15 Jul 2010 19:30 Africa/Lagos
Agreements reduce prices of malaria medicines by up to 80 % / Global Fund and drug manufacturers cooperate to end deaths from malaria
KAMPALA, July 15, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Global Fund and six manufacturers of quality-assured malaria drugs have finalized agreements to place affordable life-saving malaria drugs within reach of millions of people in need, especially children. This public- private collaboration, a part of the Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm) Phase 1, will benefit 8 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
Under the agreements, private importers will now pay up to 80% less than they did in 2008-2009 for the most effective malaria drugs (artemisinin-based combination therapies – ACTs), bringing the factory gate prices down to the same level as for public sector buyers. The AMFm will then subsidize purchases made by first-line buyers, all of whom have signed an undertaking to pass the benefit of low prices down the supply chain, thereby enabling the roughly 60% of malaria patients who obtain treatment in private shops to obtain the most effective treatments at affordable prices. Currently ACTs make up only 5% of treatments provided through the private sector. Orders of ACTs at these more affordable prices have already begun.
“These agreements bring us closer to the day when all who need malaria medicines will get them at affordable prices,” says Global Fund Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine, "Thanks to the cooperation of partners, manufacturers of quality-assured malaria medicines and leadership by countries, we will make malaria deaths history.”
The six manufacturers that have signed Master Supply Agreements with the Global Fund under the AMFm are: Ajanta Pharma, Cipla, Guilin, Ipca, Novartis and Sanofi-aventis. All six pharmaceutical companies meet the Global Fund's quality criteria for supplying ACTs to first-line buyers under the AMFm. Other manufacturers may participate in the AMFm, provided that they meet the quality criteria.
The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) negotiated the agreements, which provide the terms and conditions under which the manufacturers would sell eligible ACTs to first-line buyers, and under which the Global Fund would make co-payment to those companies for qualifying purchases by wholesalers.
“No mother should have to worry whether or not she can access the malaria medicines that will save the life of her sick child. I am pleased my Health Access Initiative, building off of our experience lowering the costs of lifesaving malaria and HIV/AIDS medicines, could negotiate the agreements that enable AMFm to ensure effective, affordable ACTs are in the reach of the mothers and children that need them most,” says former US President Bill Clinton.
The conclusion of the manufacturer agreements is one of the first significant achievements of the AMFm. In a departure from prior practices, manufacturers will sell ACTs to first-line buyers from the private sector at the same reduced prices as they sell to those in the public sector, even before the AMFm makes a co-payment.
The manufacturers have also agreed to not market any oral artemisinin monotherapy, which are undesirable because they increase the risk of widespread resistance to the artemisinin in ACTs.
The Global Fund received pro bono legal support during the negotiations with manufacturers from Freshfields Bruckhouse Deringer LLP. The Global Fund warmly thanks Freshfields Bruckhouse Deringer LLP for their valuable contributions to this success.
In developing the logo for all co-paid ACTs under AMFm, the Global Fund received pro bono support from Programme for Accessible health Communication and Education (PACE), Uganda. The Global Fund also thanks PACE for their important contributions to this success.
Malaria and the AMFm
Malaria is a potentially deadly disease that is transmitted through mosquito bites and kills more than 2,000 children every day. Children make up nearly 90 percent of the nearly 900,000 people who die from malaria every year, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia.
The Global Fund is leading an innovation called the AMFm to reduce the price of effective malaria drugs so they can drive older, ineffective drugs out of the market, and help increase access to effective treatment of malaria. The proposition of AMFm is that a factory-gate global subsidy, combined with supporting activities at country level, will increase access to life-saving antimalarial medicines and also delay the onset of resistance to those medicines. Three elements constitute the AMFm: price reductions through negotiations with manufacturers of a class of malaria medicines called Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies or ACTs; a buyer subsidy in the form of a ‘co-payment' at the top of the global supply chain; and supporting activities to promote appropriate use of ACTs.
By working through the public, NGO and private sectors, AMFm will help to expand services beyond the reach of current financing mechanisms that work mostly through the public and NGO sectors.
"The AMFm is about getting better value for money so we get closer to the goal of universal access to malaria treatment. Tackling malaria is a key priority for the UK government and the AMFm aims to deliver real value for money - and will make a huge difference to the lives of some of the poorest people and help to prevent the spread of disease," says Andrew Mitchell, UK International Development Secretary.
UNITAID, the Government of the United Kingdom and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are the financiers of a US$216 million AMFm co-payment fund to be used for the global subsidy. In addition, the Global Fund will spend about US$127 million on country-level activities to support the effective implementation of AMFm.
“We are using market dynamics to improve access to life-saving medicines; this is central to the mission of UNITAID and we are pleased to work with the Global Fund to achieve universal access,” says Philippe Douste-Blazy, Chair of the UNITAID Board.
During the last few years new, effective malaria medicines have been made available for free in many public health clinics. When combined with national campaigns to provide mosquito bed-nets for every family living in areas with malaria this has led to a dramatic fall in malaria deaths in several countries in Africa. The combination of bed nets to prevent malaria transmission and drugs that cure malaria quickly has reduced malaria deaths by between 50 percent and 90 percent in areas where both are widely available.
However, because most people do not have immediate access to public health facilities they buy their drugs at local market stalls and private pharmacies. The new drugs, known as “artemisinin-based combination therapies” or ACTs, are about 10 - 40 times more expensive when sold over the counter than the old drugs which have lost their effectiveness because the malaria parasite has developed resistance to them. As a result of the high cost, many still buy these cheaper less effective drugs and currently, only one in every five patients treated for malaria has access to ACTs.
The AMFm was developed through Roll-Back Malaria – a broad partnership of public and private institutions, such as the World Bank, UNICEF, the Dutch Government, the Global Fund, WHO, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Clinton Health Access Initiative.
Phase 1 of the AMFm includes nine pilots in eight countries: Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania (mainland and Zanzibar) and Uganda. After two years, providing it is successful, a decision will be taken on whether to expand it globally.
