Day: September 26, 2022

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WHO South-East Asia Region polio-free, accelerated efforts needed in view of increased risks: experts

The WHO South-East Asia Region sustained its polio-free status despite disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic but needs to scale-up measures in view of the persisting and increased risks of polio globally.

“Countries have been making efforts, but gaps persist, specially at sub-national level. We need to scale-up surveillance and immunization coverage and update our polio outbreak response capacities to respond rapidly and timely in the event of a polio outbreak,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia as the South-East Asia Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication met here to review the situation in the Region.

The chairs of national certification committees and global certification commission; representatives of donor and partner agencies and WHO participated in the two-day meeting earlier this week.

The Commission concluded that the Region has not had any case of wild polio virus or circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV). However, risks persist due to continued circulation of wild poliovirus type 1 in endemic countries bordering the Region, as well as due to the cVDPVs being reported from several countries of other Regions.

“The situation requires constant monitoring until global polio eradication is achieved,” the Commission recommended.

The Regional Director said globally polio remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Earlier this month, New York declared a state of emergency following the detection of poliovirus in wastewater samples. In recent months cases of wild poliovirus type 1 have been reported in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Malawi and Mozambique.

In June, the Thirty-second Polio IHR Emergency Committee assessed the risk of international spread of cVDPV2 or circulating vaccine derived poliovirus type 2, as high, in view of COVID-19 outbreak impacting routine immunizations services in many countries. cVDPVs are a risk in areas with low immunization coverage.

“Today, coverage in the Region of the bivalent oral polio vaccine and inactivated polio vaccine has for the most part stabilized or improved since 2020; however, the trajectory in several countries continues to be cause for concern,” Dr Khetrapal Singh said.

Though the Region was able to maintain global surveillance standards throughout the COVID-19 response, there are variations at national and sub-national levels that need to be addressed, she said.

Emphasizing on sustaining adequate resources amid immense fiscal stress, Dr Khetrapal Singh said, enabling polio networks in the Region to strengthen immunization systems and carry out other public health functions will help polio-priority countries maintain core capacities and infrastructure until global polio eradication is achieved.

“The last year two and a half years – almost three – have not been easy, but the Region’s continued polio-free status is a testament to the dedication and commitment of polio programme workforce, many of whom have significantly contributed to the COVID-19 response, and the steadfast resolve of donors and partners,” the Regional Director said.

At the two-day meeting on 21 and 22 September, updates on polio situation were also shared from WHO Africa Region, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO European Region and WHO Western Pacific Region.

 

 

Source: World Health Organization

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Huawei accueille le 9e Sommet mondial du rail à Berlin

BERLIN, 26 septembre 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Parallèlement à l’InnoTrans 2022, Huawei a organisé le 9e Sommet mondial du rail de Huawei, dont le thème était « Conduire la numérisation dans le rail du futur, créer une nouvelle valeur ensemble ». Le sommet a réuni des leaders mondiaux de l’industrie, des partenaires de l’écosystème et des experts techniques pour discuter de l’avenir de l’industrie ferroviaire.

Lors du sommet, Huawei a lancé la solution FRMCS (Future Railway Mobile Communication System), qui vise à aider à construire un système de communication mobile ferroviaire plus sûr, plus efficace et plus intelligent. M. Wang Guoyu, COO de Huawei Aviation & Rail BU, et d’autres invités ont assisté au lancement.

Launch of Huawei's FRMCS Solution

« Huawei aide ses clients à passer au numérique. Nous utilisons des technologies innovantes – telles que FRMCS, Wi-Fi 6 et les réseaux tout optique – pour remodeler les connexions, reconstruire des plates-formes numériques et faciliter le partage des données et la collaboration entre plusieurs systèmes de service dans l’industrie ferroviaire. Nous espérons permettre des opérations ferroviaires intelligentes et l’O&M grâce à l’innovation conjointe avec nos partenaires », a déclaré M. Xiang Xi, vice-président de Huawei Aviation & Rail BU.

Adhérant au concept d’ouverture et de coopération, Huawei s’engage à conduire la transformation numérique avec les clients du secteur ferroviaire et les partenaires de l’écosystème. Nous complétons les forces de chacun, innovons ensemble, explorons les normes de l’industrie et construisons un écosystème pour la numérisation du rail.

