A father of three can sleep comfortably on his back for the first time in 15 years after having a massive tumor – weighing 11lbs (5kgs) – removed by surgical charity Mercy Ships (www.MercyShips.org).

Malagasy builder and rice farmer Fidisoa was 38 when what appeared to be a tiny pimple on his back started to grow, first into a lump and then into the size of a fist. It continued to grow until Fidisoa looked as if he carried a backpack underneath his shirt.

By age 53, Fidisoa struggled to do the high level of manual labor required from his livelihood and laying down on his back was painful for him.

Despite his best efforts to have the tumor removed using his life savings to pay for three surgeries at hospitals in his home country in 2015, 2018 and 2021, each time the tumor just regrew.

He said: “The first surgery was 600,000 Ariary (about $135 USD) since the tumor was comparatively smaller then. The second surgery was 1,300,000 Ariary ($290 USD) and the third surgery was 5,000,000 Ariary ($1,250 USD).”

“The first and second surgeries were paid for, using all the money I had worked and saved over the years.” Then, in order to pay for his third surgery in 2021, Fidisoa took on a new contract abroad to raise the final funds he needed – all of which was spent on the treatment.

A family man with three children aged five, 22 and 25, Fidisoa felt driven to continue working hard in the fields and providing for his loved ones despite the fact he was in physical pain and struggled to remain active.

Hope finally came in the form of a news announcement explaining that international charity Mercy Ships was offering free surgeries for conditions such as his on hospital ship the Africa Mercy®.

“I heard of Mercy Ships in 2015 on the news, but at the time, I didn’t know how to get selected,” he admitted. When Mercy Ships returned to Madagascar in 2024, Fidisoa was able to be seen by the volunteer medical team and was welcomed on board the Africa Mercy® to receive his long-awaited surgery.

The day Fidisoa finally boarded the hospital ship was unforgettable – for more reasons than one. “Today, June 6, is my 53rd birthday and to be going in for free surgery tomorrow is like the best birthday gift I have ever received. The nurses here are so kind and even sang a happy birthday song for me,” Fidisoa shared.

After the four-hour surgery, Fidisoa’s family, including his wife, daughter, and sister, were all waiting for him outside the operating room and were elated to see the tumor had gone.

“They were amazed at how different I looked,” Fidisoa said with a smile. “Thank you to all the loving, humble people at Mercy Ships and to everyone who made this possible.”

Dr. Tertius Venter, a volunteer reconstructive plastics surgeon from South Africa, was among the team who operated on Fidisoa in a procedure called a back hibernoma excision. He said that the benign tumor, a soft lobular fibroma which weighed 5 kilograms (11 lbs.), was now gone for good. After past surgeries regrowth occurred because not all abnormal tissue was removed.

“In his case, we spent quite a lot of time because it [abnormal tissue] also infiltrated into his muscles, so we had to go thoroughly and find every bit and remove it as far we could. We have removed it completely now,” explained Dr. Venter.

Finally free from the weight he had long carried, Fidisoa would now be able to live a normal life.

After his healing journey was complete, Fidisoa was filled with fresh ideas for the future. Without the physical limitations of his tumor, the work that had long been challenging now felt like a new beginning.

“I look forward to getting back to work immediately on the farm where I grow rice. I intend to fix an old motorbike I have back home and use that to supply sacks of rice to my customers. Maybe with time, I will travel to the Comoros Islands to do construction work, but for now, I’ll stay in Madagascar,” he said with optimism.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships.

Video link: https://apo-opa.co/4cPqspq

For more Information about Mercy Ships, contact:
Sophie Barnett
Mercy Ships International PR Manager
sophie.barnett@mercyships.org

About Mercy Ships: 
Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact.   

Each year, more than 3,000 volunteer professionals from over 60 countries serve on board the world’s two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy® and the Global Mercy™. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical, obstetric and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit www.MercyShips.org and follow @ MercyShips on social media.  

Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), a tier one Bank that is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and has operated in East Africa over 75 years with over 155 branches across Kenya, Uganda,Tanzania and Burundi, and Network International (Network) (https://www.Network.ae), the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), have signed a strategic partnership to provide a sound processing platform for hosting and issuing of cards in support of the bank’s efforts in their exciting phase of digital product innovation and expansion.

