APO News from Africa:
President Zuma to Officially Open the United Nations World Water Day Summit and Expo in Durban:
President Jacob Zuma, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Heads of State Committee on the United Nations (UN) High Level Panel on Water, will on Wednesday, 22 March 2017, officially open the United Nations (UN) World Water Day Summit and Expo in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
The Summit will be held under the theme “Water and Sanitation is a Human Right” in line with the South African government’s calendar of activities with March celebrated as a Human Rights Month.
South Africa will host the Summit and Expo through the Department of Water and Sanitation, in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and United Nations Water.
The Summit will also provide an opportunity to launch the 17th edition of UN’s World Water Development Report, which focuses on the critical role of wastewater management for vibrant economies, resilient societies and the maintenance of healthy environments across the globe.
President Zuma will also present a Declaratory Statement on roll-out activities of the High Level Panel on Water at domestic, regional and global levels.
The Summit will further provide South Africa with an opportunity to outline progress that the country has made in meeting water and sanitation goals since 1994 and will also be a platform for sharing knowledge and experience on risks in water provision induced by drought and climate change.
The South African Government continues to call on all communities to conserve water in order to ensure sustainability of water supply.
The details of the Summit are as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 22 March 2017
Time: 10h00
Venue: Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Durban.
Media attending the Summit should please send their details to Vukile Mathabela on 082 708 3269 or DWS Spokesperson Sputnik Ratau on 082 874 2942 or KZN COGTA Spokesperson Lennox Mabaso on 082 884 2403.
Distributed by APO on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Presidency.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
South Sudan, Equatorial Guinea Begin ‘Deep and Lasting Collaboration’ on Oil and Gas:
- New agreement will see South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea share knowledge and resources to improve oil and gas sector and boost economic growth.
- Equatorial Guinea to provide training to South Sudanese personnel and advise on licensing as its current licensing round nears conclusion.
- South Sudan President H.E. Salva Kiir and petroleum ministers of both countries to promote investment at Africa Oil & Power 2017 conference.
South Sudan and Equatorial Guinea announced an historic partnership today in Juba, setting out the terms for a strong bilateral relationship between the African oil and gas producers.
The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima and South Sudan’s Minister of Petroleum H.E. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth. The two nations will use the new partnership as a basis for exchanging information on policy and regulation; promoting upstream, downstream and infrastructure projects; and collaboration between the national oil companies Nilepet and GEPetrol.
“Partnership is what fuels the oil industry” said H.E. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth. “South Sudan is proud to share its experiences with Equatorial Guinea, and to learn from the great work of our fellow African producer. The petroleum industry is crucial to our nation’s development. This agreement signals our dedication to investing in the sector as a driver for South Sudan’s growth.”
“The sharing of resources and knowledge between African oil and gas countries is critical,” said H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima. “Going forward, Equatorial Guinea will work closely with South Sudan for the benefit of our people and our national economies. The lines of communication are open and we look forward to a deep and lasting collaboration.”
Extending its expertise in oil and gas licensing rounds; gas monetization and eliminating flaring; investing in power plants using flared gas; local content and offering to provide training to South Sudanese personnel, Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons will use its experience and resources to assist South Sudan’s Ministry of Petroleum in revitalizing the country’s oil and gas industry. Both countries bring decades of oil production experience to the table, and South Sudan is now working to more than double oil output to 290,000 barrels per day. Equatorial Guinea is nearing the close of its EG Ronda 2016 licensing round.
The EG Ronda will conclude at the Africa Oil & Power 2017 conference in Cape Town, where South Sudanese President H.E. Salva Kiir will deliver a keynote speech and the ministers of both nations will meet investors and promote their oil and gas industries and projects.
Distributed by APO on behalf of Government of the Republic of South Sudan, Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
Media contact:
James Chester
Content Director
News@AfricaOilAndPower.com
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
USAID Support Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services in Ethiopia:
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Management Sciences for Health, and the Ministry of Health marked the successful completion of USAID’s System for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services Activity. The activity strengthened pharmaceutical management, supported the development of treatment guidelines and health facility standards, and reduced waste and corruption in the pharmaceutical sector. The result was improved access to quality pharmaceutical services that ensure the safe, appropriate and cost-effective use of medicines to achieve better health outcomes for Ethiopians.
In the past five years, the activity trained nearly 8,000 professionals, which resulted in improved motivation, higher retention and a more skilled workforce. It supported 77 health facilities across Ethiopia to implement transparent and accountable pharmaceutical transactions and services, and 128 health facilities to establish drug information services that resulted in a patient-centered approach. To improve pharmacy data management, 208 health facilities established electronic dispensing tools and 558 public health facilities and 46 private hospitals now have drug and therapeutic committees.
This activity supported more than 1,000 health facilities providing antiretroviral therapy services to document, generate and report pharmaceutical data and information to support decision-making in the health system. In addition, this activity helped establish automated medicine registration information systems and a health hotline center. Furthermore, the activity promoted adherence to treatment and medicine safety in priority health programs including malaria, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health.
Speaking at the event, USAID Ethiopia Representative BethAnne Moskov, “USAID‘s Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals activity has significantly improved pharmaceutical governance and service delivery, provided pharmacy data for decision making, and optimized the use of financial resources.”
Management Sciences for Health implemented the $ 17.6 million activity with funding from the President’s Malaria Initiative and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). USAID will continue providing technical assistance to improve pharmaceutical supply and service systems to support the Ministry of Health’s plan to increase transparency, optimize resources and reduce improper use of medicines by patients.
Distributed by APO on behalf of U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
