Day: June 26, 2023

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World Vitiligo Awareness Day Observed

World Vitiligo Day is observed on June 25th across the world to recognise and create awareness on people living with the condition. The date was chosen by the renowned musical artist Michael Jackson who also suffered from the condition and highlights struggles faced by vitiligo patients worldwide, with this year’s theme being Vitiligo: Looking into the future.

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose their pigment or colour. This happens when melanocytes, the skin cells that make pigment are attacked and destroyed causing the skin to turn a milky white colour. The condition is not related to other skin diseases such as albinism or skin cancer.

According to the Global Vitiligo Foundation, statistics indicate that about 70 million people worldwide suffer from the condition, with 10-25 per cent being children.

‘The condition can appear in a person at any age. When it manifests, white patches appear on their face first, then their hands, legs and feet. For some people, their body hair such as eyebrows and hairs on their arms and legs also change colour,’ said Julie Mwangi, a dermatologist and member of the Royal Patches Foundation, an organisation that creates awareness on the condition, during an awareness event held on the day.

Treatment is decided upon based on a patient’s age and physical condition, where doctors decide whether treatments such as drugs, depigmentation therapy, light therapy or skin grafting would be appropriate for them.

Vitiligo as a disease has been shown to cause more psychological than physical distress among patients. Some people diagnosed with the condition develop low self-esteem, and suffer from bouts of anxiety and depression, causing them to avoid social interactions.

‘I was diagnosed at 13 years of age and for many years I struggled with self-esteem issues. I avoided any activity that exposed the whitish spots on my arms and legs because I felt unattractive and incomplete, especially when some of my relatives mocked me and referred to me as a small albino,’ said Phelix Owiny, who is living with the condition.

‘During such times I would refuse to eat and cry myself to sleep. This was before I joined Royal Patches and found a community of people who look just like me. Now I no longer hide my skin or feel out of place. I am currently a skin model and I get to showcase my skin to the world,’ added Owiny.

Counselling sessions by mental health professionals are important for vitiligo patients, as they help alleviate psychological changes associated with the changes to their skin. Such patients need to be encouraged and treated equally as other human beings without discrimination.

Vitiligo as a condition tends to remain static over the years for some people, while for others it has a progressive cause. Understanding the type of vitiligo one has and its medication can definitely help to stop the progression.

‘We encourage people living with the condition to eat healthy, exercise and manage their stress levels and they will live long healthy lives. Awareness of the condition and its symptoms, causes, risk factors, preventative measures and treatment is the way forward and we urge the government to recognise and join our efforts in this venture,’ stated Mwangi.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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919 Unsafe Buildings For Occupation

An ongoing inspection of buildings across the country by the National Building Inspectorate (NBI) has found 919 buildings to be unsafe for occupation.

The NBI Secretary, Samuel Charagu, revealed that the mandate of the Inspectorate is to inspect all the buildings in the country, especially those that are occupied, to check for safety, and out of the 19605 buildings inspected so far in 26 counties, 919 were found to be unsafe.

‘We have been going around the country, and so far we have been to 26 counties to check the structural integrity of buildings,’ Charagu said.

He stated that they had already inspected several buildings across the country, of which about 5 percent were found to be dangerous, and he noted that there were many others that were found to be unsafe but could be repaired.

He said that as building inspectors, they come in to inspect buildings after they have been occupied.

According to Charagu, the NBI works closely with the local administration and the police to evacuate people already occupying such buildings, a move he says has saved lives as some buildings have collapsed just days after residents were evacuated.

‘Once we find a building that is dangerous, we alert the police and the National Disaster Management Unit to have the occupants removed; we have done that in Ruiru and Mombasa recently,’ he said.

Affirming the need for better legislation and regulation in the construction industry, State Department for Public Works Principal Secretary Joel Arumonyang said that as a state department they were keen on regulations and they have engaged with the building code, which is part of the strategy to address this issue and is currently before the Senate.

