Day: October 6, 2021

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Singapore to Leverage the Global Cyber Alliance’s IoT Threat Analytics Platform

GCA’s Automated IoT Defence Ecosystem provides early warnings on IoT cyberattacks

SINGAPORE and NEW YORK, Oct. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) has announced that it will partner with the Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) to leverage the capabilities of GCA’s Automated IoT Defence Ecosystem (AIDE) platform to monitor and address IoT threats and safeguard the cybersecurity of the IoT space. The project will be the first large-scale application of the AIDE platform.

The global number of IoT devices is expected to rise to more than 50 billion by 2030. This presents a huge attack surface for malicious actors, which may lead to consequences like the theft of personal data and the disruption of services using IoT devices as botnet nodes to conduct distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. There is a need to proactively watch for global IoT threats and attack data, so that nations can be better prepared before the next wave of botnet attacks hit their shores.

The IoT threat analytics platform can provide CSA visibility on the types of IoT-related cyber threats that may affect the country’s cyberspace. The insights from the platform allow partners to put in place policies and technical measures to safeguard against threat vectors through the conduit of IoT devices. The result is a better prepared and safer IoT cyberspace.

“The use of IoT devices is growing exponentially. CSA has introduced several initiatives to improve IoT security, including the world’s first multi-level labelling scheme for consumer IoT devices— the Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme. This latest initiative —our partnership with GCA on AIDE— will help us be better prepared against potential IoT attacks. Cybersecurity is a team sport where everyone has a part to play. CSA will continue to work with stakeholders to look for ways in building a more resilient and secure IoT space,” said Mr. David Koh, Commissioner of Cybersecurity and Chief Executive of CSA.

GCA’s AIDE ecosystem is a central component of the project. This large repository of IoT threat intelligence relies on a globally distributed honeyfarm and on data feeds from partners.

According to Mr. Philip Reitinger, President and CEO of GCA, “This is a unique opportunity to increase GCA’s international collaboration and expand our network of partners, from cybersecurity agencies and large internet players to academia and research institutions. This project —and CSA’s support as a whole— is a crucial milestone in our roadmap for the AIDE ecosystem and in our long-term vision on IoT cybersecurity. The fact that this effort is happening in Singapore, a global flagship for technology, will pave the way to expand the initial scope of the project to other international smart cities.”

To learn more about AIDE visit: https://www.globalcyberalliance.org/aide/.

About the Global Cyber Alliance
The Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) is an international, cross-sector effort dedicated to reducing cyber risk and improving our connected world. We achieve our mission by uniting global communities, implementing concrete solutions, and measuring the effect. GCA, a 501(c)(3) in the US and a non-profit in the UK and Belgium, was founded in September 2015 by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the City of London Police, and the Center for Internet Security. Learn more at www.globalcyberalliance.org.

Contact at GCA:
Alejandro Fernández-Cernuda Díaz
Director of Engagement, Internet Integrity Program
afcernuda@globalcyberalliance.org

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Atos becomes 01Talent’s technology partner in Africa to identify, train and connect the digital talent of tomorrow to jobs

Press Release

Atos becomes 01Talent‘s technology partner in Africa to identify, train and connect the digital talent of tomorrow to jobs

Praia (Cape Verde) and Paris (France) – October 6, 2021 – Atos and 01Talent announce the launch of a strategic partnership to support the acceleration of the digital transformation in Africa, by enabling the dissemination of a high-quality, innovative and inclusive training program on the continent.

01Talent’s ambition is to identify, train and connect one million high-level developers to the professional world by 2035. Through this partnership, 01Talent will be able to draw on Atos’ technological resources to support the many projects underway.

In order to complete the pan-African campaign designed to identify future digital talent, 01Talent, in partnership with the Didier Drogba Foundation and UCLG Africa (United Cities and Local Governments Africa), will rely on a technological platform developed by Atos to host cognitive tests.

These online tests will be mini-games accessible to all, requiring no prior coding experience. They will provide a measure of the cognitive skills, creativity and motivation of candidates, and to identify high-potential profiles who could not have been spotted by traditional education systems.

The students of the future “Zone01”, selected this way by the tests, will be trained for 2 years to become high-level creative “Full Stack” developers, with a job at stake.

