News from Malawi
The Head of Delegation from Public Service Commission, Wangari Ndia speaking during the Review of the State Department for Devolution Organization Structure and Staff Establishment at Telposta Towers, Nairobi on Thursday August 3, 2023.
Source: Kenya News Agency
Narok health officers have conducted a program to sensitize on the importance of breastfeeding among women as they commemorate World Breastfeeding Week.
This exercise comes as the county joins the rest in the country to celebrate the breastfeeding week that started this week; on Tuesday 1st, August, and ends next week on Monday 7th, 2023.
Nancy Kamiti, head of the nutrition department at Narok referral hospital, said that world breastfeeding week is commemorated annually and the Narok County nutrition department uses the opportunity to educate women on the importance of breastfeeding.
‘World breastfeeding week is a global annual commemoration event and as a department, we join the rest of the world to commemorate and educate women on the importance of breastfeeding,’ stressed Kamiti.
He added that the department has always been at the forefront of supporting women working in different departments through the building of lactation rooms in different institutions to make it easy for them to breastfeed.
Further, Kamiti stated that breastfeeding was very important for both the mother and the baby noting a baby that has gone through proper breastfeeding is normally well developed in terms of intelligent quotient (IQ) compared to others.
According to the nutritionist, babies under six months are not supposed to eat anything else besides breast milk and therefore it enhances proper growth and helps them develop proper immunity.
‘Breastfeeding is important to infants as it enhances higher IQ and proper growth as babies below the age of six months cannot eat any other food besides breast milk,’ stated Kamiti.
Breast milk is a source of a number of minerals that are very important to babies as they grow. Therefore, mothers should facilitate continuous breastfeeding for at least six months before introducing babies to any other forms of feeding.
The nutritionist warned women who shun breastfeeding, stating that breastfeeding helps in reducing chances of being infected by diseases such as breast cancer, mastitis, and engorgement of the breasts.
Also, women were advised to eat a proper diet as poor nutrition while breastfeeding leads to a lack of enough breast milk which subsequently affects the baby.
Another nutritionist, Elizabeth Ndung’u, highlighted that breastfeeding mothers should embrace a proper diet that is particularly rich in proteins.
Ndung’u warned women against feeding babies under the age of six months hard foods mixed with milk as it causes obesity and also diarrhea.
She noted that wrong positioning during breastfeeding is dangerous to the baby, and may actually cause physical injuries.
The nutritionist also advised the community not to overwork breastfeeding women but instead, ensure they get enough and a proper diet during the lactating period.
Source: Kenya News Agency
The 30-40-30 fruit development project under implementation in South Region is a new perspective that has been transforming the livelihood of farmers and pastoralists, according to Agriculture Bureau Head of the region.
South Region Agriculture Bureau Head with the rank of Deputy Chief Administrator, Usman Surur told ENA that the project is a means of lifting farmers and pastoralists out of poverty.
According to him, the project is changing the livelihood of farmers and pastoralists, and created new perspectives from the usual trends of the agricultural production.
Citing the success of the 30-40-30 fruit development project in the region, the bureau head said the project will be expanded to all areas of the region as the inhabitants are benefiting from the large-scale production of avocado, banana, papaya and apple.
Many people in various areas of the region have indeed benefited during the first year implementation period of the development project as the project entered its second year of implementation.
Recall that the 30-40-30 fruit development project is a program in which a farmer or a pastoralist benefits by planting 30 fruit seedlings in the first year, 40 in the second year, and 30 in the third year.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
Ethiopian Aviation University has graduated 1,551 aviation professionals in pilot training, aviation maintenance, cabin crew, commercial, and hotel operations professions today.
Congratulating the graduates, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tassew said human capital development is one of the key pillars in Ethiopian Airlines growth strategic road map.
“Today’s graduation is a testimony of our commitment to ensure that we invest a lot on our aviation brainery,” the CEO said, reaffirming: “As part of our continental commitment, we will continue to provide Africa with skilled aviation professionals.”
Ethiopian is delighted to see today youths from African countries completing one chapter and opening another in their aviation endeavor, he said.