Source: The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria
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Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Haiti: 6 months after the Earthquake
A status update six months after the 2010 Haitian Earthquake
The U.S. Department of State invites you to participate in a conference call discussing reconstruction and recovery efforts six months after the earthquake.
Speakers:
• Patrick Gaspard, Director, White House Office of Political Affairs
• Julissa Reynoso, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean and Central American Affairs, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Jerome Oetgen, Public Affairs Counselor, Embassy Port-au-Prince, Haiti
We will stream the discussion live via Blog Talk Radio . Tune in today, July 15th at 1:00pm ET to listen to the discussion.
Note: We will not accept questions from callers on blog talk radio for this conversation on Haiti. However, we hope to host future episodes on Foreign Policy topics that interest you and hope to allow questions via Blog Talk Radio then.
Current State in Uganda
15 Jul 2010 12:35 Africa/Lagos
Current State in Uganda
KAMPALA, July 15, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Ambassador Lanier delivers remarks on the current state in Uganda since the World Cup bombings:
"We don't think there is a permanent danger here. We have not issued a particular travel advisory. We however do warn American citizens to stay away from crowded areas, particularly crowded insecure areas."
"At present we have three FBI people here from the region who are assisting with the investigation. We are likely to get some more. We are expecting that in the next few days or so."
"We believe the Uganda mission is more important than ever now. In fact the entire AMISOM mission, which is of course Uganda and Burundi, is more important because Al-Shabaab has shown a willingness to kill civilians outside of Somalia. This was, I think President Obama characterized it as a deplorable and cowardly act and we certainly agree with that and so we hope to increase our support as needed and as requested by the Ugandans."
Source: US Department of State
Current State in Uganda
KAMPALA, July 15, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Ambassador Lanier delivers remarks on the current state in Uganda since the World Cup bombings:
"We don't think there is a permanent danger here. We have not issued a particular travel advisory. We however do warn American citizens to stay away from crowded areas, particularly crowded insecure areas."
"At present we have three FBI people here from the region who are assisting with the investigation. We are likely to get some more. We are expecting that in the next few days or so."
"We believe the Uganda mission is more important than ever now. In fact the entire AMISOM mission, which is of course Uganda and Burundi, is more important because Al-Shabaab has shown a willingness to kill civilians outside of Somalia. This was, I think President Obama characterized it as a deplorable and cowardly act and we certainly agree with that and so we hope to increase our support as needed and as requested by the Ugandans."
Source: US Department of State
Upstream Powers MTN's FIFA World Cup(TM) Themed Mobile Marketing Campaigns in West Africa
15 Jul 2010 12:11 Africa/Lagos
Upstream Powers MTN's FIFA World Cup(TM) Themed Mobile Marketing Campaigns in West Africa
LONDON, July 15, 2010/PRNewswire/ --
- Campaigns for Mobile Operator Giant and FIFA World Cup Global Sponsor MTN, in Nigeria, Benin and Ghana Generated Unprecedented Conversion Rates and Huge Consumer Excitement Demonstrating Upstream's Expertise in Delivering Regional Campaigns With Localised Customer Insight.
Upstream, one of the world's largest mobile marketing solutions providers, (http://www.upstreamsystems.com) is completing a series of successful localised mobile marketing campaigns across West Africa for MTN, as part of the Group's official FIFA World Cup sponsorship activities.
Upstream worked with MTN to create large-scale Mega Promotions for three of the group's West African markets - Nigeria, Ghana and Benin. The campaigns, which were timed to leverage the build up to the World Cup, were all launched at highly publicised events in April. With World Cup activities ending and the campaigns drawing to a close, results reveal an overwhelming response from users, boosting ARPU and generating a high level of excitement from MTN customers in each country after creating instant big winners.
Though launched simultaneously, the three campaigns were carefully constructed to fit unique consumer behaviour and demographics in each of the three countries. This demonstrates the ability of Upstream's sophisticated mobile marketing communications suite to deliver optimised, relevant, communications that engage and create positive and profitable interactions with every one of MTN's participating customers.
"Mobile operators like MTN do not want a cookie-cutter approach to how they market to their customer base, particularly for significant regional campaigns such as MTN's World Cup promotions, but they also want low risk solutions. For MTN, Upstream produced sophisticated CRM campaigns which have enabled them to deliver strongly branded and aligned competitions that were nimble enough to support their massive Africa-wide World Cup series of activities", said Nikos Moraitakis, VP Business Development at Upstream.
"We were amazed at how effortlessly Upstream grasped the needs and preferences of our subscriber base and formulated a customised promotion strategy. The MTN Benin - Upstream partnership was a great commercial success and we look forward to more profitable projects in the future", said Harriet Muchu, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Benin.
Launched in 1994, MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications provider, with its core operations in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
MTN CAMPAIGNS WITH UPSTREAM
MTN Nigeria
MTN 2010 World Cup Naira Splash Competition is a 90 day campaign launched in April, running until after the World Cup. Prizes include N20,000 Every Hour, N2,000,000 Every Day, N20,000,000 Every Month and 120 Tickets to the World Cup.
http://www.mtnonline.com/index.php/participate.html
MTN Benin
MTN 2010 World Cup Competition was a 60 day campaign when it was launched in April, following the success of the campaign it was extended to 90 days. The SMS mega promotion is being executed in local versions of French. Prizes include daily giveaways of Sony flat screen television and Hyundai cars.
MTN Ghana
MTN 2010 Win 90 cars in 90 days is a 90 day campaign launched in April running until the end of the World Cup. Prizes include daily giveaways of Hyundai Cars, Sony LCD TVs and MTN airtime vouchers.
http://www.mtn.com.gh/sub.aspx?ID=272&MID=228&ParentID=12&FirstParentID=3 &Level=3&FirstIsClosed5=N&SecondIsClosed50=Y
(Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the space if one exists.)