Zone01 Cabo-Verde, will be the first “Zone01” collective intelligence zone on the African continent, and is scheduled to open at Praia Techno Park in Cape Verde, early 2022. 200 young talent from Cape Verde and from 26 other African partner countries will be welcomed in this “Zone01”and will be supplied with laptops by Atos. This first “Zone01” will be the foundation for the deployment of the education program which aims to create more than 200 “Zone01” on the African continent.

Atos will also mobilize its employees around the world through a mentoring program to share expertise and give personal guidance to the students. This will give Atos an opportunity to create ties with Zone01 talent, and to hire many students during and after their training.

It has also been agreed that Atos will develop within the educational platform, a curriculum to improve and develop the skills of its employees, in immersion with the students of the future “Zone01”.

“With this partnership, we reaffirm Atos’ ambition to support the dynamics of the economic, social and environmental transformation of the African continent through training in digital skills. 01Talent’s particularly inclusive and innovative educational offer is a concrete expression of this ambition, and we are proud to be able to support its deployment. This is an important step in the development of a digital sector in Africa” commented Nourdine Bihmane, EVP and Director of Growing Markets at Atos.

“We are very happy to give life to a partnership that will allow us to support and integrate the most promising digital talents into Atos’ teams. Atos and 01Talent share the same values and the same goal: to develop human capital through an inclusive and sustainable approach in order to facilitate the digital and social transition of the African continent,” adds David Sultan, Vice President of 01Talent in charge of Global Operations.

“Atos in Africa is fully mobilized to ensure the success of the student selection campaign and to continue this collaboration over the long term. At a time when the continent is going digital, attracting talent is becoming a major strategic focus for our development,” adds Alpha Barry, Director of Atos in Africa.

After Cape Verde, Atos and 01Talent will develop their partnership with the opening of new “Zone01” on the African continent, in particular in Senegal.

Photo: left to right: David Sultan, Global COO (01Talent); Nourdine Bihmane, EVP and Director of Growing Markets (Atos); Deror Sultan, Co-founder & CEO (01Talent)

About Atos
Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 105,000 employees and annual revenue of over € 11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 71 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos operates under the brands Atos and Atos|Syntel. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the Next 20 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space. www.atos.net

Press contact:
Laura Fau | laura.fau@atos.net | +33 6 73 64 04 18 | @laurajanefau

About 01Talent
01Talent is both a Talent factory and a Talent agency which aims to identify, develop and connect to the professional world 1 million high-level developers in the world by 2035 through the combination of a proven pedagogical model and a sustainable and exponential business model.

01Talent deploys globally some Centers of Collective Intelligence named Zone01 which include teacherless coding schools, IT Talent Agencies and Digital Reskilling services.
Its curriculum is based on 01Edu, the ultimate upgrade of the “peer-to-peer” (teacherless) and gamified pedagogical approach developed by Nicolas Sadirac and his team, a learning platform designed to address the growing global shortage of IT developers.

This pedagogical model which develops entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and collective intelligence has already been deployed by our co-founder Nicolas Sadirac and his Alumni in more than 40 countries around the world, training more than 100,000 digital Talents in the last 10 years.https://01-edu.org

Contact presse :
Valerie Gagliano | valerie@zone-01.com | +33 6 33 73 24 89 | @valeriegagliano

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Atos devient le partenaire technologique de 01Talent en Afrique pour l’identification, la formation et l’emploi des talents digitaux de demain

Communiqué de Presse

Atos devient le partenaire technologique de 01Talent en Afrique pour l’identification, la formation et l’emploi des talents digitaux de demain

Praia (Cap-Vert) et Paris (France) – 6 Octobre 2021 – Atos et 01Talent annoncent le lancement d’un partenariat stratégique dans le but d’accompagner l’accélération de la transformation digitale en Afrique, en permettant la diffusion d’une offre de formation d’excellence, innovante et inclusive sur le continent.

01Talent a l’ambition d’identifier, de former et de connecter au monde professionnel un million de développeurs de haut niveau d’ici 2035. Grâce à ce partenariat, 01Talent pourra s’appuyer sur les ressources technologiques du groupe Atos pour accompagner les nombreux projets en cours de réalisation.

