Category Archives: Press Releases
COVID-19 Likely to Exact a Heavy Toll Among the Malnourished, Sick, and Poor in Africa
The Continent’s Relatively Young Population Is Likely to Be a Mitigating Factor, but Constrained Health Systems and a High Incidence of Malnutrition and Such Conditions as HIV and Tuberculosis Will Magnify the Impact
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa will probably look different from what has been observed in other parts of the world, according to a new publication by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), titled Fighting COVID-19 in Africa Will Be Different.
The young average age of the population in Africa is likely to be a positive factor, given that COVID-19 seems to be exacting a higher toll on older patients around the world. However, constrained health systems in most African countries, combined with the prevalence of chronic conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis, and—especially among children—malnutrition are likely to magnify the negative impact. In addition, measures such as social distancing may be challenging, particularly in areas that have high levels of poverty. As a result, deaths in Africa are likely to be concentrated among the malnourished, the sick, and the poor.
“COVID-19 poses a major threat to Africa,” says Patrick Dupoux, a BCG managing director and senior partner. “All stakeholders—governments in Africa, global players and community leaders—must coordinate their efforts to prevent a worst-case scenario.”
An Outbreak in Africa
Africa’s relatively young population could help buffer the continent against the rates of severe cases and fatality observed elsewhere in the world. For example, as of February 11, over 80% percent of the deaths in China due to COVID-19 were among people 60 years old or older. In China, people in that age group account for 16% of the population, whereas in Africa they make up just 5% of the population.
But other factors will create challenges. For one thing, health systems in Africa struggle to meet current needs—let alone manage the spike in demand that a pandemic brings. For example, the most recent data available indicates that Ethiopia and Niger each have just 0.3 hospital bed per 1,000 people, and Tunisia has 2.3, compared with an average of 5.6 beds per 1,000 people in Europe. In addition, significant numbers of adults in Africa have compromised immune systems, mostly owing to the high prevalence of HIV infection and HIV-tuberculosis co-infection, and many children suffer from malnutrition. Such factors could make those adults and children more susceptible to COVID-19.
“If the COVID-19 outbreak in Africa is not controlled, there will be far-reaching repercussions, including for the health of the people, the strength of the economy, and the cohesiveness of society,” says Shalini Unnikrishnan, a BCG managing director and partner and a co-author of the report.
Coordinating the Response
All groups aiming to mount a response to the pandemic in Africa must learn from previous crises and align their efforts up front. Coordination needs to happen at three levels:
- Governments in Africa are already working together, but they should redouble their efforts to cooperate by sharing data and capabilities and coordinating strategies. Regional unions and the African Union can be powerful drivers of such cooperation.
- Global groups working to support the pandemic response in Africa—including UN agencies, governments, donors, NGOs, and companies—need to coordinate a cohesive response.
- All players must bring community leaders into the process from the start in order to build trust and to ensure that people and communities understand and accept potentially challenging constraints.
Lack of such coordination would lead to squandered resources and would reduce the strategies’ effectiveness.
A copy of the publication can be downloaded here.
To schedule an interview with one of the authors, please contact Miranda Stobbs on stobbs.miranda@bcg.com or contact +44 7886713027/ +254 719860320
About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we help clients with total transformation—inspiring complex change, enabling organizations to grow, building competitive advantage, and driving bottom-line impact.
To succeed, organizations must blend digital and human capabilities. Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives to spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting along with technology and design, corporate and digital ventures—and business purpose. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, generating results that allow our clients to thrive.
About BCG in Africa
Our presence in Africa includes five permanent offices, in Casablanca, Lagos, Luanda, Johannesburg, and Nairobi, and 7 research centres. BCG projects on the continent cover a large spectrum of industry sectors including Financial Institutions, Energy, Industrial Goods, Consumer Products, Health Care, Technology, and the Public Sector. Our mission is clear: to create positive economic, social, and environmental impact on the continent.