“We believe in the potentials of Africa’s youths to shape the continent’s aviation and continue to educate them at our center of excellence. Today the industry welcomes 660 male and 891 female graduates.”
Since its formation in 1956, Ethiopian Aviation Excellence Center has been offering various aviation courses, mainly to African youths.
Youths from Rwanda, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan completed their studies.
Currently, the University offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in aerospace and hospitality fields.
Areas of fields of studies include BSc in aeronautical engineering, aviation maintenance engineering, aviation management and operations, BA in tourism and hospitality management, MSc in data science, and MBA in aviation management.
The University also offers diploma and certificate programs for technicians in aircraft maintenance, pilot training, cabin crew and commercial training, leadership and career development, catering training.
Ethiopian has also training facilities in regional cities including in Hawassa, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar and Mekelle.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
The government is exerting efforts to overcome security problems in Amhara Regional State, according to the Government Communication Service.
In his briefing to journalists today, Government Communication Service Minister Legesse Tullu said the organized illegal extremist forces in the region are bent on dismantling constitutionally constituted regional government by arms.
He recalled that a state of emergency was declared yesterday by the Council of Ministers as the security problems in some areas of the region could not be controlled through the usual law enforcement systems and procedures.
The minister recalled that these illegal forces have been conducting hateful activities in the past and they did not accept the reconciliation efforts offered by the government and by the elders on various occasions.
Instead, they were involved in killings of regional authorities, he said.
The minister added that the extremist forces have carried out large-scale looting in some areas of West Gojam and East Gojam and they have blocked the roads and restricted the movement of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer to the farmers.
They have also blocked roads to prevent security forces from carrying out their law enforcement mission and they are engaged in an armed activities to overthrow the constitutionally constituted government in the region.
As a result, the Amhara Regional State has requested the federal government to take measures and enforce law in the region as the situation has become very serious and cannot be controlled by the regular law enforcement system.
The minister also said that a central command post has been established and started carrying out its activities.
He stressed that the state of emergency mainly applies in the Amhara region and where necessary measure will be taken against activities bent on disrupting the government’s law enforcement activities in any part of the country.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
Walvis Bay has the potential to actively participate in and benefit from the blue economy by capitalising on its coastal advantages and focusing on the array of options available, its mayor, Trevino Forbes has said.
Forbes was speaking on Friday during the opening of the inaugural Walvis Bay Maritime Festival, where he noted that the town can develop and strengthen its fishing industry by promoting sustainable fishing practices through supporting local fishers and investing in aquaculture operations to diversify seafood production.
To this, the mayor added that the town’s municipality has already identified several plots for aquaculture as a form of its direct contribution towards the cause.
“Walvis Bay is also known for its stunning coastlines, marine wildlife and unique landscapes and by developing and promoting tourism initiatives such as wildlife tours, beach activities, and coastal cruises, the town can attract visitors, and create employment opportunities,” he said.
The mayor also, however, highlighted numerous challenges faced when it comes to the health of the ocean ecosystem, such as plastic pollution, overfishing and climate change, among others.
“These issues not only impact marine life but also jeopardize the livelihoods and well-being of our local communities.”
Forbes therefore called on all stakeholders and residents to use the Walvis Bay Maritime Festival as a platform for education, awareness and collaboration in preserving and saving the ocean.
Held under the theme: “Preserving a Healthy Ocean Ecosystem for a Resilient Economy”, the two-day festival also aims to enlighten residents about the different sectors involved directly or indirectly in the maritime industry by providing them with an opportunity to showcase their products and services.
Walvis Bay Acting General Manager for Community and Economic Development, Tulimekondjo Iishitile, said the festival’s initiative stemmed from the recently launched Local Economic Development Strategy by the Municipal Council of Walvis Bay.
“The strategy emphasises the use of existing infrastructure and available assets to promote and stimulate economic growth, and among these valuable assets is the maritime industry, which serves as the economic backbone of our port city and the silk fiber in our country’s economy,” she said.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency