Malawi Wire

Namibian catchweight boxer, Hedison Hipondoka Bulelo, has promised to knockout his opponent, Usko Rehabeam, during AC Boxing’s first boxing bonanza of the year slated for 10 June.

Speaking at the announcement of the boxing bonanza on Tuesday, Bulelo said Rehabeam (Usko) made a wrong choice to agree to a fight with him.

“I am going to knock him out. Years ago, I was supposed to fight him, but he chickened out. This time around he has nowhere to hide. I am going to school this boy in boxing because he has no manners,” he said.

He added that come fight night, he will be on top of his game, and therefore he is grateful for this chance to settle one of his wishes.

“People have been waiting for this fight and I am thankful to AC Boxing Academy for availing their boxer to face me. He must be ready on fight night because I am going to hurt him if he does not come prepared in the ring,” Bulelo said.

Meanwhile, Rehabeam said he was born ready, and Bulelo has no skills to win a fight against him.

“You can keep on talking but I will educate you in the ring on fighting when the day comes as you have no skills to fight at my level,” he said, calling on people to buy tickets for the fight that will see him humiliating his opponent.

AC Boxing will host its boxing bonanza at the NamPower Conversation Centre in the capital with the aim of raising funds for Baby Metha’s medical expenses.

Baby Metha is a six-month-old baby suffering from severe brain damage and needs urgent medical care. AC Boxing will be hosting the bonanza to raise N.dollars 500 000, which will be donated towards the baby’s medical needs, which include an operation in India.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has recorded a 87 per cent increase in passenger vessel calls for 2022/2023 in comparison to the 2021/2022 financial year.

The increase in passenger vessels, according to the authority’s Corporate Communications Manager, Taná Pesat, in a media statement, is attributed to the maritime industry’s positive strides towards recovery from the recent pandemic that had negatively impacted holiday-makers’ traveling as a result of the travel restrictions.

To add to the number of vessel calls, Namport on Monday welcomed the Silver Shadow Nassau Passenger vessel on its maiden voyage at the Port of Walvis Bay.

“The recently renovated vessel that entered service in the year 2000, operated by Silversea Cruises has a carrying capacity of 382 passengers, and 295 crew members.

A plaque exchange ceremony was held on-board the vessel between Namport’s Port Captain, Lukas Kufuna and the ship’s Captain Michele Macarone Palmieri to commemorate the maiden call,” Pesat noted.

Speaking during the ceremony, Palmieri commended the construction of the passenger berth at the Port of Walvis Bay.

“This is a welcomed addition to the already exceptional existing infrastructure of the ports authority and Walvis Bay in particular remains a preferred tourist destination due to its beautiful landscapes,” he said.

The over 300 passengers disembarked the passenger vessel to participate in day tours that included shopping, quad biking activities in the dunes, drives to Sandwich Harbour and local excursions, among others.

Last week, the Queen Mary 2 passenger vessel carrying over 2000 passengers, also docked at the Port of Walvis Bay.

The port is expected to receive four more passenger vessels between now until May 2023, before the cruise season ends until November.