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Snap Fitness Bringing Free At-Home Workouts To All Gym Junkies
Partnering with FitnessOnDemand™, global fitness giant will provide free 90-day access to virtual workout platform, which includes popular workouts from Sweat Factor, SH1FT, Daily Burn, and more
CHANHASSEN, Minnesota, March 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Snap Fitness, the world’s premier 24/7 fitness brand, today announced a partnership with FitnessOnDemand™ to offer free 90-day global access to the market-leading virtual fitness platform for all those looking to “stay fit, stay healthy and stay home” amidst growing coronavirus concern and recommended social distancing efforts.
With the industry’s most diverse fitness video library of powerhouse brands including Sweat Factor by Mike Donvanik, Nora Tobin, SH1FT, Daily Burn, and many more, FitnessOnDemand™ virtual workouts are designed to optimize space and offer unparalleled variety, creating an ideal fitness experience for any environment. The general public can take advantage of custom content that was specifically curated to facilitate at-home workouts, all with little to no equipment and no studio required.
“We know that exercise and movement are contributing factors to a person’s mental wellness and ultimately, a well-balanced life,” says Weldon Spangler, CEO of Lift Brands, parent company of Snap Fitness and FitnessOnDemand™. “As people are asked to practice social distancing and amidst gym and business closures – for many, working out at home provides not only a way to stay fit, but also a way to stay well, both body and mind. We want to provide help where we can as responsible members of our local communities and corporate citizens of the globe. This is about making sure everyone is healthy and safe while we weather this storm together.”
Snap Fitness is committed to providing members with safe and hygienic clubs to exercise in where local government permits, and teams have been briefed on what actions they need to take, per government guidance, to reduce the risk of the virus spreading. For details on additional precautions taken at Snap Fitness gyms across the globe, visit www.snapfitness.com/
Photos and additional information can be found in the digital media kit HERE. For more information on Snap Fitness or FitnessOnDemand™ or to sign up for the free 90-day offer (no membership required), visit snapfitness.com/freeapp for access.
About Snap Fitness:
Snap Fitness is the world’s most rewarding 24/7 fitness concept with over 850 clubs in the United States and over 1,800 clubs open or scheduled for development in over 20 countries. Snap Fitness offers members the opportunity to see real results. We provide the latest in fitness technology, diverse workout options, personal training, and the most supportive fitness community around the globe. A major fitness brand since 2003, we continue to evolve sustainably along with key fitness trends to provide results for every body!
About FitnessOnDemand™:
FitnessOnDemand is a global leader in the collection, curation and provision of high-quality, premium digital fitness content from some of the world’s leading names and experts in personalized fitness. The company is the only provider of Omnichannel content in the fitness industry, meaning customers can experience branded content via mobile app, smart device or in-club and in-room installation. The introduction of FLEX by FitnessOnDemand allows clubs to offer their members the same, seamless library of fitness and wellness content anywhere in the club, at home or on the go. This allows clubs to build member loyalty and brand-affinity beyond the club walls. FitnessOnDemand is a leading provider of digital fitness to many industries including health clubs, premium residential and business property developers and leading, luxury hotel chains. Content creators include Jillian Michaels, Sweat Factor, SH1FT, Zumba & Strong by Zumba and many more.
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TECNO Mobile apporte en Afrique le premier appareil photo 64 MP pour smartphone de Sony
HONG KONG, 17 mars 2020 /PRNewswire/ — TECNO Mobile (www.TECNO-mobile.com), marque mondiale de premier plan de téléphones portables, modifie une fois de plus le monde des appareils photo des smartphones dans les marchés émergents avec le lancement prochain de sa série de smartphones CAMON 15. Il est dit que l’appareil photo de la série CAMON 15 sera pris en charge par la puce SONY de pointe, reconnue comme le leader de ce secteur.
Le lancement sera un petit pas pour la série CAMON 15, et un bond de géant pour TECNO. Le CAMON 15 de TECNO sera le premier smartphone équipé de la puce SONY de pointe dévoilé sur le marché africain, et la technologie haute définition de l’appareil photo de la série CAMON 15 entrera dans une nouvelle phase.
