Day: June 3, 2023

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Economists Call For International Collaboration To Curb Challenges In Economic Planning

The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) in partnership with African Econometric Society (AFES) and support of the government held a conference in Nairobi calling for international collaboration so as to curb challenges of available data in economic planning.

The three-day conference titled ‘Bringing rigour and evidence in economic planning in Africa’ aims to offer access to reliable, credible and up to date economic data in a quest to chart favourable plans in Africa.

It also seeks to use economic theory, mathematics and statistical inference to its phenomena in policy making objectives.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u highlighted the need for reliable economic statistics and data provided by professionals to aid development planning in the continent.

Ndung’u called for concerted efforts among policy makers and management technocrats in the country and Africa as well beyond to address the challenge of current credible and reliable data in economic planning.

He added that there is a need for adequate economists, statisticians and econometricians who are dependable and available on a timely basis widespread, regionally and internationally so as to improve the sector.

‘Most African countries are usually in arrears, especially within the National Accounts Statistics. As a policy maker, I know how frustrating it is to work with scanty data or stale evidence,’ disclosed Ndung’u.

Royal Danish Embassy Ambassador to Kenya Ole Thonke emphasised the need to enhance research to unleash the continent’s potential addressing its structural, fundamental and economic issues and challenges citing that many African countries still struggle with imports and exports in spite of their growth and moving forward.

‘I am a firm believer that Kenya and Africa have abundance of skilled manpower and natural resources when put to good use via better research and police will unleash more opportunities for a better future consequently drive our economy forward,’ said Thonke.

Echoing his remarks, AERC Executive Director Prof Theophile Azomahou acknowledged that that research plays a key role in economic development and as a leading economic policy and research institution they are working on advancing the role of econometrics in the country.

Azomahou stated that they are geared towards strengthening the capacity of researchers and graduate students in Africa by advocating and impacting economic knowledge and policies, noting the regional conference for Africa as the first step in the right direction.

‘This week prefigures the future of global knowledge and excellence in putting our feet into those big giants,’ said Azomahou.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Makueni Residents Benefit From Free Neurosurgical Medical Camp

Hundreds of Makueni residents have benefited from a free Neurosurgical medical camp organised by the county government in partnership with the Brain Tumour Association of Kenya (BTAK) and the University of Nairobi (UON).

The three days free medical camp aims at treating and creating awareness to patients suffering from tumours on their heads kicked off Thursday at the Makueni Referral Hospital, Mother and child wing in Wote.

The camp has also brought together a team of specialised surgeons from BTAK and Makueni doctors including 50 medical students from UON who will learn how to conduct complex surgeries.

‘So far everything has gone on well, and today we intend to operate four patients, already the surgeries have started and two patients are at the theatre,’ said Dr. Christopher Musau a consultant neurosurgeon and the Patron of BTAK while addressing the media at the Makueni Referral Hospital, Mother and child wing in Wote on Friday.

‘On the first day, we were able to attend to 100 patients and identified six persons who needed the neurosurgical services,’ added Musau. The screening which is currently underway at the hospital will end Saturday.

The patients were identified by a team of medical practitioners who offered free medical screening that took place at the sub county hospitals as of 29th Monday this week.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo lauded the team for availing the rare medical services to the residents from the Makueni and neighboring counties.

‘We have also agreed that if they find it necessary to cascade the treatment to Nairobi, where the affected patients will access the medical service free,’ said Mutula.

Mutula added that his administration is committed to offer a parcel of land to establish a neurosurgical center in Wote in an effort to provide medical services to the region besides training students.

He added that plans are underway to enhance the neurosurgical camp to a regular program.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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MP, DCC Link Illicit Brews, Substance Abuse To Insecurity

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera and the Deputy County Commissioner Moses Gicharu have declared illicit liquor and substance abuse as a threat to the sub county’s future.

The duo made the assertion Thursday during Madaraka day celebrations at Archbishop Njenga Girls High School grounds in Chekalini location.

Gicharu said the fight against illicit brews and other hard drugs needs concerted of security agencies, administrators, elected leaders and the community if it is to be won.

He lauded Nabwera and Chekalini Ward Representative Titus Kwoma for coming out aggressively to fight illicit liquor that is endangering the Lugari community’s future.

‘The two leaders have exceptionally done well. They have come out and joined us in the fight without the fear of losing votes. As elected leaders just like us the administrators they have realized that if nothing is done Lugari will be no more in the next few years,’ Gicharu said.