Pour mener à bien la campagne panafricaine d’identification des futurs talents du numérique, 01Talent, en partenariat avec la Fondation Didier Drogba et CGLU Afrique (Cités et Gouvernement Locaux Unis Afrique), s´appuiera sur une plateforme technologique développée par Atos pour abriter des tests cognitifs.

Ces tests en ligne seront des mini-jeux accessibles à tous, ne nécessitant aucune connaissance préalable en informatique. Ils permettent de mesurer les aptitudes cognitives, la créativité et la motivation des candidats, et d’identifier des profils à fort potentiel qui n’auraient pu être repérés par les systèmes éducatifs classiques.

Les étudiants des futures « Zone01 », ainsi sélectionnés par les tests, seront formés pendant 2 ans pour devenir des développeurs « Full Stack » créatifs de haut niveau, avec un emploi à la clé.

Zone01 Cabo-Verde sera la première zone d’intelligence collective « Zone01 » du continent africain, dont l´inauguration est prévue au Techno Park de Praia au Cap-Vert début 2022. Elle accueillera 200 jeunes talents originaires du Cap-Vert et de 26 autres pays africains partenaires qui seront équipés par Atos en ordinateurs portables. Cette première « Zone01 » servira de base au déploiement de l’offre de formation qui vise à créer plus de 200 « Zone01 » sur le continent africain.

Atos mobilisera également ses collaborateurs à travers le monde dans le cadre d’un programme de mentorat afin de permettre le partage de compétences, et l’accompagnement personnel des étudiants. Le groupe aura ainsi l’opportunité de créer des liens privilégiés avec les talents de la Zone01, et de recruter de nombreux étudiants en cours et au terme de leur formation.

Il est également convenu qu’Atos développe au sein de la plateforme pédagogique un cursus de perfectionnement et d’évolution des compétences de ses salariés, en immersion avec les étudiants des futures « Zone01 ».

« Avec ce partenariat, nous réaffirmons l’ambition d’Atos de soutenir la dynamique de transformation économique, sociale et environnementale du continent africain par la formation aux métiers du digital. L’offre pédagogique de 01Talent, particulièrement inclusive et innovante, en est la traduction concrète, et nous sommes fiers de pouvoir accompagner son déploiement. C’est une étape importante pour le développement d’une filière numérique en Afrique » commente Nourdine Bihmane, Vice-Président Exécutif d’Atos en charge des Marchés de Croissance.

« Nous sommes très heureux de donner vie à un partenariat qui nous permettra à terme d’accompagner et d’intégrer les talents digitaux les plus prometteurs au sein des équipes d’Atos. Atos et 01Talent partagent les mêmes valeurs et le même objectif : développer le capital humain par une approche inclusive et durable afin de faciliter la transition digitale et sociale du continent africain » précise David Sultan, Vice-Président de 01Talent en charge des Opérations mondiales.

« Atos en Afrique est pleinement mobilisé pour assurer la pleine réussite de la campagne de sélection des étudiants, et poursuivre cette collaboration sur le long-terme. A l’heure où le continent se digitalise, l’attraction des talents devient un axe stratégique majeur pour notre développement » ajoute Alpha Barry, Directeur Afrique d’Atos.

Après le Cap-Vert, Atos et 01Talent développeront leur partenariat avec l’ouverture de nouvelles « Zone01 » sur le continent Africain, notamment au Sénégal.

Photo : De gauche à droite : David Sultan, Vice-Président de 01Talent en charge des Opérations mondiales ; Nourdine Bihmane, Vice-Président Exécutif d’Atos en charge des Marchés de Croissance ; Deror Sultan, Co-fondateur et Présidént-Directeur Général de 01Talent.

À propos d’Atos

Atos est un leader international de la transformation digitale avec 105 000 collaborateurs et un chiffre d’affaires annuel de 11 milliards d’euros. Numéro un européen du cloud, de la cybersécurité et des supercalculateurs, le Groupe fournit des solutions intégrées pour tous les secteurs, dans 71 pays. Pionnier des services et produits de décarbonation, Atos s’engage à fournir des solutions numériques sécurisées et décarbonées à ses clients. Atos opère sous les marques Atos et Atos|Syntel. Atos est une SE (Société Européenne) cotée sur Euronext Paris et fait partie de l’indice Next 20.