Avec des caractéristiques supérieures en matière de conception ainsi qu’une magnifique capacité technologique du capteur, la puce SONY apporte un soutien important aux performances de l’appareil photo. Par exemple, l’un des avantages les plus frappants de la puce Sony sur l’appareil photo est la quantité de détails qu’elle peut intégrer dans chaque facette de la photographie, rendant de minuscules détails au niveau du pixel. La qualité d’image est bien meilleure que celle d’autres puces ayant le même pixel, et les détails sont clairement représentés. Même un portrait sombre est clair et net.
En prenant une photo avec un smartphone équipé d’une puce SONY, même après avoir zoomé à l’extrême, chaque détail est parfaitement capturé et affiché. Cliquez sur l’obturateur numérique pour capturer de belles prises de vue et des souvenirs inoubliables, et vous constaterez que chaque détail est affiché de manière pure et nette. Pensez à de vastes paysages nocturnes avec des détails plus vrais que nature sur lesquels vous pouvez zoomer, et vous commencerez à avoir une idée précise de ce dont l’appareil est capable.
Récemment, certains médias mondiaux spécialisés dans la technologie ont annoncé quelles seront les innovations technologiques des smartphones dans les années 2020 et ont déclaré que l’augmentation des quantités de mégapixels sera la tendance clé dans les années 2020. Les utilisateurs de smartphones ont un appétit insatiable pour les grandes quantités de pixels et les fabricants font de leur mieux pour trouver des moyens d’améliorer les performances des pixels afin de répondre aux besoins croissants de la population. Il ne fait aucun doute que TECNO Mobile est sur la bonne voie avec cette innovation.
Des sources affirment même que la nouvelle série CAMON 15 de TECNO pourrait être équipée d’un énorme 64 mégapixels pour une expérience ultime de photographie en haute définition. Une fois lancé, ce sera le premier téléphone en Afrique à fonctionner avec la puce SONY, une grande avancée pour le secteur des smartphones en Afrique. En ce qui concerne la technologie des smartphones en matière de pixels, 64 mégapixels constitueraient une autre grande percée.
La série CAMON 15 de TECNO pourra-t-elle être performante comme le futur roi de la photographie après le mariage avec SONY, sera-t-elle le prochain roi de la photographie ? Restez en contact.
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TECNO Mobile Brings Sony’s First 64MP Smartphone Camera to Africa
HONG KONG, March 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Global premier mobile phone brand TECNO Mobile (www.TECNO-mobile.com) is changing the world of smartphone cameras in emerging markets once again with the upcoming launch of its smartphone CAMON 15 series. It is said that CAMON 15 series camera will be supported by the cutting-edge SONY chip, which is recognized as the leader in this industry.
The launch will be one small step for the CAMON 15 series, and one giant leap for TECNO – TECNO CAMON 15 shall be the first smartphone armed with the cutting-edge SONY Chip unveiled in the African market, and the CAMON 15 series camera’s high definition technology will enter a new phase.
With superior design specifications as well as exquisite sensor technological capacity, the SONY chip provides strong support to the camera’s performance, e.g., one of the most striking benefits of Sony’s chip on the camera is how much detail it can pack into each facet of photography, rendering minute details at the pixel-level. The picture quality is much better than other chips with the same pixel, and details are clearly represented. Even a dark portrait is bright and clear.
While taking a photo with a smartphone equipped with a SONY chip, even after zooming in to the extreme, every detail is perfectly captured and shown. Click the digital shutter to capture beautiful views and unforgettable memories, and you will find that every detail is displayed purely and clearly. Think sweeping evening landscapes with still-life detail you can zoom right into, and you are starting to get the picture.
Recently, some global technology media forecasted the smartphone technology innovation in the 2020s and which stated that increasing quantities of megapixels is going to be the key trend in 2020s. Smartphone users have an insatiable appetite for high quantities of pixels and the manufacturers are trying their best to figure out ways to improve pixel performance in order to meet people’s growing needs. Undoubtedly, TECNO Mobile is on the right path with this innovation.
