Maseru-To address the delays in detecting and responding to health threats, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently conducted an event-based surveillance training for 3, 455 community leaders and village health workers in Mohales Hoek, Butha Buthe, Qachas Nek, and Thaba Tseka Districts.

Event-based surveillance involves systematically collecting, monitoring, and assessing information related to events that may threaten public health. These events could range from disease outbreaks to environmental disasters and other health-related incidents. Event-based surveillance strengthens public health preparedness and response mechanisms by proactively identifying and managing health events, enabling timely intervention and control measures.

An Intra-Action Review (IAR) conducted in 2021 revealed that the adverse events following immunization (AEFI) surveillance system in Lesotho remains weak. One of the reasons contributing to this weakness is inadequate knowledge of health workers on the prevention, detection, reporting, management, and investigation of adverse events following immunization.

“Establishment of an Event-based Surveillance system is therefore a critical step toward building a resilient public health infrastructure capable of proactive detection and management of health events. By prioritizing early detection and response, this system will contribute significantly to safeguarding community well-being and reducing the impact of health emergencies”, says WHO Expanded Programme on Immunisation(EPI) Consultant, Francis Abobo.

Abobo explained that village health workers play a crucial role in event-based surveillance, as they are often the first point of contact within communities and possess valuable insights into local health dynamics. Their on-the-ground experiences and observations can contribute significantly to the enhancement and effectiveness of event-based surveillance systems.

“Capacitating village health community workers on Community-based surveillance will assist in detecting diseases at an early stage within their communities hence preventing the spread of diseases before they can cause a burden to our health system”, says Malebonyane Mahase, a field epidemiologist, at Ministry of Health.

With support from WHO and its partners, event-based surveillance has been introduced in Lesotho.

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

County officials, business leaders and leading non-government organizations reviewed the findings of a study that looked at ways to create jobs and grow the economy in Turkana County.

Turkana is home to Kakuma, one of the world’s largest refugee camps. But many people in Turkana are agro-pastoralists, giving few opportunities for refugees to integrate into the local economy.

A major study of county’s market looked at which areas offer the best prospects for growth, and at how new businesses could link into existing value chains.

A key finding indicated untapped market potential in digital services, artisanal goods, and agriculture. Beekeeping showed especially strong prospects. The study also revealed a growing demand for digital services. That resonates with the large, tech-savvy youth population – despite a lack of digital infrastructure, especially among the refugee population.

Kenya hosts over 770,000 refugees, with 288,000 in Turkana alone. The county in Kenya’s northwest borders Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

The value chain assessment report lays the foundation for a four-year project where the International Trade Centre (ITC) will work with partners to grow small businesses in Turkana. The project is called Promoting Sustainable Socio-Economic Development and Creating Market-Based Livelihood Opportunities for Refugees and Host Communities.

The project is funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). It’s part of the innovative Socioeconomic Hubs for Integrated Refugee Inclusion in Kenya (SHIRIKA) Plan, which seeks to transform refugee camps into integrated settlements. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a key part of that effort.

‘Our expectation is that we will tailor and make activities that will support the provision of business development services to traders in refugee hosting areas of Kakuma and host communities,’ said the Director of Trade for Turkana County Government, James Lokwale.

He spoke at a workshop hosted by ITC on 26 June 2024 in Lodwar, the Turkana County seat. The event brought together County officials, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and organizations such as Good Neighbors Kenya, Amahoro Coalition, Inkomoko, Turkana Christian Development Mission, World Relief, LOKADO, Apir Turkana and ACDI/VOCA.

Local organizations in Lodwar and Kakuma contributed valuable insights from their experiences in the agricultural sector. Their input will be instrumental as the project begins its activities in 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

Africa’s renowned business tycoon and leader, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, recently paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., during the President’s recent visit to Nigeria to attend the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit.

Held in Lagos, Nigeria, the visit served as a pivotal platform for discussions on bolstering economic opportunities for Liberia.  

This strategic engagement not only underscores Aliko Dangote’s influential role in boosting cross-border business cooperation, but it also exemplifies the significance of private sector involvement in advancing regional economic integration and development for Liberia.

In a complementary development, former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo also graced President Boakai with a visit, further solidifying the enduring bonds between Nigeria and Liberia and signaling a collective commitment to fortifying relations.

Dangote’s interaction with President Boakai epitomizes the resonance between private sector leaders and political authorities in propelling sustainable economic growth and fostering a conducive environment for investment and trade especially for Liberia.

President Boakai views these engagements as catalysts for stimulating inclusive and mutually beneficial partnerships that ultimately redound to the prosperity and progress of Liberia.

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

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) aims to ensure that products imported into the EU do not contribute to deforestation. It’s crucial for Ethiopian and African farmers to comply quickly to maintain access to the EU market, which is vital for their economic stability and growth.

“If farmers and producers do not comply with EUDR, they risk losing orders from EU buyers, leading to significant economic losses,” said Gregory Sampson, Solutions Architect at the UN International Trade Centre (ITC). “As of now, there is no indication of an extension or flexibility on the December 30, 2024 deadline, making prompt action essential,” he added.

ITC provides technical assistance, capacity building, and training to help countries meet EUDR regulations, supporting both farmers and producers, and government and industry bodies.

But meeting EUDR requirements by the end of 2024 is a major challenge, particularly for Ethiopian coffee exporters, as many of the stakeholders are not aware of the upcoming regulations.

In response, Orbit Innovation Hub in Addis Ababa, in partnership with the ITC Netherlands Trust Fund V Ethiopia Tech project, organized a symposium dedicated to exploring the potential of agritech in improving access to markets and finance.

Some 140 representative from the tech sector, local and international NGOs, government, banks, farmers and exporters attended the symposium to learn the importance of adopting traceability systems, understanding the regulation’s requirements, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation.

“Events like the symposium in Ethiopia are critical as they provide a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and exchanging best practices related to EUDR compliance,” Sampson said.

“We are facing a very short deadline, and one thing we understood from the discussions is that knowledge is very limited,” added Saminas Seyfu, Orbit’s director of communication and community development. “Although agriculture and coffee is our backbone, there is no clear strategy on how to deal with the EU changes.”

The European Union is Ethiopia’s biggest single market. With 70% of Ethiopia’s population living in rural areas and 85% of agricultural production coming from smallholder farmers, reliable access to markets like the EU can boost productivity, increase incomes, and strengthen food security in the country.

But although smallholder farmers play a critical role in Ethiopia, they often face significant challenges in developing sustainable practices and accessing markets due to limited infrastructure, knowledge, information, and resources.

Seyfu believes agri-tech can offer these producers a way to overcome these barriers and use technology to level up to international standards. Tech companies at the symposium suggested creating a matchmaking platform for agricultural ventures to find tech companies to collaborate with, and at least one tech start-up has already opened discussions with a coffee exporter on a new solution on traceability standards.

“There are so many complicated issues, some of them are cultural, others are digital literacy and collaboration between stakeholder companies. Everyone, from financial institutions, customs authorities, exporter certification providers, port inspectors, all need to understand what EUDR means. The EU is our biggest market; this is not something we can ignore,” said Seyfu.

Early compliance on the EUDR will enhance the trust of EU buyers. Many of them may start diverting their orders and looking to source coffee from other countries that are prepared for EUDR, noted Sampson.

There has been an increasing demand for ITC’s support in providing more assistance and training to ensure comprehensive compliance, and ITC is currently developing the Deforestation Free Trade Gateway, an online platform which will support small producers across the world comply with EUDR requirements, and connect them to international buyers.

“Commitment from the government, the private sector and business associations will prove  critical, and leveraging tech in agriculture is the best way forward,” Seyfu said. “We need to invest in this as agriculture is a way of life for most Ethiopian families. From the household to the nation, agriculture is everything.”

“This is not just about Ethiopia,” he added. “We need to also engage the African Union and make this a continent-wide agenda. Ethiopia can lead the way.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.