About Upstream
Upstream is a world leader in mobile marketing solutions, reaching over 500 million consumers in more than 40 countries. Using its advanced technology platform to deliver potent interactive communication via mobile channels, Upstream empowers global brands to activate their customers like never before.
Upstream was born out of a desire to revolutionise the way companies market to mobile consumers. By combining technology innovation with years of execution expertise and the analysis of terabytes of consumer data, communications powered by Upstream massively increase conversion rates and generate profitable interactions for companies and their mobile consumers.
This unique ability to extract value from any customer base has made Upstream the preferred mobile marketing partner for blue chip companies including Vodafone, T-Mobile, TIM, Orange, Telefonica, America Movil, Zain, MTN, The Coca-Cola Company, Nestle, Unilever, Shell and BSkyB.
Media contact:
Jacki Vause
Peppercom for Upstream
Jvause@uk.peppercom.com
+44(0)20-7033-2660
Alexandra Chong
Upstream
chong@upstreamsystems.com
+44(0)207-290-1320
Source: Upstream
Media contact: Jacki Vause, Peppercom for Upstream, Jvause@uk.peppercom.com, +44(0)20-7033-2660; Alexandra Chong, Upstream, chong@upstreamsystems.com, +44(0)207-290-1320
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Microsoft Awards Top Performing Partners at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
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UN Secretary-General sees the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as a Success
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Rockwell First Quarter Fiscal 2011 Conference Call
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Marriott International Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results
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UN Secretary-General sees the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as a Success
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Food crisis in Niger
20:09
Ruling MMD provincial youth leader in court for assaulting journalists
20:09
Food crisis in Niger / Virtual press briefing of the Director of Western and Central Africa Division of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
20:09
Newspaper fined for publishing results of opinion polls
19:09
TV station forced to stop televising religious program
18:50
Zambian journalists warned against publishing unverified information
16:47
South African Tourism Reveals Adventure Ambassador
16:16
FIFA World Cup 2010(TM) Official Song 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)' Becomes Global Phenomenon
19:34
U.S. EPA and American Water Launch National 'We're for Water' Campaign in Los Angeles
12:48
Four journalists held hostage in Niger delta region
Upstream Powers MTN's FIFA World Cup(TM) Themed Mobile Marketing Campaigns in West Africa
LONDON, July 15, 2010/PRNewswire/ --
- Campaigns for Mobile Operator Giant and FIFA World Cup Global Sponsor MTN, in Nigeria, Benin and Ghana Generated Unprecedented Conversion Rates and Huge Consumer Excitement Demonstrating Upstream's Expertise in Delivering Regional Campaigns With Localised Customer Insight.
Upstream, one of the world's largest mobile marketing solutions providers, (http://www.upstreamsystems.com) is completing a series of successful localised mobile marketing campaigns across West Africa for MTN, as part of the Group's official FIFA World Cup sponsorship activities.
Upstream worked with MTN to create large-scale Mega Promotions for three of the group's West African markets - Nigeria, Ghana and Benin. The campaigns, which were timed to leverage the build up to the World Cup, were all launched at highly publicised events in April. With World Cup activities ending and the campaigns drawing to a close, results reveal an overwhelming response from users, boosting ARPU and generating a high level of excitement from MTN customers in each country after creating instant big winners.
Though launched simultaneously, the three campaigns were carefully constructed to fit unique consumer behaviour and demographics in each of the three countries. This demonstrates the ability of Upstream's sophisticated mobile marketing communications suite to deliver optimised, relevant, communications that engage and create positive and profitable interactions with every one of MTN's participating customers.
"Mobile operators like MTN do not want a cookie-cutter approach to how they market to their customer base, particularly for significant regional campaigns such as MTN's World Cup promotions, but they also want low risk solutions. For MTN, Upstream produced sophisticated CRM campaigns which have enabled them to deliver strongly branded and aligned competitions that were nimble enough to support their massive Africa-wide World Cup series of activities", said Nikos Moraitakis, VP Business Development at Upstream.
"We were amazed at how effortlessly Upstream grasped the needs and preferences of our subscriber base and formulated a customised promotion strategy. The MTN Benin - Upstream partnership was a great commercial success and we look forward to more profitable projects in the future", said Harriet Muchu, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Benin.
Launched in 1994, MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications provider, with its core operations in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
MTN CAMPAIGNS WITH UPSTREAM
MTN Nigeria
MTN 2010 World Cup Naira Splash Competition is a 90 day campaign launched in April, running until after the World Cup. Prizes include N20,000 Every Hour, N2,000,000 Every Day, N20,000,000 Every Month and 120 Tickets to the World Cup.
http://www.mtnonline.com/index.php/participate.html
MTN Benin
MTN 2010 World Cup Competition was a 60 day campaign when it was launched in April, following the success of the campaign it was extended to 90 days. The SMS mega promotion is being executed in local versions of French. Prizes include daily giveaways of Sony flat screen television and Hyundai cars.
MTN Ghana
MTN 2010 Win 90 cars in 90 days is a 90 day campaign launched in April running until the end of the World Cup. Prizes include daily giveaways of Hyundai Cars, Sony LCD TVs and MTN airtime vouchers.
http://www.mtn.com.gh/sub.aspx?ID=272&MID=228&ParentID=12&FirstParentID=3 &Level=3&FirstIsClosed5=N&SecondIsClosed50=Y
(Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the space if one exists.)
About Upstream
Upstream is a world leader in mobile marketing solutions, reaching over 500 million consumers in more than 40 countries. Using its advanced technology platform to deliver potent interactive communication via mobile channels, Upstream empowers global brands to activate their customers like never before.
Upstream was born out of a desire to revolutionise the way companies market to mobile consumers. By combining technology innovation with years of execution expertise and the analysis of terabytes of consumer data, communications powered by Upstream massively increase conversion rates and generate profitable interactions for companies and their mobile consumers.