La raison d’être d’Atos est de contribuer à façonner l’espace informationnel. Avec ses compétences et ses services, le Groupe supporte le développement de la connaissance, de l’éducation et de la recherche dans une approche pluriculturelle et contribue au développement de l’excellence scientifique et technologique. Partout dans le monde, Atos permet à ses clients et à ses collaborateurs, et plus généralement au plus grand nombre, de vivre, travailler et progresser durablement et en toute confiance dans l’espace informationnel.

Contact presse :
Laura Fau | laura.fau@atos.net | +33 6 73 64 04 18 | @laurajanefau

01Talent déploie dans le monde des centres d’intelligence collective, les Zone01, qui regroupent des centres de formation “peer-to-peer” (sans professeur), une agence de talent et des services de re-training et de re-skilling.

Ce modèle pédagogique développe l’esprit entrepreneurial, la créativité et l’intelligence collective et a déjà été déployé par notre co-fondateur Nicolas Sadirac et ses Alumni dans plus de 40 pays dans le monde, formant ainsi plus de 100 000 Talents du numérique ces 10 dernières années.
https://01-edu.org

Contact presse :
Valerie Gagliano | valerie@zone-01.com | +33 6 33 73 24 89 | @valeriegagliano

Note : “01Talent” se prononce “Zéro un talent” et non “Un talent”

Pièce jointe

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German, American Scientists Win Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Wednesday awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to two scientists for their work – independently – in developing a new way of building molecules, a process with applications throughout industry.

Speaking in Stockholm, academy Secretary General Goran Hansson said chemists Benjamin List of Germany’s Max Planck Institute and David MacMillan of Princeton University will split this year’s prize.

In presenting the award, the academy explained the two chemists developed new, organic catalysts to help build molecules.

Catalysts are substances that control and accelerate chemical reactions, without becoming part of the final product, and are essential to constructing molecules for research and industry.

The academy said previously, it was believed there were just two types of catalysts available: metals and enzymes. But over the last 20 years, List and MacMillan, working independently of each other, have developed a third type of catalyst, known as asymmetric organocatalysis.

In the words of the academy, “Organic catalysts have a stable framework of carbon atoms, to which more active chemical groups can attach. These often contain common elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur or phosphorus. This means that these catalysts are both environmentally friendly and cheap to produce.”

Using these reactions, researchers can build molecules that can form elastic and durable materials, store energy in batteries or inhibit the progression of disease.

The Nobel Prizes for medicine and physics were awarded earlier this week. The prizes for literature, peace and economics to be awarded over the next week.

Source: Voice of America

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Americans Being Warned of Deadly Fake Medication

Americans are being warned to beware of potentially deadly fake prescription pills that are laced with the powerful opioid fentanyl and the highly addictive stimulant methamphetamine. The counterfeit tablets are linked to a wave of drug overdoses killing unsuspecting users.

In its first warning in six years, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said international and domestic criminal networks were mass-producing fake pills and falsely marketing them as legitimate prescription medication.

“Counterfeit pills that contain these dangerous and extremely addictive drugs are more lethal and more accessible than ever before,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram at a news conference in Washington.

The notification was issued last week after the DEA announced it had seized more than 1.8 million fake pills during a two-month undercover operation and had arrested more than 810 people. In a statement, the agency said it had confiscated more than 9.5 million potentially lethal pills in the last year.

“Illicit fentanyl was responsible for nearly three-quarters of the more than 93,000 fatal drug overdoses in the United States in 2020,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. Health officials report fentanyl was responsible for nearly 70,000 of the overdose deaths.

Powerful pills

U.S. law enforcement investigators say the majority of counterfeit medication found in America is being made in labs in Mexico using chemicals imported from China. The DEA believes Chinese traffickers have switched from primarily manufacturing finished fentanyl to exporting precursors of the synthetic opioid to Mexican cartels, which then manufacture illicit fentanyl. U.S. officials are now seeking greater cooperation from Mexican law enforcement agencies to disrupt trafficking in the country.