The agreement with Network International will reinforce DTB’s digital-first strategy in the Kenyan market. Amidst surging interest in digital payment solutions across the country influenced by rising internet penetration and mobile phone usage,[1] Network will enable DTB to benefit from advanced digital payment solutions, robust security protocols and a sophisticated API gateway. Through this partnership, Network will offer a variety of payment products and services including debit, credit and prepaid card hosting and processing as well as e-Commerce. The bank will also have access to a host of value-added services such as card fraud prevention, 3D Secure authentication, and card control solutions. 

Jamie Loden, Chief Operating Officer at DTB, emphasized the importance of customer delight, stating, “Our partnership with Network International marks a significant milestone in our efforts to expand our capabilities and elevate our services in a rapidly evolving digital environment. It also complements our desire to facilitate the inclusion of more citizens in the formal financial system. Our collaboration with a market leader like Network International will help us satisfy the growing demand among our customer base for new and superior card and digital banking experiences that are convenient, safe, and seamless, thereby ensuring customer delight.”

Dr. Reda Helal, Group Managing Director – Processing, Africa&Co-Head Group Processing at Network International, commented, “We are excited to collaborate with Diamond Trust Bank in meeting the rising interest among the emerging middle class, youth and SME market segments, especially the unbanked, for services that support a digital lifestyle and enable financial inclusion.  We welcome the opportunity to support Diamond Trust Bank’s passion for providing best-in-class digital and card customer experiences by enabling innovation and enhanced operational efficiency, as well as broaden our contributions to the success of Diamond Trust Bank’s digital product innovation and expansion.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Network International.

Contact us:
Corporate Communications
Network International
Dubai, UAE
Tel: +9714 303 2431
lambert.espedido@network.global

Srishti Soni
ASDA’A BCW
+9714 450 7600
srishti.soni@bcw-global.com

About Network International:
Network International is the Middle East and Africa’s largest and leading digital payments company. Our purpose is to help businesses and economies grow by simplifying payments and commerce. We operate in 50+ countries serving governments, banks, fintechs, merchants and public sector companies. We have over 2,000 digital payments experts based in our markets serving over 200 financial institutions and over 150,000+ merchants. 

About Diamond Trust Bank:
Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) is a leading tier-one East African commercial banking franchise operating in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. The Bank is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

With a rich history spanning 78 years, DTB has continuously evolved to meet the dynamic needs of its diverse clientele, offering a wide range of banking and insurance solutions for the retail, SME and corporate banking customer segments. At the core of DTB’s operations is an unwavering commitment to innovation and customer-centricity, complemented by an extensive 155-plus branch network and robust digital platforms seamlessly integrated across the region.

DTB’s reputation as an award-winning financial services provider stems from its relentless pursuit of excellence in customer experience. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and best practices, DTB continues to set new benchmarks in the industry, ensuring that every interaction with the bank is not just transactional but transformative.

For more information, visit www.DTBAfrica.com

Investment in African critical minerals are on the rise, with global entities acquiring assets, funding upstream projects and developing midstream and logistics facilities. Over the past three years, Zambia (http://apo-opa.co/3yk2ymJ) ­– Africa’s second-largest copper producer – has recorded $10 billion in investments (http://apo-opa.co/3WibyRd) in its mining sector. These investments are pushing the country closer to its goal of increasing copper production to one million tons by 2026 and three million tons by 2030, with several new projects coming online. To promote opportunities and drive fresh investment across African markets, the upcoming Critical Minerals Africa Summit (http://apo-opa.co/3WzznFR) will feature a dedicated Investment Forum.

The Critical Minerals Africa 2024 summit on November 6 – 7 serves to position Africa as the primary investment destination for critical minerals. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2024 conference (http://apo-opa.co/3VMQTpp) on November 4 – 8, offering delegates access to the full scope of energy, mining and finance leaders in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com

The Investment Forum will delve into investment opportunities across the spectrum of critical minerals and rare earth projects, highlighting how African governments are partnering with global stakeholders to create an enabling environment for market expansion.

