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Unique slum upgrading project starts in Nairobi

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:52:00 GMT

Sunday, November 30, 2008

The upgrading of six informal settlements in Nairobis Huruma estate has started. Cooperation Internationale (COOPI) from Italy has given Sh74.4 billion (744 million dollars) for the programme, expected to take three years, and benefit more than 150,000 people.

Source: http://www.eastandard.net/business/InsidePage.php?id=1144000547&cid=14&

JORDAN: Palestinian schoolchildren to get government food aid

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:51:50 GMT

Saturday, November 22, 2008

AMMAN Thursday, October 09, 2008 (IRIN) - The Jordanian authorities will start distributing food rations to Palestinian refugee children at schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on 12 October. This is part of a programme to help cushion pupils from soaring food prices. UNRWA spokesman Matter Saqer in Amman told IRIN the move would have a positive impact on children’s educational achievement in poverty-stricken areas. Each school will get food twice a week - enough for...

Source: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=80840

THAILAND: Government plan to boost domestic rice production

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:50:49 GMT

Saturday, November 22, 2008

BANGKOK Tuesday, August 19, 2008 (IRIN) - Thailand's Finance Ministry has announced it will lease some 160,000 hectares (ha) of unused state-owned land to poor farmers and agri-businesses to boost domestic rice production. The programme is part of a campaign by Thailand - already the world's largest rice exporter - to boost rice production and help ward off a possible global food crisis. Amnuay Preemonwong, deputy director-general of the treasury department, told IRIN the project would also...

Source: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=79885

Two Gambians in Miss Nollywood UK

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:40:06 GMT

Friday, August 29, 2008

The much talked about, spectacular English beauty theatre programme of the year, Miss Nollywood UK, has been scheduled for the 27th September, 2008.

This competition is expected to bring together smart, intelligent and creative models from all over the world,especially Africa and Africans in the diaspora.The programme is also seen as scene of beauty, art, and modeling exhibition for prospective nollywood stars.

Miss nollywood UK 2008 seeks to inspire and promote the spirit of universal peace, unity and love for humanity. It would nurture and prepare the glamorously smart contestants for the challenges that lie ahead of them, especially in the world of beauty, art and creative modelling. It’s also geared towards strengthening the spirit of mutual understanding, tolerance, cultural exchange between people of diverse cultures and to instill a sense of self confidence in the participants.In order to win this prestigious beauty competition,the contestants should have some interest in acting, be able to dance, model, should be witty, articulate, intelligent they should be able to think right on feet, and to have a walking style that will set them apart from the other contestants.

As it has always been the case, the winners will receive prizes and other valuable incentives, with the overall winer of the competition standing the chance of bagging a contract with the Nollywood filming industry plus a huge cash award. Ten(10) free modelling photo shots would be printed with Mouldme studio and many others. The second winner will also benefit from a contract with Nollywood filming industry plus a return ticket to the republic of Nigeria.

For the first time in the history of Gambian arts and beauty showbiz, two smart, intelligent, talented and glamorous girls in the name of Fatou Sise and Sally Bah, all based in the UK, are set to represent the country at this presitigious beauty competition.They are poised to raise the Gambian flag high in the world of modelling and creaitivity.

Fatou Sise, a business student cum passionate charity worker, expressed confidence about winning the forthcoming beauty contest. She spoke about her intention to raise the Gambian flag high.

“I am out to win this beauty competition.That is exactly what I told the organisers of the programme. I want to put The Gambia on the nerve centre of the world, especially in the areas of arts, modelling, and creative beauty,” she said.

Fatou Sise made this remark in a recent chat with the Arts and Culture anchorman, and she added that The Gambia is blessed with the required smart, intelligent and beautiful girls, who are capable of getting to the highest level in the world of beauty and creativity.

“The problem, she observed, “is the lack of suffiencent support for this category of Arts not only in The Gambia, but other parts of Africa. There is a need for support and exposure, something positive really needs to be done about the recent trend of beauty and model industry in Africa. We have to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of beauty and modelling,” she said.

She however acknowledged the efforts of most beauty and modelling agencies in the country and the conducive environment created by the Government of The Gambia for smooth operations of the industry, noting that the industry is doing fairly well, “its only a matter of time, to catch up with others.”