DEA laboratory testing revealed that two out of five fentanyl-laced fake pills seized contained a potentially deadly dose of just 2 milligrams. Fentanyl can be 100 times more powerful than morphine. Drug researchers say a deadly dose of fentanyl is small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil.

“The fake pills seized were capable of killing more than 700,000 people,” Milgram noted, adding that law enforcement agencies have sought to shut down criminal distribution networks selling tablets that look exactly like name-brand prescription medications. “We are alerting the public to this danger so that people have the information they need to protect themselves and their children.”

The DEA alert said medications prescribed by doctors and dispensed by licensed pharmacists were safe, but pills acquired by other avenues were potentially deadly.

Decades of death

Since 1999, more than 500,000 Americans have died of opioid overdoses, both prescription and nonprescription. Deaths rose in nearly all states, with the highest increases in California, Kentucky, Vermont, South Carolina and West Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The more than 9.5 million fake tablets seized this year represented 430% more than the number seized in 2019. The DEA also confiscated ingredients used to make tens of millions of pills, including more than 4,000 kilograms of methamphetamine.

“The pervasiveness of these illicit drugs, and the fatal overdoses that too often result, is a problem that cuts across America from small towns to big cities and everything in between,” said Monaco.

The most common counterfeit pills are being made to look identical to prescription medications such as Oxycontin, Xanax, Vicodin or stimulants like amphetamines. Investigators say the fake medications are widely available and sold on social media platforms as well as on the streets.

“The illicit drug supply introduces even greater uncertainty about what people are taking, and that contributes to overdoses.” Dr. Caleb Alexander, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, told VOA. “If someone combines fentanyl with heroin or methamphetamine or another illicit product, it can be deadly.”

Source: Voice of America

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Africa’s Pulse, No. 24, October 2021: An Analysis of Issues Shaping Africa’s Economic Future

Sub-Saharan Africa is set to emerge from the 2020 recession sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic with growth expected to expand by 3.3 percent in 2021. This is one percent higher than the April 2021 forecast according to the latest edition of Africa’s Pulse. This rebound is currently fueled by elevated commodity prices, a relaxation of stringent pandemic measures, and recovery in global trade, but remains vulnerable given the low rates of vaccination on the continent, protracted economic damage, and a slow pace of recovery.

According to analysis in the Pulse, the World Bank’s twice-yearly economic update for the region, growth for 2022 and 2023 will also remain just below 4 percent, continuing to lag the recovery in advanced economies and emerging markets, and reflecting subdued investment in SSA.

“Fair and broad access to effective and safe COVID 19 vaccines is key to saving lives and strengthening Africa’s economic recovery. Faster vaccine deployment would accelerate the region’s growth to 5.1 percent in 2022 and 5.4 percent in 2023—as more containment measures are lifted, boosting consumption and investment,” said Albert Zeufack, Chief Economist for Africa at the World Bank.

The analysis shows that current speeds of economic recovery in the region are varied, with the three largest economies, Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa, expected to grow by 0.4 percent, 2.4 percent, 4.6 percent respectively. Excluding South Africa and Nigeria, the rest of SSA is rebounding faster at a growth rate of 3.6 percent in 2021, with non-resource-rich countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya expected to recover strongly at 6.2 and 5.0 percent, respectively.

A positive trend, according to the report authors, is that African countries have seized the opportunity of the crisis to foster structural and macroeconomic reforms. Several countries have embarked on difficult but necessary structural reforms, such as the unification of exchange rates in Sudan, fuel subsidy reform in Nigeria, and the opening of the telecommunications sector to the private sector in Ethiopia.

Additionally, thanks to prudent monetary and fiscal policies, the region’s fiscal deficit, at 5.4 percent of GDP in 2021, is expected to narrow to 4.5 percent of GDP in 2022 and 3 percent of GDP in 2023. However fiscal discipline, combined with limited fiscal space, has prevented African countries from injecting the level of resources required to launch a vigorous policy response to COVID-19.