Zambia introduced the Mineral Royalty Tax Reform in 2022 – reducing mineral royalty rates for investors – resulting in a surge of fresh investments. In June 2024, mining firm Jubilee Metals Group (http://apo-opa.co/3WiXJlA) acquired two operational copper mines to support efforts to increase activities at its Sable Refinery in Zambia. Canadian mining firm Ivanhoe Mines (http://apo-opa.co/4d4bNqc) also announced that is investing in the expansion of a concentrator at the Kipushi Copper Mine, aiming to increase output to 960,000 tons of copper annually by 2030, up from 140,000 tons in 2024. The UAE’s International Resources Holding is providing $300 million to enhance copper production at Mopani Mines, following its acquisition of a 51% stake in a $1.1 billion deal in April 2024. The Investment Forum will showcase lucrative prospects for global investors within Zambia’s copper value chain.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe (http://apo-opa.co/3WwoAfw) banned the export of raw lithium in 2022 in a bid to attract investments across the midstream sector to value add its lithium output. The regulation aims to help the country account for 20% of global lithium demand, build a $12 billion economy by 2030 and has resulted in an influx in new investments and project launches. Mining revenue (http://apo-opa.co/4bPAEwM) has grown from $3.5 billion in 2020 to $9.77 billion in 2023, as a result. Mining firms including Rwizi Rukuru, Shengxiang Investments, Chengxin Lithium Group, Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt and Sinomine Resource Group have invested in large-scale lithium processing facilities in 2023 and 2024. The Investment Forum will feature stakeholders from Zimbabwe’s critical mineral sector in panel discussions and exclusive networking sessions, highlighting investment opportunities across the mining value chain.

With the global demand for critical minerals set to increase by four times by 2030 – driven by increasing adoption of clean energy technologies – Africa, which holds 30% of the world’s total critical mineral reserves, is well positioned to attract global investors. South Africa holds 80% of the world’s platinum group metals, Morocco 70% of total phosphate, the Democratic Republic of Congo the world’s largest cobalt reserves, Guinea-Conakry the world’s second-largest bauxite reserves, and Gabon the world’s second-largest manganese resources. CMA will spotlight these resources and partnership opportunities available for global stakeholders as African countries unlock their full mineral potential for GDP growth.

“Africa’s critical mineral resources present an opportunity for the continent to forge partnerships on infrastructure development and economic growth with global investors. We hope to see an increase in investments flowing into Africa as global mining stakeholders capitalize on the continent’s vast resources and strategic locations to feed the global demand,” stated Rachelle Kasongo, Project Director at CMA-organizer, Energy Capital&Power.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

Cofinity Group, Inc. (CGI) (www.CofinityGroup.com), a leader in the data center industry for over 15 years, is pleased to announce strategic Channel Partnership Agreements with leading data center providers in Africa including PAIX Data Centres, Rack Centre, Raxio, and Digital Realty which includes Digital Realty’s African entities; iColo, Teraco and Digital Realty Nigeria.   Collectively, these data center providers operate in markets that represent over 75% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP across 11 countries.

The pace of technology adoption and digitization is accelerating in Africa, driving the need for highly secure data center facilities with exceptional levels of power availability, redundancy, and connectivity.   “CGI is in a unique position to help enterprises secure and optimize their mission-critical applications in key African markets with experienced, trusted data center operators. We have had the privilege of working with the leading data center providers in Africa and we are confident that enterprises will benefit from our deep knowledge and streamlined commercial processes”, said Ray Lawless President of CGI.   

“Cofinity Group’s initiative is further evidence of the surging demand in Africa for the services of data center companies.  We welcome CGI’s role in bringing together key sectors, such as Fintech, with data center providers in Africa, continuing the transformation of Africa’s digital infrastructure and accelerating economic growth”, said Ayotunde Coker, Chairman of the Africa Data Centres Association.

Enterprises opting for a colocation solution can secure their mission-critical operations in a cost-effective manner, benefitting from the data center’s robust infrastructure and connectivity, while also allowing for future growth with access to expansion space and increased power capacity.  CGI’s vast experience in various markets and close relationships with these data center operators provides a unique opportunity to assist enterprises looking to migrate to a quality colocation data center solution in Africa.

More information regarding our channel partner arrangements can be found on our website at www.CofinityGroup.com/partners

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cofinity Group Inc..

About Cofinity Group, Inc.:
Cofinity Group has worked extensively with global data center operators since 2008, assisting these fast-growing businesses by arranging financing for organic growth and M&A transactions. We have extensive experience working with management teams to develop business cases and long-term plans for delivering profitable growth and establishing KPIs to track business performance.  In addition, we have worked with client management teams to prepare investment analyses for over 100 data center builds and expansions across many continents. To learn more about Cofinity Group,  please visit www.CofinityGroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn (http://apo-opa.co/46dxJwF).