Lors du sommet, Jeffrey Sim, PDG de SBS Transit Rail Business, a expliqué le parcours numérique de l’entreprise. Vincenzo Bloise, directeur des ventes internationales d’Almaviva, a présenté comment les solutions TIC modernes peuvent stimuler la numérisation des chemins de fer et M. Li Jie, président de Huawei Enterprise Wireless Domain, a montré comment la solution FRMCS de Huawei permet la numérisation des chemins de fer. En outre, Steven Xiong, directeur technique pour l’industrie ferroviaire de Huawei Aviation & Rail BU, a prononcé un discours-programme intitulé « Piloter la numérisation du rail du futur, créer une nouvelle valeur ensemble » et a partagé des cas de numérisation de l’industrie.

Huawei a exposé ses solutions innovantes et ses produits phares pour l’industrie ferroviaire à l’InnoTrans 2022. Il s’agit notamment d’infrastructures TIC de pointe, d’énergie verte, de rail urbain intelligent et de solutions ferroviaires intelligentes.

Huawei vise à remodeler la connectivité ferroviaire et à permettre un développement sûr, intelligent, vert et durable. Nous continuerons à nous plonger dans des pratiques innovantes et à déployer ses TIC de pointe afin de poser une base numérique pour l’industrie. Huawei créera des applications intelligentes en collaboration avec ses partenaires, faisant ainsi progresser régulièrement la transformation numérique de l’industrie.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1906457/image_986294_44382169.jpg

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Uplifting the youth of Saint Lucia

CASTRIES, Saint Lucia, Sept. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Countries across the globe have recognised the importance of investing in their youth. Beyond providing basic amenities such as healthcare, education, employment and housing to their citizens, developing economies need to act purposefully to uplift their young populations. These efforts largely define how rapidly a nation will advance.

From this perspective, the government of Saint Lucia is proactively investing in its citizens – with its youth at the top of its list of priorities. The country is advancing at a significant pace, particularly in terms of infrastructure development and its economic undertakings. This growth and development are directly linked to its Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), launched in 2016.

The major inflow of funds generated by the Citizenship by Investment Programme has propelled Saint Lucia’s economy, promising a brighter future ahead for its young population.

Rates of employment on the island have improved significantly over the last few years. This is directly linked to the development of various multi-million dollar projects. These projects have been stimulated by foreign investment generated by the country’s CIP.

The advancement of infrastructure is opening a wide range of opportunities not only for investors but also for the country’s youth across a diverse range of industries which include hospitality, service, architecture, banking, and broadcasting. Saint Lucia is growing, and so too are its people.

Recently, the Global Hyatt group signed plans to construct the 345-room Grand Hyatt luxury hotel in Saint Lucia. The project will provide employment for at least 2000 of the island’s citizens through opportunities in construction, operations and management. While providing a major boost to the economy, it will also create significant opportunities for aspiring youth to grow professionally and achieve financial independence. This is just one of the many examples of how foreign investment is directly benefitting the country.

Mathurin is a media and communications professional in Saint Lucia who is reaching new heights in her career. She has expressed confidence about the role that the CIP plays.

“It makes me so happy every time when our talent and accomplishments are celebrated. For me as a young Saint Lucian, as a young creator, I am looking forward to projects like CIP helping us channel resources in the right direction,” said Mathurin.

Mathurin looks forward to the programme providing her with a wider platform to exhibit her talents and further hone her skills. With the development and growth of CIP in Saint Lucia, she is just one of the country’s young professionals who will benefit from the increased investment.

Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme allows foreign investors to become citizens of the country in exchange for investing in the country’s economy. It is a much sought-after programme, ranking third in the CBI Index of 2022 and scoring 87% with 78 points.

The CBI Index is released annually by the Professional Wealth Management Magazine (PWM), published by the Financial Times. It provides a comprehensive evaluation of citizenship by investment programmes in thirteen jurisdictions.

The Index compares jurisdictions according to nine parameters, known as the “nine pillars of excellence.” These include: the minimum investment outlay, the extent to which investors can obtain citizenship for family, the timeline for securing citizenship, the due diligence of the process, ease of processing, freedom of movement within and between countries, mandatory travel or residence conditions, and the certainty and robustness of the programme.