Sources even say the new TECNO CAMON 15 series might be equipped with a whopping 64 megapixels for the ultimate high definition photography experience. Once released, it will be the first phone in Africa to run on the SONY chip, a great breakthrough for the smartphone industry in Africa. 64 megapixels would be another huge breakthrough in smartphone pixel technology.
How exactly will the TECNO CAMON 15 series could very well perform like the next photography king after the marriage with SONY, will it be the next photography king? Let’s stay tuned.
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BlueGreen Water Technologies, Ltd. Names Jurgens Van Loggerenberg Africa Head Of Operations
Emerging Global Cleantech Company Expanding Groundbreaking Anti-Toxic Algae Treatment for Drinking Water in Africa
Emergency Drinking Water Treatment to Deploy in South Africa this Month
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, March 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — BlueGreen Water Technologies, Ltd. (“BlueGreen”), a global cleantech company, announced today that it has named Jurgens Van Loggerenberg as its Africa Head of Operations. In this role, Van Loggerenberg’s focus will be providing regulators, local municipalities, water utility companies and private communities in the South African market access to BlueGreen’s rapid-response and result-driven toxic algae treatment.
Blue green algae blooms have been declared a global problem with severe health effects on both humans and animals by the World Health Organization. The toxic algae increases each year in severity and frequency and has become a major concern to regulators and communities all over the world. BlueGreen Water Technologies’ US EPA-approved algaecides have been introduced as a groundbreaking treatment to combat the worldwide cyanobacteria epidemic.
With 20 years of experience in water treatment, Van Loggerenberg brings extensive knowledge, experience and commitment to this position. Van Loggerenberg began his career servicing the water treatment plants of the Kruger National Park and subsequent roles included responsibilities at municipal purification plants in Mpumalanga. He has worked with the German water treatment company Süd-Chemie as a technical and sales support for water treatment plants throughout South Africa. In 2016, he joined the South African chemical group of companies AECI under Improchem as Public Water Industry Specialist. During his 20-year tenure in water treatment, Van Loggerenberg established chlorine dioxide in drinking water applications as an Advanced Oxidation Process in eutrophic raw water. He has conducted extensive research in this field and contributed to a chlorine dioxide publication as co-author and holds two patents to his name.
“I’m proud to join BlueGreen Water Technologies. As a water custodian I believe that working for water, our scarcest resource, is not a job, but a life mission,” said Van Loggerenberg. “BlueGreen’s work around the world and proven success is bringing cutting edge pragmatic solutions to combat the toxic cyanobacteria that is suffocating aquatic ecosystems. They offer both short and long-term solutions – and hope – to where it’s most needed. Treating lakes and dams with cost-effective solutions that alleviate blooms within hours is in reach.”
“We’re excited to have Jurgens aboard the BlueGreen team,” said Eyal Harel, CEO of BlueGreen Water Technologies. “His outstanding professional capabilities and understanding of both water and people has forged long term relationships in an industry that relies on science and trust. We’re confident that his experience and connections will pave the way for the Lake Guard™ Blue and Lake Guard™ Oxy to be adopted into the African market where the pursuit of clean water is first and foremost a humanitarian matter.”
About BlueGreen Water Technologies, Ltd.
BlueGreen Water Technologies, Ltd. (“BlueGreen”) is a privately-owned global cleantech company based in Tel Aviv, Israel, dedicated to developing novel solutions to water-related problems. BlueGreen’s portfolio currently consists of two commercially-available products, Lake Guard™ Blue™ and Lake Guard™ Oxy which are designed to remediate and prevent the occurrence of cyanobacterial toxic blooms, commonly known as “blue green algae.” BlueGreen is further developing new powerful monitoring capabilities designed to support local communities to timely identify and treat early-stages of algal blooms and avoid the ramifications of a full-blown blooms. For more information, please visit www.bgtechs.com, and connect with the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
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