This unique ability to extract value from any customer base has made Upstream the preferred mobile marketing partner for blue chip companies including Vodafone, T-Mobile, TIM, Orange, Telefonica, America Movil, Zain, MTN, The Coca-Cola Company, Nestle, Unilever, Shell and BSkyB.
Media contact:
Jacki Vause
Peppercom for Upstream
Jvause@uk.peppercom.com
+44(0)20-7033-2660
Alexandra Chong
Upstream
chong@upstreamsystems.com
+44(0)207-290-1320
Source: Upstream
Media contact: Jacki Vause, Peppercom for Upstream, Jvause@uk.peppercom.com, +44(0)20-7033-2660; Alexandra Chong, Upstream, chong@upstreamsystems.com, +44(0)207-290-1320
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
15 Jul 2010
12:05
Goodrich and Turkish Technic, Inc. Complete Agreement to Form Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Joint Venture
11:15
NBTY Agrees to Be Acquired by the Carlyle Group for $55.00 Per Share in Cash; Transaction Valued at $3.8 Billion; NBTY is a Leading Nutritional Supplement Company
11:00
Siemens Enterprise Communications Names Wolfram Fischer General Manager of EMEA and Asia-Pacific
06:16
Eutelsat and ictQATAR Select Space Systems/Loral to Deliver Their Joint Venture Satellite
03:30
Microsoft Awards Top Performing Partners at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
14 Jul 2010
23:10
Marriott International Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results
21:00
ConvergEx's Eze OMS Partners with PAC-Invest to Help Clients Meet ASIC Short Position Reporting Regulations
20:18
UN Secretary-General sees the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as a Success
20:10
Food crisis in Niger
20:09
Ruling MMD provincial youth leader in court for assaulting journalists
20:09
Food crisis in Niger / Virtual press briefing of the Director of Western and Central Africa Division of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
20:09
Newspaper fined for publishing results of opinion polls
19:09
TV station forced to stop televising religious program
18:50
Zambian journalists warned against publishing unverified information
18:44
Nuline Pharmaceuticals Presents a New Algorithm to Treat Tooth Hypersensitivity
18:00
Rockwell First Quarter Fiscal 2011 Conference Call
17:00
Norwood Auctioneer, Will Lilly, Welcomes Auctioneers From Around the World
16:47
South African Tourism Reveals Adventure Ambassador
16:16
FIFA World Cup 2010(TM) Official Song 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)' Becomes Global Phenomenon
14 Jul 2010
23:10
Marriott International Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results
21:00
ConvergEx's Eze OMS Partners with PAC-Invest to Help Clients Meet ASIC Short Position Reporting Regulations
20:18
UN Secretary-General sees the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as a Success
20:10
Food crisis in Niger
20:09
Ruling MMD provincial youth leader in court for assaulting journalists
20:09
Food crisis in Niger / Virtual press briefing of the Director of Western and Central Africa Division of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
20:09
Newspaper fined for publishing results of opinion polls
19:09
TV station forced to stop televising religious program
18:50
Zambian journalists warned against publishing unverified information
16:47
South African Tourism Reveals Adventure Ambassador
16:16
FIFA World Cup 2010(TM) Official Song 'Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)' Becomes Global Phenomenon
19:34
U.S. EPA and American Water Launch National 'We're for Water' Campaign in Los Angeles
12:48
Four journalists held hostage in Niger delta region
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Re: The Minimum Wage Of N17, 000 Is Nonsense
Re: The Minimum Wage Of N17, 000 Is Nonsense
Do you know that thousands of secondary school leavers who cannot gain admission into higher institutions need jobs and many of them are paid as little as N5,000 monthly salaries in Lagos and other places? My friend pays his receptionist N8, 000 monthly and thank God her residence is not far from the office.
Majority of the civil servants in Nigeria are going to depend on the minimum wage and those with families will have no choice but to use their children and other dependants to hawk goods on the street.
Monday night on the way home from work at about 10.33 pm, I saw children still hawking at the Maryland bus near Ikeja and I told an elderly woman hawking with them to go home and sleep. She looked at me and continued with her work.
Today I went to the Tejuoso market in Yaba and I saw hundreds of boys and girls selling petty goods and the Igbo boys engaged in their rag trade of second hand clothes and other goods. I was heartbroken, because many of them have better dreams than petty trading.
I saw depression written on the faces of hundreds of traders and shoppers. I saw pretty girls and handsome boys struggling for survival and JAMB reported today that there is no space for 340, 000 successful UTME candidates and lest we forget hundreds of thousands of graduates and millions of secondary school leavers are jobless.
I returned to the office feeling depressed, because of the bleak future of the poor masses and their children.
If we sack the ruling megalomaniac party and set up a government without a National Assembly, we are going to save trillions of naira to invest in human capital development and develop a 21st century economy to provide better living wages for majority of Nigerians.
It is possible.
Do you know that thousands of secondary school leavers who cannot gain admission into higher institutions need jobs and many of them are paid as little as N5,000 monthly salaries in Lagos and other places? My friend pays his receptionist N8, 000 monthly and thank God her residence is not far from the office.
Majority of the civil servants in Nigeria are going to depend on the minimum wage and those with families will have no choice but to use their children and other dependants to hawk goods on the street.
Monday night on the way home from work at about 10.33 pm, I saw children still hawking at the Maryland bus near Ikeja and I told an elderly woman hawking with them to go home and sleep. She looked at me and continued with her work.
Today I went to the Tejuoso market in Yaba and I saw hundreds of boys and girls selling petty goods and the Igbo boys engaged in their rag trade of second hand clothes and other goods. I was heartbroken, because many of them have better dreams than petty trading.
I saw depression written on the faces of hundreds of traders and shoppers. I saw pretty girls and handsome boys struggling for survival and JAMB reported today that there is no space for 340, 000 successful UTME candidates and lest we forget hundreds of thousands of graduates and millions of secondary school leavers are jobless.
I returned to the office feeling depressed, because of the bleak future of the poor masses and their children.
