairman as they enforced the COVID-19 directives and allegedly injured his eye. The two LDUs were acquitted whe...

Aug182020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

Female Police office gets injured during violence

AFRICA

Police constable Betty Achom has accidentally shot herself in the left leg ankle as police were handling violent youth in Kampala Metropolitan elections. Achom who was providing security to voters on Monday in Lufula Bwaise II Ward, Kawempe Division, had loaded her gun and the bullet was already in the chamber. She accidentally touched the trigger thus shattering her left ankle. According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson SP Patrick Onyango, Achom shot herself while trying to disperse violent voters who wanted to cause chaos. She was rushed to Mulago hospital and is in good state receiving treatment. Following the increasing violence cases in elections, Onyango said that Police management decided to call off all elections exercise till further notice. “Followin...

Aug142020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

CORONAVIRUS: Uganda registers 12th Covid-19 Death, 32 new cases confirmed

HEALTH, UGANDA

The Ministry of Health on Friday confirmed another death of one Covid-19 patient, bringing the number of people who have succumbed to the disease in Uganda to twelve. A statement by the ministry says that 32 new Covid-19 cases were confirmed from samples tested on Thursday, bringing the cumulative confirmed cases in Ugandans to 1,385. The deceased is a 65-year old Ugandan male, a resident of Kampala Metropolitan Area, who was first admitted to Nsambya Hospital and later transferred to Naguru Hospital after developing signs and symptoms consistent with Covid-19. “However, he passed on while on admission at Naguru Hospital. Results from the laboratory confirmed Covid-19,” the statement reads in part. Meanwhile, of the 32 new confirmed cases, 17 are alerts out which 10 are from K...

Aug142020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Court summons Dodovico Mwanje over Ndeeba Church destruction.

AFRICA, UGANDA

KAMPALA – Court has issued criminal summons against Dodovico Mwanje, who is accused of being behind the demolition of St Peter’s Church in Ndeeba last Sunday night. Mwanje on Thursday did not appear before Makindye Magistrate’s Court alongside 18 others, including senior police officers, who are accused of demolishing the Church. The accused who were arrested by the State House Anti-corruption unit appeared before Makindye Court Grade One magistrate, Jude Okumu, where they denied the charges. The police officers are separately faced four counts including disobedience of lawful orders of the commander of Kampala Metropolitan area Moses Kafeero; who had ordered them to deploy security at St. Peter’s church in Ndeeba inorder to avert any demolition or destruction at the said church....

Aug142020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

AFRICA: Protests in Ivory Coast as president seeks controversial third term

AFRICA

Tensions are still running high in Ivory Coast’s commercial capital, Abidjan, Friday, a day after police used tear gas to break up street protests against President Alassane Ouattara’s controversial decision to seek a third term. At least one protester was killed in Abidjan’s Yopougon district as police chased down protesters, who set up roadblocks made from burning tires and furniture. There have been scattered demonstrations in the Ivory Coast since Ouattara announced last week he is seeking reelection on October 31 despite the opposition accusing him of violating term limits. Ouattara is challenging the two-term presidential law, saying a new constitution adopted in 2016 offset any barriers preventing him from running again. If Quattara’s attempt to run again is successful,...

Aug132020 by KMA UpdatesNo Comments

UGANDA: Col. Katungi assigned as new Military Police commander

AFRICA, UGANDA

KAMPALA — Col Keith Katungi has taken over as Commandant Military Police from Brigadier William Bainomugisha at Makindye Military Police headquarters. Presiding over the ceremony, the Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Peter Elwelu commended the outgoing boss for the job well done for having kept Kampala peaceful during his tenure in office. For the incoming commandant, Gen Elwelu congulated him upon his appointment as commandant military police. “You have taken over in a season of its own kind, a season of miracles where people put on masks, no state visits, schools closed, places of worship closed no shaking hands and empty soccer stadias. We are operating in an extra ordinary environment which need new tactics but we have hope in you and you will excel.” He rwmarked Col Katungi t...