Fatou Sise, accompanied by her husband, Mr Mark Slater (a medical student) based in Caversham in oxfordhire, UK, revealed that she was set to depar The Gambia on the 2nd of September 2008 to start intensive training for the final competition of miss Nollywood UK, scheduled for 27th September, 2008. Mrs Sise reiterated confidence to winning the competition come September 27th 2008. “I have the talent, commitment and intelligence; all I need is the massive support from all Gambians and none Gambians alike,” she said.

The Gambian beauty queen and model did not hesitate to reveal her intention of establishing a charity organisation in The Gambia.

She spoke at length of her passion for charity work, especially in the cause of the poor and the vulnerable in society.

According to her, she developed interest in charity work at a tender age, citing a charity beauty contest held some time ago in the UK, where she participated to an enviable level.

For his part Mark Slater, husband of the Gambian beauty queen and prospective Nollywood star, described his wife as very hard working, committed and a determined person,who possessed the potentials to win the forthcoming Miss Nollywood UK 2008.

He seized the opportunity to urged Gambians and none Gambians alike to vote in for his wife at the competition.

The medical student husband further confirmed his wife’s comment and desire for charity work. Mark Slater,commenting on Beauty and Modelling in UK, described the current trend in the UK as very encouraging and inspirational for Africans he noted that,both Blacks and Whites are accorded equal opportunities in creative and model markets.

According to him, magazines, newspapers and other mediums are promoting both black and white beauty and Nollywood stars.’’There is real opportunity for all the market’,he said. The medical student, further described the forthcoming Miss Nollywood UK 2008 as a real motivating factor for beauty queens throughout the world.He added that declaring his wife as the winner of Miss Nollywood UK 2008,would serve as a real pace setter in the history of Gambian beauty, model and creative arts industry.

Author: by Sana Jawara

“No Cases of Cholera in The Gambia” - DOSH Programme Manager

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:45:34 GMT

Thursday, August 28, 2008

The Programme Manager at Health Education Unit of the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare, Amadou Sowe, has stated that as of now there is no single case of cholera that has been reported in any of the health facilities in the country.

He made this observation in an interview with journalists yesterday following the reported outbreak of cholera in neighbouring countries.

Mr Sowe said that despite the fact that there is no case of cholera in the country as yet, his office would not be complacent.

He noted that the Department of State for Health has set up a task force comprising staff from the Department of State for Water Resources, Municipalities, the NEA, the WHO, UNICEF and other partners working in the area of cholera prevention.

According to him, the Department of State for Health cannot do it alone.

He noted that recently some members of the task force visited all the health facilities in order to prepare people for any eventuality, including an outbreak.

He pointed out that all the health facilities have been well equipped with all the supplies they need.

He called on the general public to report to the nearest health facility if they suspect sudden diarrhoea with two or more watery stools per day.

Mr Sowe said the Regional Health Teams have notified the health staff at the border post to be vigilant enough at their respective border posts.

He finally advised the general public to be mindful of what they eat and drink.

Author: By Pa Modou Faal

Another boost for Presidential Treatment Programme

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:24:09 GMT

Thursday, August 21, 2008

More people continue to give aid to the Presidential Treatment Programme, with Hatib Janneh, the proprietor of Sea View Hotel, donating a list of valuable items, worth at least D150,250.

The donated items include bags of sugar, cartons of milk, peas, cups and spoons, tooth paste and brushes, kettles and prayer mats.

Dr Tamsir Mbowe, the director general of the Presidential Treatment Programme, took delivery of the donation. He thanked Mr Janneh for the generous gesture, adding that this reinforces the public confidence in and support for the continuity of Dr Yahya Jammeh’s treatment.

Dr Mbowe pointed to the numerous successes registered by the treatment programme, which publicly started in January 2007. According to him, the successes of the various treatments make it an onus for everyone to support the selfless services the president is rendering to humanity, saying that the “lives that are being saved and hopes being restored” could be that of anyone.

Director General Mbowe used the opportunity to thank the president for his personal contribution to the health service delivery system in the country, noting that this has impacted positively on the key health indicators of the country, including life expectancy, maternal health, as well as a significant reduction in the number of admissions.

US Embassy capacitises students

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:12:06 GMT

Thursday, August 21, 2008

As part of its public outreach programmes, the US Embassy in The Gambia, on Tuesday, continued its free internet research training for students in senior secondary schools within the Greater Banjul Area.

The training was held at the embassy’s conference hall, located at its premises along the Kairaba Avenue.