If we sack the ruling megalomaniac party and set up a government without a National Assembly, we are going to save trillions of naira to invest in human capital development and develop a 21st century economy to provide better living wages for majority of Nigerians.
It is possible.
IFJ Condemns kidnapping of Nigerian Journalists' Union Officials
13 Jul 2010 17:59 Africa/Lagos
IFJ Condemns kidnapping of Nigerian Journalists' Union Officials
ABUJA, July 13, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the kidnapping of four officials of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), following an armed attack on two NUJ vehicles yesterday.
Wahaab Oba, Chariman of NUJ Lagos State council, Adolphus Oknokwo, NUJ Secretary Zone G, Sylvester Okereke, NUJ Assistant Secretary Lagos State, Shola Oyeyipo of NUJ Lagos State Council and their driver Azeez Yekini were abducted by gunmen who ambushed the two vehicles outside the Eastern city of Aba. Seven union members occupying the other car escaped unharmed.
"We are shocked by this brutal attack against our Nigerian colleagues and deeply worried for their immediate safety," said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa. "We demand the authorities do everything they can to ensure they are released quickly and unharmed."
The NUJ members were returning from a meeting of the national executive in the Southern city of Uyo when they were caught in the ambush. Initial reports suggest the victims remain unharmed while the kidnappers have issued their ransom demands.
Source: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
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14 Jul 2010
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IFJ Condemns kidnapping of Nigerian Journalists' Union Officials
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5th Annual Connecting Rural Communities Africa 2010 Forum
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Orphans & Vulnerable Children in Africa Conference 2010
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OECD Economic Survey of South Africa to be released 19 July 2010
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FIFA.com Attracts Over a Quarter of a Billion Visits as the World Engages Online With the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM)
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Pennsylvania Treasury Investments In Clean Energy Fueled By Rockefeller Foundation Grant
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Kenya: A Preventable Childbirth Injury That Ruins Lives / Provide Adequate Health Services, Accountability to Prevent, Treat Obstetric Fistula
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Deadly Uganda blasts condemned
IFJ Condemns kidnapping of Nigerian Journalists' Union Officials
ABUJA, July 13, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the kidnapping of four officials of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), following an armed attack on two NUJ vehicles yesterday.
Wahaab Oba, Chariman of NUJ Lagos State council, Adolphus Oknokwo, NUJ Secretary Zone G, Sylvester Okereke, NUJ Assistant Secretary Lagos State, Shola Oyeyipo of NUJ Lagos State Council and their driver Azeez Yekini were abducted by gunmen who ambushed the two vehicles outside the Eastern city of Aba. Seven union members occupying the other car escaped unharmed.
"We are shocked by this brutal attack against our Nigerian colleagues and deeply worried for their immediate safety," said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa. "We demand the authorities do everything they can to ensure they are released quickly and unharmed."
The NUJ members were returning from a meeting of the national executive in the Southern city of Uyo when they were caught in the ambush. Initial reports suggest the victims remain unharmed while the kidnappers have issued their ransom demands.
Source: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The Search for Adah is On!
CASTING CALL! CASTING CALL!
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If you are PASSIONATE, if you are MODEST, if you are DISCIPLINED, if you have the SELLING POINTS OF AN IDEAL AFRICAN LADY, if you are CULTURED and if you are NOT the arrogant "BE-RICH-QUICK" GOLD-DIGGER TYPE, we can launch your Performance Arts Career through one of our current movie projects...
Our Recruitment Policy is designed to support the SANITIZATION of the Nigerian/African showbiz sectors by giving priority to the Passionate Talents from the platforms of the Nigerian Universities Theatre Arts Students' Associations (NUTASA), Polytechnics, Creative Arts Schools and all other NON-Formal Cultural Training Centres across Africa
Apply for the Lead Role "ADAH" today at:
REGISTER HERE FOR THE AUDITIONS IN ABUJA, LAGOS OR CALABAR CITY
President Jonathan, Rename The Economic And Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) To Meet Our Current Times
News: Nigeria mentioned as former Merrill Lynch Executive James A. Brown Files Supplemental Motion for New Trial
President Goodluck Jonathan
President Jonathan, Rename The Economic And Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) To Meet Our Current Times
At a time when the people of Nigeria live in an ever expanding, complicated and challenging time, national agencies in the areas of security should bear names or designations that reflect instant symbol of authority, immediate sign of power and on-the-spot perception of influence.
During the sweeping reform era in Nigeria by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s post-military administration, one of the national agencies born in 2004 was the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
As a national intelligence, security and anti-crime agency the Economic and Financial Crime Commission with all of its preventive, investigative and prosecution powers persist in the fight against crimes like money laundry, Bribery, bank financial malpractice, computer crimes, forgery, land fraud, alien fraud, various schemes, scams and other related crimes like terrorism.
However, it is the physical name that is the “Economic and Financial Crime Commission” that bears some questioning and calls for refurbishing.
As a designation, it is too broad, and an all-over-the place term, in regards to the wording, symbol, and delivery. It is a label that has outlived its transitional given name and period.
From the point of symbolic human psychology, a breakdown of most of its respective words “Economic”, “Financial”, and “Commission” as well as the supervisory name, “Chairman” on a face value are collectively suggestive of an advisory board on “Crime”.
Since symbols by definition assume special imagery and functions these long-winded, wordy and boring words unconsciously, consciously, implicitly, explicitly, as well as directly and directly could collectively portrays images of a compensation body, a review forum, a charitable board, a delegating board, a trading house, a conciliation board; operating under a Chairman, as in a commercial or political head.
No one doubts that the EFCC is a statutory authority in regards to its internal and external law enforcement functions. However this does not excuse the inherent and complete vagueness that its name carries, even the it’s acronyms, which present as a bunch of successive letters that equally spell out a mouthful, drag-like and wide-ranging expressions. Of course it is easy for an EFCC officer to scream out “police” as a quick identifier of authority to a suspect or in the course of his or her duties. But that is not the point being made here is this paper.