He said that the department also wants to engage the national assembly to be able to address these issues facing the construction sector, adding that there is the building control bill, which is also dealing with addressing the gaps in the building sector.

The two were speaking at the site of a building that collapsed in Murang’a town on June 19, 2023, killing five people.

Source: Kenya News Agency

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Ethiopian Airlines Shining Example for Cargo, Logistics Handling Capabilities: African Airlines Association

Ethiopian Airlines Group has invested heavily on infrastructure, people and processes to enhance its special cargo and logistics handling capabilities throughout its network, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) told the Ethiopian News Agency(ENA).

AFRAA Secretary General, Abderahmane Berthe, appreciated the Ethiopian Airlines for being a shining example in its achievement on the implementation of cargo and logistics.

The Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Logistics services carries out the transportation of special cargo like medical products, live animals and perishable products in compliance with international and industry standards, he elaborated.

Berthe indicated that the AFRAA is committed to working together with Ethiopian Airlines for the development of Africa’s aviation industry.

“We sincerely appreciate and support Ethiopian Airlines’ determination to join the continent through their hubs and multiple routes, playing an important role in uniting the continent. For this, we are working together with them and the relevant parties,” he said.

He noted the flagship projects of Agenda 2063—the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are the most important elements to allow airlines to fly freely everywhere in the continent.

He believes that the African passport and free movement of people initiative are very supportive for the objectives of African airlines.

He added the initiative will remove border restrictions and foster continental integration by promoting free movement of Africans within the continent.

The secretary general also said that one of the problems of African airlines is traffic restrictions, adding that flying from one African country to another African destination requires obtaining a special permit.

In similar development, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Marie Owens Thomsen mentioned obstacles that are preventing the African aviation industry from growing as expected.

“Infrastructure constraints, high costs, lack of connectivity, regulatory impediments, slow adoption of global standards and skills shortages … are all contributory factors to African airlines’ viability and sustainability, ”she elaborated.

She also said that Ethiopian Airlines Group is developing rapidly by overcoming the challenges that the aviation industry is facing and it is an example of success that is connecting Africa and the rest of the world.

She urged African airlines to use their potentials and work together and develop the aviation sector in Africa.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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Strong Coordination Among Partners Crucial To Ensure Water, Energy Provisions

Strong coordination is required with multi stakeholders to ensure access to water and energy services to a large number of the population, according to Ministry of Water and Energy.

Speaking at the 11th water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and water resource management and energy multi stakeholder forum, Minister of Water and Energy, Habtamu Itafa said the demands for water in Ethiopia is high including for electricity.

He added that population growth and climate change remain critical challenge, to which the government of Ethiopia has been embarking on green legacy initiative which contributes to development of water resource.

Habtamu added that this can be managed through the involvement of development partners as they are playing a crucial role in supplying of water and energy.

He urged partners who invested in the area to further strengthen coordination to solve the deficit of water, sanitation and energy in Ethiopia.

For clean household, clean environment, reliable water and affordable energy, we have to work together, he said.

The government of Ethiopia has been working to ensure access to water and sanitation, which also is incorporated in the Ten Year Development Plan.

Minister of Health, Dr. Lia Tadesse on her part said that poverty cannot be eradicated without universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

Despite a long way to go, Ethiopia has made substantial progress over the past decades in increasing access to these basic services in both rural, semi urban and urban populations.

The WASH national program has provided water and sanitation facilities in public areas including schools, health and industrial institutions, she said, adding that the area still requires a lot of investments to work together.

She noted that access to energy and renewable energy and sustainable energy is also key issue particularly for the health sector.

The health minister added that this forum would help strengthen cooperation with partners and to implement joint project and monitoring mechanism.

The United States Agency for International Development Ethiopia (USAID) Acting Mission Director, Timothy Stein said reaching everyone everywhere with clean water, put sanitation services, hygiene and education requiring strong coordination and partnership.