Apart from mounting fiscal pressures and rising debt levels as they implement measures for a sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, Sub-Saharan African countries are also faced with worsening impacts of climate change. The Pulse authors advise that just as the countries have used the crisis to introduce reform measures, they should also harness this opportunity to make sustainable, resilient transitions toward low-carbon economies that can provide long-term benefits in the form of reduced environmental hazards as well as new economic development openings.

The reports highlights Africa’s unique context of low baseline development, preexisting climate vulnerabilities, limited energy access, and high reliance on climate-sensitive sectors— as posing challenges but also providing opportunities to transform the economy and create jobs. Private firms and governments in Africa are providing training for jobs in solar energy (Togo and South Africa). Investments in climate-smart infrastructure can help cities create jobs. Decarbonization is an opportunity to foster manufacturing activity in the region, including the production of components of the Internet of Things, value-addition to minerals that will power the green economy, and insertion into regional value chains.

Source: world Bank

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WHO Rwanda facilitates a workshop on the adaptation of the 3rd Edition Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Technical Guidelines

Musanze, 5 October 2021 – The Rwanda Biomedical Center and affiliated government institutions with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO) Rwanda Country Office are reviewing and contextualizing the 3rd edition of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Technical Guidelines (TGs).

For 5 days, participants at the workshop will adapt the IDSR TGs developed by WHO African Regional Office (AFRO) to Rwanda’s context. Mrs. Adeline Kabeja, Director of the Surveillance Unit officiated the opening of the workshop on behalf of Dr. Edson Rwagasore, Division Manager Public health surveillance and emergency preparedness and response.

In her remarks, Mrs. Kabeja highlighted her trust in the skills and knowledge of the technicians gathered in the workshop. “Participants in this workshop constitute a multi-disciplinary team. They are from the central and district levels. The participant diversity, knowledge, experience, commitment as well as the consultative approach we will use constitutes a positive aspect for the success of this workshop and the work ahead.” Said Mrs. Kabeja.

In 1998 the IDSR strategy was adopted by countries in the WHO African Region (AFRO) for implementing comprehensive public health surveillance and response systems at all levels of the health system The goal of IDSR is to efficiently integrate multiple vertical surveillance and response systems and linking information with public health action. The role of IDSR in enhancing prompt detection and timely response to public health events at all times cannot be overemphasized.

Rwanda adopted the IDSR in 2002, with the development of country specific TGs and accompanying tools. Since inception, two editions have been implemented. However, in view of changing public health landscape and the lessons learnt from multiple recent outbreaks including the unprecedented Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in West Africa and in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the review of the IDSR TGs was thus necessitated.

The guidelines clearly describe what needs to be established at each level of the health system from the national, sub-national and community in order to prepare, promptly detect and timely respond to priority diseases, conditions and public health events and threats that are responsible for preventable illnesses, deaths and disabilities in local communities. The guidelines also recommend thresholds for action for identifying and responding to the threats.

Following Mrs. Kabeja’s remarks, Dr. Elizabeth Mgamb, WHO Rwanda outgoing Emergency team lead invited participants to leverage on their past experiences to consolidate the most pragmatic guidelines. “This workshop is timely as it will allow us to contextualize the third edition TG to the situation by using the experience and lessons learned during the implementation of the second IDSR TGs and COVID-19 pandemic to enhance IDSR systems in Rwanda. For IDSR to be implemented successfully in a consistent manner it requires national standardized guidelines and training modules.” Said Dr. Mgamb.

Dr. Lyndah Makayotto, WHO Rwanda incoming Emergency team lead took participants through an overview of the 3rd edition TGs and training modules: “Successful implementation of IDSR will require a well-trained, competent and dedicated workforce. Outbreaks are detected by our frontline health workers at community and facility level and not in our offices in Kigali. As the saying goes, we are as strong as our weakest link.” Said Dr. Makayotto.

After Dr. Makayotto’s presentation, Dr. Alfred Rutagengwa, WHO Rwanda Public Health Officer and Mrs. Kabeja organized participants into work groups to review technical guidelines and Training Modules (TMs). By the end the 5-day workshop, Rwanda will have adapted the 3rd edition IDSR TGs and TMs to the health system in Rwanda, set a date for the training of trainers and developed a list of national trainers for implementing IDSR in Rwanda.