For example, a new visitor to Nigeria or for many educationally disadvantaged Nigerians the collective name, “Economic and Financial Crime Commission”, and its contracted letters, “EFCC”, might on a face value symbolize anything, or everything else other than the instant representation of power or authority.
The question now is what is a more appropriate name that is conducive to the going expansive and operational functions of the agency?
Mr. President, let’s get right on to it, the new designation(s) being put forward could be called the “Federal Bureau of Criminal Investigation” (FBCI, which equally sounds as FBC), or the “Federal Force of Investigation” (FFI).
Mr. President, unlike the current agency’s vague, and ambiguous name, this proposed new designation(s) is colored with the sign, image and notion of instant directedness and specificity.
There could be is an assuming perception of clarity, distinction and clear-cut depiction of power in the newly proposed name, at least amongst the public and those who serve in the agency.
The new designation appears to align well with the operational, practical and strategic work of the agency.
On a psychological level the new name could help in personalizing the agency as an instrument of fear or uneasiness, and more likely to portray in the mind of any person, fear-arousing feelings and attitude.
The new designation could elicit powerful visualization of controllability embedded in the agency, at least from the perception of those in an offending mode especially.
The visibility of this proposed designation both in print and in the media could arouse a preventative mindset among those thinking of doing bad things.
Along the lines of these new labels, the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Federal Force of Investigation is the on-the-spot authoritative and up-to-the point sounding acronyms, like the “FBCI”, or “FFI”.
In the same vein, there should be a new label like the “Chief Director” or “Executive Director” in place of the commercially, corporately or politically sounding label of the term “Chairman”.
Accompanying the proposed new designations should be the label of “Special Detective” with driving characteristics of uniqueness, authenticity, professional stance and expert-driven outlook.
Mr. President, these suggested designations, appear congruent with the agency’s continued expanded roles and operations.
These functions include but are not limited to the fight against; treason, fee fraud, land scheme, cyber crimes, cult violence, aircraft kidnapping, sex trafficking, racketeering , medical child abuse, major weapon offense, international money swindling, medical fraud, espionage, sea piracy , terrorism , ethnic violence, and its other works with related law enforcement and investigative agencies.
In our contemporary world, the agency now works within a global context as crimes nationally and internationally are becoming more sophisticated and a daring in form, therefore with the up-to-date new designation like the ones proposed here, the agency’s representation become easier to be recognized globally.
Along these lines, the agency in its ongoing fight against more treacherous and expanded crimes requires an expanded human resource and contemporary technical support, in order to produce top-notch detectives.
The current training Academy in Nigeria might as well bear a new name along the lines of the already noted new labels, the FBCI or FFI. The new name of the Academy could be called the “National Investigation Training Institute” (NITI).
Mr. President, it is hoped that in your position as a 21st century leader that along with the appropriate advisors that you thoughtfully consider these up-to-date psychological and symbolic driven designations with respect to the specified agency.
It is also hoped that the federal legislature in its forward looking posture gives the needed blessing to this apparent aligning designations to an advancing national security agency like the ‘FBCI’ or ‘FFI’, in today’s world.
~ By John Oshodi
John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D, DABPS, FACFE is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Interim Associate Dean, Behavioral Science, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu
President Goodluck JonathanPresident Jonathan, Rename The Economic And Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) To Meet Our Current Times
At a time when the people of Nigeria live in an ever expanding, complicated and challenging time, national agencies in the areas of security should bear names or designations that reflect instant symbol of authority, immediate sign of power and on-the-spot perception of influence.
During the sweeping reform era in Nigeria by President Olusegun Obasanjo’s post-military administration, one of the national agencies born in 2004 was the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
As a national intelligence, security and anti-crime agency the Economic and Financial Crime Commission with all of its preventive, investigative and prosecution powers persist in the fight against crimes like money laundry, Bribery, bank financial malpractice, computer crimes, forgery, land fraud, alien fraud, various schemes, scams and other related crimes like terrorism.
However, it is the physical name that is the “Economic and Financial Crime Commission” that bears some questioning and calls for refurbishing.
As a designation, it is too broad, and an all-over-the place term, in regards to the wording, symbol, and delivery. It is a label that has outlived its transitional given name and period.
From the point of symbolic human psychology, a breakdown of most of its respective words “Economic”, “Financial”, and “Commission” as well as the supervisory name, “Chairman” on a face value are collectively suggestive of an advisory board on “Crime”.
Since symbols by definition assume special imagery and functions these long-winded, wordy and boring words unconsciously, consciously, implicitly, explicitly, as well as directly and directly could collectively portrays images of a compensation body, a review forum, a charitable board, a delegating board, a trading house, a conciliation board; operating under a Chairman, as in a commercial or political head.
No one doubts that the EFCC is a statutory authority in regards to its internal and external law enforcement functions. However this does not excuse the inherent and complete vagueness that its name carries, even the it’s acronyms, which present as a bunch of successive letters that equally spell out a mouthful, drag-like and wide-ranging expressions. Of course it is easy for an EFCC officer to scream out “police” as a quick identifier of authority to a suspect or in the course of his or her duties. But that is not the point being made here is this paper.
For example, a new visitor to Nigeria or for many educationally disadvantaged Nigerians the collective name, “Economic and Financial Crime Commission”, and its contracted letters, “EFCC”, might on a face value symbolize anything, or everything else other than the instant representation of power or authority.
The question now is what is a more appropriate name that is conducive to the going expansive and operational functions of the agency?
Mr. President, let’s get right on to it, the new designation(s) being put forward could be called the “Federal Bureau of Criminal Investigation” (FBCI, which equally sounds as FBC), or the “Federal Force of Investigation” (FFI).
Mr. President, unlike the current agency’s vague, and ambiguous name, this proposed new designation(s) is colored with the sign, image and notion of instant directedness and specificity.
There could be is an assuming perception of clarity, distinction and clear-cut depiction of power in the newly proposed name, at least amongst the public and those who serve in the agency.