He added that USAID and all development partners should continue to strengthen water and energy provisions, demonstrating strong partnership among government organizations.

In energy sector, Ethiopia has made great strides in accelerating access to electricity; to which we should continue to work with the government of Ethiopia to address key finance gaps and increase access to sustainable water and sanitation services both in urban and rural areas, the acting director said.

According to the acting director, USAID has allocated 65 million USD investment in the next five years, where over 500 thousand people will have access to basic water services and 350 thousands people to gain access to sanitation services.

It was noted that the forum created an opportunity in the water and energy sector to review policy, achievement and share experience.

The theme of this multi stakeholder forum is “accelerated implementation and improved impacts towards SDGs.”

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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#BeFree engages youth through sports

The #BeFree Ballers hosted a 7-a-Side hybrid football tournament on Saturday at Ella Du Plessis High School Sports Stadium for young male and female sports stars.

The Deputy Minister of Sports, Youth and National Service, Emma Kantema-Gaomas, said young men and women should not think their parents are punishing them by keeping them home and away from drugs.

“Parental involvement is crucial, especially when it comes to issues involving children committing suicide,” Kantema-Gaomas said.

Kantema-Gaomas further added that instead of speculating, everyone should join the fight against drug abuse.

“We need to really spend time and interrogate ourselves; we need to motivate our children; we need to speak to them on a daily basis,” Kantema-Gaomas said.

Speaking at the same event was David Emvula, a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist at Lady Pohamba Private Hospital, who highlighted the dangers associated with drug usage and urged the youth to stay away from smoking hookah pipes and marijuana.

“Sportspersons will be banned from sports if they use substances such as steroids, which is why future athletes must discover themselves and stay away from drugs. Steroids may be advantageous in the short term, but they will cause irreversible damage to an athlete in the long run,” Emvula cautioned.

According to the newly crowned Women’s Super League champion, Tura Magic Football Club’s Thomalina Adams, men in football make more money than women; more men travel to foreign nations to play football, and only a few women go abroad.

She also stated that she is happy with the regional women’s league that is set to kick off in July.

“With this league, hopefully there will be fewer teenage pregnancies and substance abuse because the young stars will be more involved in sports,” she said.

According to Kaarina Iita, the Head of Programmes at #BeFree, the aim of the event was to educate and empower young professionals in the sports fraternity by offering guidance and support.

“The tournament offers a judgement-free platform for open dialogue where the youth can foster a community of self-awareness and understanding of sexual and reproductive health rights,” Iita said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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Naval pentathlon games kick off in Walvis Bay

The SADC Naval Pentathlon 2023 Games, hosted by the Namibian Navy, started at Walvis Bay in the Erongo Region on Monday.

Namibia, along with Botswana and South Africa, are set to compete in obstacle crossing, utility swimming, live-saving swimming, seamanship as well as amphibious cross-country, while Tanzania is attending as an observer.

Namibian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alweendo Amugulu in a speech delivered on his behalf at the official opening of the event on Monday, said the games are aimed at strengthening the bonds and further reinforcing the cordial relations that exist between the countries’ defence forces.

“I trust that the competition will be accomplished with good spirit and comradeship among us all and that the overall competition environment will provide a good and positive outcomes,” Amugulu expressed.

The decision to have Namibia host the games was taken during the 28th meeting of the Standing Maritime Committee (SMC) of the Interstate Defence and Security Committee held in South Africa in March this year.

In an interview with Nampa on the side-lines of the event, Botswana’s head of delegation for the country’s team, Major Godwin Mawila Machibe of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), emphasised the importance of the games, noting that they will not only contribute to the fitness of the team, but will also enhance the relations with other countries.

The team consists of six participants, including two females and four male.

“This will be the second time for the BDF to partake in these games, as we participated for the first time in 2017 in South Africa, where we finished in second position. This year, we are aware of what is expected of us and therefore we will strive to get that first position,” Machibe expressed.

The teams are expected to take part in one event per day and the games will end on Friday

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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