The IDSR TGs and TMs in Rwanda will take in consideration: the broader context of health systems strengthening; the better coordination between human and animal surveillance; the improved use of laboratory network capacity in surveillance and response; and better community engagement in public health interventions that require a strong community based surveillance (CBS), and event based surveillance (EBS) strategies.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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WHO Supports Dissemination and Validation of Preliminary Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health, Adolescent, Ageing & Nutrition – Short Program Review findings 4-6 October 2021

The State of Eritrea has made huge strides in improving the health and wellbeing of women and children since independence. This is primarily due to the strong political commitment to social development, particularly the drive to improve the lives of the mothers and children.

In line with the government’s SDGs commitment, Eritrea in 2017 conducted a review of the RMNCAH, Nutrition and Ageing programs and developed the Integrated RMNCAH, N & HAA Strategic plan 2017 -2021 with support from WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA at country and regional level. This plan delineated the objectives, strategies, priority actions and specific activities, together with national targets and milestones to be attained during the implementation period. This strategic plan has guided the implementation of sexual and reproductive health, maternal and new-born health, child health, adolescent health, nutrition, and healthy ageing including during the COVID pandemic.

Taking cognizance of the impending end date of the 2017/ 2021 strategic plan, the Ministry of Health with support from WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF undertook a comprehensive review of the RMNCAH, Nutrition and Ageing strategic plan 2017-2021 under the guidance of an international expert engaged by WHO and the WCO/ MCAT technical team. The newly released WHO Short Program Review tools and approaches were used. The results of the review were disseminated on 04/10/2021in a national workshop attended by Director CDS, WR Eritrea, UNFPA Country Rep a.i., UNICEF Representative, MOH RMNCAAH Unit heads and focal points, Zoba health Directors, FCH focal points from all Zobas. Among others the review highlighted trends in attainment of set targets for the period under review at national and Zoba level. Additionally, critical indicators and areas that need focused attention in the new strategic plan were identified. Following the dissemination, discussions are ongoing with the Zoba teams to clarify issues, identify bottlenecks and define relevant actionable solutions to identified challenges. The findings will be used to define strategic priorities in the new strategic plan 2022-2026.

Eritrea was one of the countries in Africa that attained MDG 4, and one of the few that were on track for MDG 5. We believe that collectively we can design strategies and priority actions to ensure the survival, health and wellbeing of Eritrean men, women, adolescents and children across the life-course towards attainment of SDG and GPW 13 related goal and targets.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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WHO Backs Malaria Vaccinations for African Children

The World Health Organization recommended Wednesday that children in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions on the continent with moderate-to-high malaria transmission receive a malaria vaccine.

The vaccine, known as Mosquirix, proved effective in a pilot program in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that has reached more than 800,000 children since 2019.

The WHO said malaria is a top killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa, causing the deaths of more than 260,000 children under age 5 every year.

The vaccine, which requires four doses, counters P. falciparum, “the most deadly malaria parasite globally, and the most prevalent in Africa,” WHO said in a press release.

“For centuries, malaria has stalked sub-Saharan Africa, causing immense personal suffering,” Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said in a statement. “We have long hoped for an effective malaria vaccine and now for the first time ever, we have such a vaccine recommended for widespread use. Today’s recommendation offers a glimmer of hope for the continent which shoulders the heaviest burden of the disease and we expect many more African children to be protected from malaria and grow into healthy adults.”

Substantial benefit

According to WHO, pilot program data showed that more than two-thirds of children who were not sleeping under bed nets were benefiting from the vaccine, and that there was a 30% reduction in “deadly severe malaria, even when introduced in areas where insecticide-treated nets are widely used and there is good access to diagnosis and treatment.”

The pilot program also found that the vaccine had a “favorable safety profile” and was “cost effective.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, it could still be years until the vaccine is widely available.

The vaccine has been under development for 30 years by GlaxoSmithKline, a global pharmaceutical company; PATH, a global nonprofit focused on health issues; and some African research organizations, WHO said.

The Bill & Melinda Gates foundation provided late-stage development funding for the vaccine, WHO said.

Source: Voice of America

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