The new designation appears to align well with the operational, practical and strategic work of the agency.
On a psychological level the new name could help in personalizing the agency as an instrument of fear or uneasiness, and more likely to portray in the mind of any person, fear-arousing feelings and attitude.
The new designation could elicit powerful visualization of controllability embedded in the agency, at least from the perception of those in an offending mode especially.
The visibility of this proposed designation both in print and in the media could arouse a preventative mindset among those thinking of doing bad things.
Along the lines of these new labels, the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Federal Force of Investigation is the on-the-spot authoritative and up-to-the point sounding acronyms, like the “FBCI”, or “FFI”.
In the same vein, there should be a new label like the “Chief Director” or “Executive Director” in place of the commercially, corporately or politically sounding label of the term “Chairman”.
Accompanying the proposed new designations should be the label of “Special Detective” with driving characteristics of uniqueness, authenticity, professional stance and expert-driven outlook.
Mr. President, these suggested designations, appear congruent with the agency’s continued expanded roles and operations.
These functions include but are not limited to the fight against; treason, fee fraud, land scheme, cyber crimes, cult violence, aircraft kidnapping, sex trafficking, racketeering , medical child abuse, major weapon offense, international money swindling, medical fraud, espionage, sea piracy , terrorism , ethnic violence, and its other works with related law enforcement and investigative agencies.
In our contemporary world, the agency now works within a global context as crimes nationally and internationally are becoming more sophisticated and a daring in form, therefore with the up-to-date new designation like the ones proposed here, the agency’s representation become easier to be recognized globally.
Along these lines, the agency in its ongoing fight against more treacherous and expanded crimes requires an expanded human resource and contemporary technical support, in order to produce top-notch detectives.
The current training Academy in Nigeria might as well bear a new name along the lines of the already noted new labels, the FBCI or FFI. The new name of the Academy could be called the “National Investigation Training Institute” (NITI).
Mr. President, it is hoped that in your position as a 21st century leader that along with the appropriate advisors that you thoughtfully consider these up-to-date psychological and symbolic driven designations with respect to the specified agency.
It is also hoped that the federal legislature in its forward looking posture gives the needed blessing to this apparent aligning designations to an advancing national security agency like the ‘FBCI’ or ‘FFI’, in today’s world.
~ By John Oshodi
John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D, DABPS, FACFE is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Interim Associate Dean, Behavioral Science, Coconut Creek, Florida. joshodi@broward.edu
Monday, July 12, 2010
UNDP Announces 2010 Red Ribbon Award Winners
12 Jul 2010 20:11 Africa/Lagos
UNDP Announces 2010 Red Ribbon Award Winners/ Biennial global award celebrates outstanding community leadership and action on AIDS
NEW YORK, July 12, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Twenty-five community-based organisations representing 17 countries across the globe have won the 2010 Red Ribbon Award.
The Red Ribbon Award, named after the global symbol in the movement to address AIDS, is a joint effort of the UNAIDS family. The award recognizes outstanding community organisations for their work in reducing the spread and impact of AIDS.
“Grassroots and community based organizations are at the heart of the global response to AIDS,” said UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management & External Relations Jan Beagle, “UNAIDS is proud to celebrate and honor these groups who have mobilized themselves to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in their communities with energy, passion, and compassion. The red ribbon award winners give a resounding voice to the voiceless.”
Each of the winning organizations receives a cash award and international recognition for their innovation and leadership in responding to the AIDS epidemic. The organizations are invited to participate in the XVIII International AIDS Conference to be held in Vienna next week where they will be guests of honour at a formal Awards Ceremony and will host a forum for dialogue and exchange between policy makers and community representatives.
“Communities really hold the key to finding solutions to their own problems," said Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE, and a member of this year's jury panel. "So while those of us with a lot of outside expertise may know the theories, community organizations are best suited to reach those most in need when it comes to applying them.”
Out of 720 nominations from over 100 countries, the 25 winners were judged to have demonstrated the most remarkable efforts in terms of innovation, impact, sustainability, strategic partnerships, gender sensitivity and social inclusion. The winners were selected by a Technical Review Committee of civil society representatives who are experts in the community response to HIV.
“These organizations clearly demonstrate that effective responses to the epidemic require the full participation of front-line, community-based groups. Community groups recognize that AIDS is one of many issues that are tied together. They understand that AIDS requires an exceptional response but they also understand that you need to link AIDS to broader issues of health, development and justice to be effective,” said Jeffrey O'Malley, Director of the HIV/AIDS Practice at UNDP.
UNDP is honoured to announce the 2010 Red Ribbon Award Winners:
AFRICA
Association Pénitentiaire Africaine is an organization in Burkina Faso that has served as a model for raising awareness of prisoners' human rights, specifically the right to health, which includes HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
Center for Domestic Violence Prevention works at the civil society and government levels in Uganda to build an environment that is supportive of women's rights to safety and equality, underlying issues behind women's vulnerability to HIV in that nation.
Chrysalide operates a centre of support for women with HIV, drug users, sex workers and ex-prisoners, and has through HIV prevention and sensitization programmes reduced stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV in communities throughout Mauritius.
Elan d'Amour has played a catalytic role in improving access to HIV treatment and care by modelling how to integrate community organizations into the health care system of Cote d'Ivoire.
Nikat Women's Association is the first community-based association in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that is devoted to improving the living conditions of low-income women and commercial sex workers, thereby fighting poverty and protecting the right to health.
Physicians for Social Justice has trained family caregivers and volunteers in Nigeria to conduct home visits to support people living with HIV, and in particular women, thereby challenging existing gender and cultural stereotypes.
Positive Women's Network has been at the forefront of the HIV response in South Africa by creating a safe space for women with HIV, comprehensively addressing their needs and forming a powerful group that educates the wider community about HIV.
Pride Community Health Organization Zambia operates a safe haven in Zambia for people living with HIV, particularly orphans, vulnerable children, youth, women and people with disabilities, providing them with HIV and tuberculosis care, and support through home-based care services.