Stephen M Mallinger, the information resource officer at the US Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, delivered a presentation on internet research techniques. Mr Mallinger, who is also the regional officer for 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, told the Daily Observer that this training is part of the US embassy’s outreach programmes to the public.

“We are anxious to work with the youths and the cultural community. We are fortunate that The Gambia’s official language is English, therefore, the American online information resources are quite appropriate for The Gambia,” he said.

For his part, Mohammadou M Njie (Papa), the public diplomacy and cultural affairs assistant, thanked the students for responding to their invitation.
He advised the students to work hard and make the best use of the knowledge gained.

Author: by Assan Sallah & Adama Kah

KMC donates to Presidential Treatment Programme

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:43:13 GMT

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Kanifing Municipal Council, under the leadership of Mayor Yankuba Colley, yesterday donated D100,000 to the Presidential treatment programme.

An organisation called Jammeh Pree also donated 40 bed sheets to the treatment programme in response to the call of the director general of the Treatment Programme, Dr Tamsir Mbowe.

Reacting to the gestures, Dr Tamsir Mbowe said since the inception of the programme in January 2007, thousands of patients and their families have directly or indirectly benefited from the treatment programme.

According to the director general, the bed occupancies in the major health facilities have drastically dropped since the inception of the Presidential Treatment Programme.

Dr Mbowe reminded the donors of a statement by the Gambian leader President Jammeh who said ill health sets the stage for poverty and under-development and said that their contribution to the treatment programme was therefore timely and highly welcome.
“This gestures will help to strengthen the health delivery system in the country,” he asserted.

Author: by Hatab Fadera

Communities Impress on IRS House to House Spraying in Foni as NMCP ends Campaing

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:37:02 GMT

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The National Malaria Control Program last Sunday concluded a six –day intensive house to house indoor residual spraying campaign in the district of Foni.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Health Matters shortly after the campaign, Balla Kandeh the Senior Program officer said the exercise was jointly funded by the government of The Gambia, the Taiwanese Embassy and The President of the Republic Dr Yahya Jammeh. He described the exercise as successful noting that the communities in Foni were very co-operative with the spraymen.

During the exercise over 300 spraymen were involved drawn from NYSS and the Department of State for Health.

Aziz Ndaw, a resident of Bwiam, said prior to the spraying Mosquitoes used to disturb his family but a day after his house was sprayed he was able to sleep well without having any mosquito bites.

Amie Jarjue, a native of Ballen, commended government for coming to their aid adding that the indoor residual spraying is a good strategy to eradicate malaria in The Gambia.

Saihou Nyassi of Kampan appealed to government to do the exercise every six months.

For his part Alhagie Sankareh, senior administrator with the Regional Health Team Western, stated that before the operation all the Alkalo’s in Foni were sensitised. The Indoor residual spraying was first piloted in Janjanbureh before Banjul.

Mr. Sankareh stated that the spraymen were deployed in 11 sites in Foni noting that their target is the Kombos where they want to spend 20 working days. According to him, all this depends entirely on the availability of funds in order to carry on the exercise.

He said the Department of State for Health is working very hard to secure additional funds to cover the remaining sites in the country

He commended the youth of NYSS for their dedication and commitment during the exercise.

Lamin Ceesay, district supervisor Foni Kansala, said the exercise was successful in his area. He added that this is one of the biggest exercises carried out by the National Malaria Control Programme and appealed to DOSH to begin the operation around April and May before the beginning of the rainy season depending on the availability of funds.

Author: By Pa Modou |Faal

23 HIV/AIDs patients discharged-More discoveries announced

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:38:49 GMT

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Monday, August 18, 2008

After months of taking medications, under the watchful eyes of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, 23 former HIV/AIDS patients have been given a clean bill of health and accordingly discharged, at a colourful ceremony, witnessed by thousands of Gambians, on Thursday, at Kanilai Village, Foni Kansala, Western Region. They comprised third, fourth and fifth batches of patients.

The Gambian leader used the forum to announce new discoveries in his treatment programme. Out of the overall 120 patients, 63 were found to be undetectable with the virus, while 23 were said to have totally been cleansed of it. It means that the latter category were saying goodbye to the man that has given them a new lease of life.

The president reminded the crowd that during the last discharge ceremony, he had promised to announce new discoveries in the near future; he noted that his intention now was to treat the patients within a period of not more than two months; be they HIV I and HIV II patients.