Saint Lucia has particularly excelled in the minimum investment outlay, freedom of movement and ease of processing pillars. This excellent score has drawn a diverse range of individuals with adequate resources to invest in the country. The programme has thus proved mutually beneficial – helping both the country and investors.

The establishment of wider business networks is yet another aspect of the programme from which young Saint Lucians profit. CIP investors often bring significant entrepreneurial networks from their respective fields to the country. Working and collaborating with investors thus provides a great platform for existing businesses to grow, stimulating the development of new businesses and industries as well. While investors receive a stable and secure environment from which to operate their businesses, young professionals have the opportunity to learn from experts in their field and to grow to their maximum capacity.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the government’s emphasis has also shifted towards developing and uplifting public health infrastructure and services. CIP funds are therefore also being directed to the health sector. Recently, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs donated a haematology analyser and immunoassay analyser to St. Jude Hospital in the coastal town of Vieux Fort. These additions to the healthcare infrastructure will strengthen the delivery of diagnostic testing in the country. In this instance, both young and elderly citizens will reap the benefits of CIP funds.

This is just one of the various impacts of resources generated by Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme. However, it is not just the country’s citizens but also investors who benefit from the programme. They gain a safe, secure and stable environment from which to grow their families and businesses.

SAINT LUCIA: CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAMME (CIP)

Saint Lucia is the latest Caribbean country to open its borders to Citizenship by Investment. Although the programme was launched just six years ago in 2016, it is already considered one of the top three countries for Citizenship by Investment, according to the CBI Index of 2022. The CIP of Saint Lucia provides numerous benefits such as:

1: Providing investors with global mobility

2: Delivering opportunities for diversifying investors’ portfolios

3: Planning wealth and business expansion overseas

4: Gaining a citizenship that can be passed down to future generations.

Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment programme is also notable for the ease of its application process. This includes five steps:

Step 1: Completion of the application by applicants.

Step 2: Submission of the application via the CIP Portal.

Step 3: Document verification by the CIP Unit and the undergoing of due-diligence processes.

Step 4: The selection or rejection of the application by the board.

Step 5: The provision of certification, subject to selection.

Contact Information:
Nandi Canning
nandi.canning@csglobalpartners.com
+27 82 821 5664

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Dominica paves clear path to climate resiliency amid climate-related disasters

ROSEAU, Dominica, Sept. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The climate crisis is real. Several severe weather patterns are confirming this.

Take Pakistan, the scale of the recent deadly flooding in that country is staggering to say the least. Floods triggered by early monsoon rains began in June and remained intense throughout the season. A full one-third of Pakistan is underwater—an amount of land that exceeds the total area of the United Kingdom. More than 30 million people or 15 percent of the population have been affected – 1,200 people have lost their lives and half a million are homeless.

After Hurricane Maria left an estimated 90 percent of buildings damaged or destroyed in Dominica in 2019, the small Caribbean Island of just 70,000 has been on a clear path to become the first climate-resilient nation by 2030.

According to Germanwatch’s 2021 Global Climate Risk Index – an Index that analyses to what extent countries and regions have been affected by impacts of weather-related loss event – Dominica ranked 11th out of 150 countries at risk based on an analysis of extreme weather events between 2000 and 2019. Two factors were cited for Dominica: the impact of global warming on rising sea levels that increase the risk of storm surges, and the increase in the strength of hurricanes. Dominica is at risk to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, floods and landslides, and hurricanes.

The Prime Minister of Dominica, Dr Roosevelt Skerrit, has been an advocate and voice for sustainability, urging nations across the globe to implement serious and tangible measures to deal with global warming as they impact smaller nations more acutely.

He recently conveyed his condolences over material and human losses caused by the floods in Pakistan and again called upon the international community to stand together to act against climate change in order to mitigate its often-deadly consequences. He said, “Together, we must ensure a better future for our coming generations.”

Taking to Twitter he stated, “The Commonwealth of Dominica stands in solidarity with Pakistan at this time of crisis. Climate change is destroying the world, and it is now our time to take responsible actions.”

Dominica is leading the fight against climate change, and the government continues to invest in new projects and programmes to achieve their goal of resiliency and having the strength to fight back when catastrophic events occur.

This year marks five years since Dominica witnessed the witnessed the deadliest Hurricane Maria.