The Initiative for Equal Rights was established in response to human rights violations against sexual minorities and focuses on the health needs of men who have sex with men, slowly breaking the silence around issues of sexual minorities in, Nigeria.
Uganda Young Positive has mobilized over 20,000 young people across Uganda to conduct advocacy activities and become a point of convergence for all other youth organisations that advocate for greater support for people living with HIV.
ARAB STATES
Substance Abuse Research Center – SARC-AMAN is the first organisation in Gaza, the Palestinian territories to tackle issues of drug use and HIV, including stigma and misconceptions associated with these issues, in student and refugee populations.
Widows, Orphans and People Living with HIV/AIDS is a community organisation of people living with HIV in Southern Sudan and works to increase access to anti-retroviral treatment by forming partnerships with hospitals, facilitating referrals for treatment, and developing a home-based care system.
Source: United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
UNDP Announces 2010 Red Ribbon Award Winners/ Biennial global award celebrates outstanding community leadership and action on AIDS
NEW YORK, July 12, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Twenty-five community-based organisations representing 17 countries across the globe have won the 2010 Red Ribbon Award.
The Red Ribbon Award, named after the global symbol in the movement to address AIDS, is a joint effort of the UNAIDS family. The award recognizes outstanding community organisations for their work in reducing the spread and impact of AIDS.
“Grassroots and community based organizations are at the heart of the global response to AIDS,” said UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management & External Relations Jan Beagle, “UNAIDS is proud to celebrate and honor these groups who have mobilized themselves to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in their communities with energy, passion, and compassion. The red ribbon award winners give a resounding voice to the voiceless.”
Each of the winning organizations receives a cash award and international recognition for their innovation and leadership in responding to the AIDS epidemic. The organizations are invited to participate in the XVIII International AIDS Conference to be held in Vienna next week where they will be guests of honour at a formal Awards Ceremony and will host a forum for dialogue and exchange between policy makers and community representatives.
“Communities really hold the key to finding solutions to their own problems," said Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE, and a member of this year's jury panel. "So while those of us with a lot of outside expertise may know the theories, community organizations are best suited to reach those most in need when it comes to applying them.”
Out of 720 nominations from over 100 countries, the 25 winners were judged to have demonstrated the most remarkable efforts in terms of innovation, impact, sustainability, strategic partnerships, gender sensitivity and social inclusion. The winners were selected by a Technical Review Committee of civil society representatives who are experts in the community response to HIV.
“These organizations clearly demonstrate that effective responses to the epidemic require the full participation of front-line, community-based groups. Community groups recognize that AIDS is one of many issues that are tied together. They understand that AIDS requires an exceptional response but they also understand that you need to link AIDS to broader issues of health, development and justice to be effective,” said Jeffrey O'Malley, Director of the HIV/AIDS Practice at UNDP.
UNDP is honoured to announce the 2010 Red Ribbon Award Winners:
AFRICA
Association Pénitentiaire Africaine is an organization in Burkina Faso that has served as a model for raising awareness of prisoners' human rights, specifically the right to health, which includes HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
Center for Domestic Violence Prevention works at the civil society and government levels in Uganda to build an environment that is supportive of women's rights to safety and equality, underlying issues behind women's vulnerability to HIV in that nation.
Chrysalide operates a centre of support for women with HIV, drug users, sex workers and ex-prisoners, and has through HIV prevention and sensitization programmes reduced stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV in communities throughout Mauritius.
Elan d'Amour has played a catalytic role in improving access to HIV treatment and care by modelling how to integrate community organizations into the health care system of Cote d'Ivoire.
Nikat Women's Association is the first community-based association in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that is devoted to improving the living conditions of low-income women and commercial sex workers, thereby fighting poverty and protecting the right to health.
Physicians for Social Justice has trained family caregivers and volunteers in Nigeria to conduct home visits to support people living with HIV, and in particular women, thereby challenging existing gender and cultural stereotypes.
Positive Women's Network has been at the forefront of the HIV response in South Africa by creating a safe space for women with HIV, comprehensively addressing their needs and forming a powerful group that educates the wider community about HIV.
Pride Community Health Organization Zambia operates a safe haven in Zambia for people living with HIV, particularly orphans, vulnerable children, youth, women and people with disabilities, providing them with HIV and tuberculosis care, and support through home-based care services.
The Initiative for Equal Rights was established in response to human rights violations against sexual minorities and focuses on the health needs of men who have sex with men, slowly breaking the silence around issues of sexual minorities in, Nigeria.
Uganda Young Positive has mobilized over 20,000 young people across Uganda to conduct advocacy activities and become a point of convergence for all other youth organisations that advocate for greater support for people living with HIV.
ARAB STATES
Substance Abuse Research Center – SARC-AMAN is the first organisation in Gaza, the Palestinian territories to tackle issues of drug use and HIV, including stigma and misconceptions associated with these issues, in student and refugee populations.
Widows, Orphans and People Living with HIV/AIDS is a community organisation of people living with HIV in Southern Sudan and works to increase access to anti-retroviral treatment by forming partnerships with hospitals, facilitating referrals for treatment, and developing a home-based care system.
Source: United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
This New Minimum Wage of N17, 000 is Nonsense
Nigerian low income earners deserve more payNigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has been negotiating for N52000 minimum wage which is reasonable and realistic in view of the present state of the economy. But what the Federal Government of Nigeria decided to pay is a paltry N17, 000.
This new minimum wage of N17, 000 IS NONSENSE.
N17, 000 is not even up to a living wage for any adult low income worker anywhere in Nigeria.
The cost of living in Lagos for the poorest of the poor is about N1, 000 daily and that is only for a single adult without any family.
How can families working in low-wage jobs earning only N17, 000 monthly make ends meet?
N17, 000 is not even enough to feed one Alsatian Dog in a Nigerian senator's residence.
I support the demands of the Nigerian Labour Congress.
~ Orikinla Osinachi
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