He pointed to the drastic reduction of the viral loads of the patients, from millions of copies for some, to less than a million for others, as indicative of the effectiveness of the medication.

Lessons
Announcing the potential in curing patients in less than one month, the president disclosed that they had made some discoveries that were worrisome during the course of the latest treatment process. Among other discoveries were that blood grouping was a determinant factor in the rate of removal of the virus from the blood of an HIV patient.

President Jammeh pointed out that while patients belonging to blood groups O-ve and O+ve were found to be difficult to be cleansed of the virus, patients with A+ and A-, B+ and B-, as well as AB+ and AB– need not worry if they have HIV II. According to the president, treatment of such groups of people would not even take one month now.

Reassurance
Dr Jammeh reassured the patients in the current batches, who still have higher degrees of viral loads, not to be worried, saying that by the end of this month, if they were not discharged, they would be discharged the following one “by the Grace of the Almighty Allah”.

“We want to make sure that there is nothing in your blood,” he stated.

New discoveries
The surprise of the day was the announcement of the discovery of a cure for an enlarged prostrate, which causes blockage of the urethral tract making the passage of urine difficult, a situation, the Gambian leader said was common among the aged, mostly the men folk.

According to President Jammeh, the beauty of this cure is that it has given two positive results: once drank, one passes urine freely, but it also heightens the performance of the sexual organ of the patient concerned.

He said the fact that the medicine was difficult to get meant that they would strictly use it to cure those with prostrate and not for enhancement of the sexual organ. But there is no reason to worry, as the president reminded the people that he had earlier made an announcement of the discovery of the cure for such cases, calling on potential patients to register with the Presidential Medical Team through Dr Tamsir Mbowe, the director general of the programme.

Warning against
recklessness
To the discharged HIV/AIDS patients, the president warned that being cleared of the virus does not mean that one is immune. “So you have to take care of yourselves,” he urged.

For now, he said, none of those who have been cleared of the have been re-infected. “So it is up to you to follow their example,” he cautioned.

Resource constraints
Limited resources and logistics remain a big obstacle to the treatment programme, said the president, and this prevents him and his medical team from taking on a larger number of patients. He is of the belief that they could treat up to a thousand people if it were not for the limited resources at their disposal, which makes it difficult to provide adequate feeding and other needs of the patients.

He said: “I wish I can treat 5,000 patients a month, but it is not possible, because the facility is not there to accommodate all of you; and secondly, it is very, very expensive”. The president called for support from philanthropists.

Infertility patients
For those who underwent the infertility treatment, President Jammeh assured them that “by the Grace of the Almighty Allah”, over hundreds of them would deliver in the course of the coming months and beyond.

“As a matter of fact, from here to December, we would be having deliveries,” added, but noted that the continuation of this increasingly popular treatment programme is on the balance. According to President Jammeh, the decision of its continuation rest entirely on Gambians. Apparently, a group of Gambians, out of genuine concern for his personal security, had led a delegation to the president’s mother, advising against his continuation of the programme.

He disclosed that more than 2,500 people have registered for the infertility treatment. “Should I leave them in their misery, or should I believe in the Almighty Allah and treat them?” he asked, and then went on, “I want the Gambian people to decide”. The issue now rests on the outcome of a public opinion survey that would soon be sanctioned by the director generals of both GRTS and the Presidential Treatment Team on GRTS tv.
For President Jammeh though, only “what the majority of Gambians say would make the difference”.

The president praised the nurses for taking care of the patients and for their hard work.
Solidarity and praise
In announcing the results of the patients, Dr Tamsir Mbowe reminded the gathering that the president had joined the fight against the deadly ailment not to create a name for himself, but to salvage humanity from the burden of the scourge.

He assured the Gambian leader that his confidence in himself, among other enviable qualities, has earned him a place in the history of medicine.
Dr Mariatou Jallow, who chaired the ceremony, called for all to dedicate themselves to the fight against HIV/AIDS by encouraging the youths to go for voluntary testing and counselling.

Sohna Bah, one of the patients, said she had never thought this time would have met her alive, having had a life-long disturbing experience. That was a view shared by Nengunde Bah, another patient, who said that The Gambia is blessed to have someone like President Jammeh at its head. They both praised the Gambian leader for the gesture.

The occasion was characterised by drama performances by the Gambia Red Cross drama group, and a newly established group called The Breakthrough.
The Twin Sisters also staged a thrilling musical performance.

Author: by Kemo Cham & Pa Malick Faye