Namport reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all passenger liners visiting Namibia do so in a safe and welcoming manner, as these same visitors contribute immensely to the country’s economy at large.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Hemophilia and sickle cell patients in Western region are breathing a sigh of relief after the Bungoma County Referral Hospital launched a clinic to ease access to hemophilia services. County Executive Committee Member for health and sanitation, Dr. Andrew Wamalwa who presided over the launch said a total of 692 children in Bungoma are affected by sickle cell, while three cases of hemophilia are being handled. According to experts, Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow. There’s no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia but treatments can relieve pain and help prevent complications associated with the disease. ‘A research conducted in Bungoma by a group of experts showed that Bungoma and Nyanza regions have high incidences of sickle cell patients hence the reason we partnered with the national government to start this center,’ he said. Dr. Wamalwa said that hemophilia is a disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot in the typical way because it lacks enough blood- clotting proteins (clotting factors) affirming that currently, the facility has the two major factors (8 and 9) that hemophilia patients lack. Dr. Wamalwa said that in February, with the support of the national government, Bungoma acquired a refrigerated centrifuge to help manufacture blood components for sickle cell and hemophilia patients. He added that if a patient has hemophilia, he/she might bleed for a longer time after an injury than if his/her blood clotted properly. He said that so far, Bungoma has three hemophilia patients that the facility was monitoring adding that Bungoma has equipment to treat hemophilia and scan for the sickle cell diseases. ‘If we want to help control the many numbers of sickle cell cases in both Bungoma and Nyanza, then we need to embrace scanning before marrying or intermarrying,’ he said, noting that if people continue marrying from the same region then the cases won’t go down. He said that Bungoma has 692 children with sickle cell adding the symptoms of hemophilia include unexplained and excessive bleeding from cuts and other injuries, including injuries after surgery. ‘It has been tiresome to have to travel to Eldoret to access hemophilia healthcare services,’ stated Antony Asimuge, a parent to a patient who received hemophilia treatment in Eldoret recently. Dr. Dickens Lubanga, a pediatrician at Bungoma County Referral hospital said that many people have not been sensitized on how to handle hemophilia disease stating that World hemophilia day gives time and opportunity for the locals to be sensitized about it. According to the Kenya Hemophilia Association, hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder where blood takes a long time to clot. It can lead to spontaneous bleeding, excessive bleeding following injuries or surgeries. People with hemophilia lack clotting factors with two major types namely Hemophilia A (Factor VIII deficiency) and Hemophilia B (Factor IX Deficiency). Signs and symptoms of hemophilia are, bleeding in the joints that cause swelling, pain or tightness in the joints. Lubanga says the disease commonly affects the knees, elbows and ankles. ‘Bleeding in the muscles and soft tissue causes a build-up of blood leading to a hematoma and bleeding from the gums after dental procedure may take long to stop,’ he says. He said the disease commonly affects the male population. Females are carriers but can sometimes have bleeding symptoms including prolonged and heavy menses. Ben Mosongo who has lived with the condition since birth, says he realized he had the disease when he was playing football at the age of five. He fell and got a swelling on the knee and was hospitalized for six months and diagnosed with Hemophilia. ‘Living with hemophilia is not easy since the medication is costly. A dose costs Sh50, 000,’ he said. Ben appealed to the government to recognize hemophilia patients as disabled persons and include them in the NHIF scheme and also include hemophilia in the school curriculum so as to create awareness about it. Present were the County Director of medical services Caleb Watta and Medical Superintendent Bungoma County Referral Hospital Dr. David Wanikina. The launch of the clinic coincided with the World Hemophilia Day. Bungoma commemorated the day by marching around the town to create awareness of the disease to the public.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Over 250 residents of La Kyamwe in Kathiani Sub County Tuesday received free medication from Equity afia in collaboration with the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) in Kathiani Machakos County. Speaking to the media at La Kyamwe parish, Rev. Florence Musila said that the church decided to work together with Equity afia to offer free medical camp to show that they care about the physical health and wellbeing of their congregants. ‘As a church we want to offer holistic gospel where we preach to the people on the spiritual and physical aspect, so we got concerned about their health and that is why we as archdeaconry staff planned this activity,’ said Musila. Rev. Musila said they intended to assist all those in need of medication and not just their members regretting that the area faced many challenges including poverty, ignorance and long distance to health institutions. ‘We wanted the common mwananchi reached and so we asked Equity afia to partner with us to treat the community members because some have never even had their blood pressure tested,’ he added. Jackson Mwangangi, one of the Church elders and Kyamwe villager thanked the free medical camp organizers adding patients got all the tests done for free. He claimed when they go to Kathiani Sub county hospital, they often get referred to a private laboratory for tests though they are financially constrained. ‘I thank God I have had all the tests done today for free and we have been advised on precautions we should take such as observing diet, measuring pressure and how to take care of our teeth,’ added Mwangangi.

Source: Kenya News Agency