Dominica’s objective to become resilient by 2030 needs around EC$4 billion to EC$5 billion in funding and around 40 percent of that funding could come from funds generated through the country’s citizenship by investment programme.

In response to the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria, Dominica launched a climate resilience policy framework to help guide its recovery journey in the form of the National Resilience Development Strategy 2030 (NRDS). The NRDS speaks to the overall policy framework of the government and summaries 43 resilience goals desired to assure that development is people centred.

The Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan of Dominica aims to build strong communities, build a robust economy, have a well-planned and durable infrastructure; strengthen institutional systems and, protect and sustain natural and other unique assets.

It centres around three pillars: structural resilience, financial resilience, and post-disaster resilience.

Pillar 1: Structural resilience:

Under this pillar, the government of Dominica strives to build a resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding natural disasters, including category five hurricanes. It includes the construction of climate-resilient homes, healthcare centres, roads, bridges, airports and schools.

The revolutionary “Housing Initiative” will deliver climate-resilient homes to the public, who were displaced as a result of Tropical Storm Erika and Hurricane Maria in 2015 and 2017, respectively. The government is aiming to construct more than 5 000 climate-resilient homes and has already handed over keys to about 1 500 families who were displaced by Hurricane Maria.

The construction of 40 climate-resilient homes in the Salybia constituency commenced in February 2022.

In July of this year, Dominica also launched the “Future Housing Programme” which provides reasonably priced homes to youth aged 45 or younger.

The World Bank Emergency Agriculture Livelihoods and Climate Resilience Project is a five-year projects worth US$25 million and it aims to restore agricultural livelihoods and enhance the climate resilience of farmers and fishers affected by Hurricane Maria.

The project will ensure:

  • Farmers adopt new technologies and climate-smart practices for increasing modification and climate resilience in the crop, livestock, and fishing sectors;
  • Reconstruction and climate proofing of key agriculture infrastructure.

Several bridges have been built and damaged roads have been rehabilitated with the inclusion of slope retention walls and expanded sections to increase capacity and facilitate the movement of larger construction machinery.

Pillar 2: Financial Resilience:

The government of Dominica is implementing institutional fiscal reform to ensure stronger fiscal resilience which will aid in the strengthening of debt sustainability utilising several key institutional fiscal areas.

Pillar 3: Post Disaster and Social Resilience

This pillar helps encourage farmers to plant more root crops which are more resilient to heavy rain and wind, increases farmer training programmes and government assistance with the provision of seeds and fertilizers. The government’s plan to strengthen food security, includes specific policies for the resiliency of the agriculture and fisheries industries.

During a time when larger and more developed countries have been holding talk-shops about finding accurate solutions to climate change, Dominica has emerged with concrete and efficient plans and strategies to mitigate the effects of these global issues.

Nandi Canning (PR Dominica) nandi.canning@csglobalpartners.com +27828215664

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CNBM Open Day: Build a “forest factory”and guard our green home

LUSAKA, Zambia, Sept. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from GLOBAL TIMES ONLINE:

Recently, China National Building Material Group Co., Ltd. (CNBM) held an online open day at the Zambia Industrial Park in Lusaka, capital of Zambia, and focused on “intelligent manufacturing” to promote “environmental protection”, striving to realize the corporate mission of “materials create a better world”. It showcased the company’s social responsibility and its efforts to create a better life for local people.

CNBM Zambia Industrial Park has always adhered to the concept of green development. Control energy consumption from the source to improve resource utilization, actively respond to climate change and take the initiative to reduce carbon emissions, advocate green life and share environmental protection experience, protect biodiversity and build a beautiful Zambia together, developing advanced environmental protection practices, this “forest factory” will always purse green operation with eco-friendly activities.

In addition, “intelligent manufacturing” is another shining card of the CNBM Zambia Industrial Park. The industrial park focuses on innovating and developing green frontier technologies, strengthening energy management and establishing a sound energy management system to save energy consumption, constructing a sewage treatment system, installing dust collection equipment, and taking the lead in adopting the crushing and conveying atomization spray system, empowered by technology, the industrial park is on the way to accelerate its growth.

China National Building Materials Zambia Industrial Park, the “forest factory” incorporates environmental protection concepts and planning, highlights green building materials, and achieves new connotations of green development, attaining green and sustainable development, and guarding a green home together with the people of Zambia.

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1906364/video.mp4

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