‘Let us work together to eliminate these brews and other drugs so that we can realize the community’s development agenda,’ said Gicharu and warned bar owners of dire consequences if they continue breaching the operating time stipulated in their licenses.

‘We cannot have a community that drinks from morning to evening without working. We have a number of licensed bar owners within Lugari who are operating outside the required time. Here in Lugari there is no single bar that qualifies to operate for 24 hours,’ he said.

Nabwera who is a first-time lawmaker said there is no way the constituency can be at peace when its residents’ security is not guaranteed.

He said: ‘Our DCC we have a big challenge in our hands. The biggest issues affecting Lugari’s security negatively are aimless consumption of illicit brews and smoking of bhang and other hard drugs.’

‘We cannot have a constituency where we drink for 24 hours. We are not preventing anyone from taking alcohol but what we are saying is that let us do it at the right time,’ he added.

Nabwera urged illicit brew makers to venture into alternative business activities that will not destroy the community in the long run. ‘Today I want to announce here that we are kick-starting here in Chekalini ward the ‘rehabilitation’ program we recently launched in

Mautuma ward,’ he noted.

‘If you are an illicit brew maker and you want to shift to a different business just register with the chief and we shall take you for training put you into groups of 20 people and give your business capital. I have grown up in Lugari and I never witnessed our parents take alcohol in the morning as it is happening now,’ he said.

Nabwera appealed to members of the public to cooperate with administrators, security agencies and other government officers to transform the constituency by eliminating illicit liquor and drugs as nobody will come from outside to do that for them.

‘We must agree. If we want our children to go to school, study and excel we cannot afford to sell bhang and alcohol next to their schools,’ he stated.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Bafoussam: Population sensitized on environmental protection, health risks

The population of the city of Bafoussam was sensitized to the harmful effects of the use of plastic packaging. They were also encouraged to keep their environments off, of plastic waste, as means of environmental protection.

This was during an awareness walk against the use of plastic packaging and collection which took place in the city of Bafoussam on Thursday, June 1, 2023, prior to the commemoration of the 51st edition of the World Environment Day on June 5, 2023.

This year’s Environment Day is commemorated under the theme “Solution to Plastic Pollution”.

Throughout the walk, in addition to the collection of plastic packaging and tree planting, essential messages on the consequences of the use of plastic materials on human health and the environment were passed across.

The public walk was led by the secretary general at the office of the West Regional Governor, Adrey EPENTE TAZEU.

The secretary-general said that “this sensitization is to help the population to have the habit not only to stop the use of these plastics but if they are used they should be properly disposed of. They should avoid disastrous consequences, especially in their health which is caused by plastic usage, non-biodegradable packaging, and plastic pollution”.

Still linked to the celebration of the 51st edition of World Environment Day, some 500 plants were planted in Bamelo in the district of Babadjou.

The apotheosis of this whole week of activities was scheduled to take place on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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NEMA Spearheads Clean Up Of River In Kisii Town

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has partnered with the Kisii County Government and other environmental organisations to clean up River Nyakomisaro in Kisii town as a build-up activity towards the commemoration of the World Environmental Day slated for June 5.

Speaking to KNA during the activity, NEMA Board Member Mr. Amos Andama said the clean-up of the river is meant to set an example to the community members so that they can take up the cleaning of all rivers within the county.

Andama noted the solid wastes and sewage that are directed towards the river have greatly contributed to the contamination of the water leading to the contracting of diseases by humans.

The Director challenged the community members to take part in the conservation of the environment adding that no one will do it for them.

Kitutu Central Deputy County Commissioner, Elizabeth Atemi said they had agreed as a community to focus on cleaning the river because access to clean water ensures that the community members are healthy.

Atemi urged the residents to continue embracing waste segregation by separating biodegradable waste from other solid waste like plastics that highly contribute to the pollution of the environment.

In line with this year’s World Environmental Day 2023 theme of beating plastic pollution, the DCC pointed out that they will mount an operation in the county to impound all the plastic bags that have been sneaked into business premises so that they can end the menace of plastic bags.

She encouraged the residents of Kisii County to be at the forefront in undertaking various environmental activities including the planting of indigenous tree seedlings as part of the efforts towards achieving 30 percent tree cover and 15 billion trees across the country by 2030.

A spot check by KNA revealed that some sections of River Nyakomisaro have been heavily polluted by plastics and direct disposal of raw sewage.

The World Environmental Day 2023 celebrations in Kisii are set to be marked at Gusii stadium on Monday where discussions around the protection of the environment will be held.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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