Month: August 2022

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Spanish Government’s Body Positivity Campaign Goes Awry

The Spanish government maybe had a good idea, but the execution of the body positivity campaign has gone horribly wrong.

The idea was to encourage women to come out and enjoy the beaches – without any worries about how they looked in their swimsuits.

But three of the five women whose photographs were used in the campaign said they had not given permission for the images to be used.

Arte Mapache the campaign’s creator, has apologized for failing to obtain permission to use the images.

“Given the – justified – controversy over the image rights in the illustration, I have decided that the best way to make amends for the damages that may have resulted from my actions is to share out the money I received for the work and give equal parts to the people in the poster,” the artist said.

Two of the women in the campaign’s artwork are professional models. One has a prosthetic leg that was airbrushed out of the campaign artwork.

Sian Green-Lord told The Guardian, “It’s one thing using my image without my permission, but it’s another thing editing my body, my body with my prosthetic leg … I don’t even know what to say but it’s beyond wrong.”

Juliet FitzPatrick, a cancer survivor, told the BBC that the face of a woman who had a mastectomy may be based on a photograph of her. However, while the woman in the Spanish government photo has had a single mastectomy, FitzPatrick had a double mastectomy.

She told the BBC that using her likeness without her permission “seems to be totally against” the theme of the campaign. “For me it is about how my body has been used and represented without my permission.”

British photographer Ami Barwell who had taken photos of Fitzpatrick told the BBC that she believes Fitzpatrick’s photo was a composite of photos that she had taken of Fitzpatrick and another woman.

Barwell told the BBC, “I think that the person who created the art has gone through my gallery and pieced them together.”

Another model, Nyome Nicholas-Williams, who wears a gold bikini in the photo, said her image was taken from her Instagram account without her permission.

Source: Voice of America

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Elections2022: First summary of the eighth day of campaign

Luanda – The eighth day (Sunday) of the election campaign across the country was marked by some mass events, door-to-door awareness raising and the usual airtime on Angola National Radio station (RNA) and in the Angola Public Television (TPA).

PHA

The president of the Humanist Party of Angola (PHA), Bela Malaquias, promised Sunday to change the Land Law by eliminating the rules that attribute the original property of the land to the State, if she wins the elections on 24 August.

The rules that determine land as the State´s original property are in articles no. 2 and 4 at paragraph a) of the Land Law, and according to the PHA candidate, the intention of the repeal is to improve citizens´ access to construction and to carry out agricultural activity.

According to the candidate, who expressed this claim during her ten minutes of airtime on RNA station, if she wins the elections the land will no longer belong to the State but to the citizens, in order to avoid concerns about expropriation.

P-NJANGO

According to the Nationalist Party for Justice in Angola (P-NJANGO) at least 1,489 delegates on the list are registered to supervise the general elections on 24 August in Bié Province.

Speaking to ANGOP on Sunday, the party’s spokesperson José Manuel da Costa said that the registration has been carried out in eight municipalities and that there are difficulties in certain roads to reach other localities in the province.

The P-NJANGO candidate for the general elections, Eduardo Chingunji, wants to bet on family farming in Cuanza Sul Province, if his party wins the 24 August election.

For the politician the area in question, which he visited last week for three days as part of his election campaign, has agricultural conditions, including land and rivers, to become self-sustainable.

He made these remarks during his ten minutes airtime on Angola National Radio (RNA) station.

UNITA

The head of UNITA´s monitoring group in Lunda Sul Province, Virgílio Samussongo, called on the population, militants and friends of the party, to place their trust in his party on 24 August, which will allow development plans in the pipeline to be materialized.

The politician made such considerations during a door-to-door campaign “vote hunting” in Saurimo City, having reiterated that one of his party’s priorities will be the training of human resources and a serious focus on agriculture, to fight hunger and poverty.

With the same aim, activities were carried out in Muconda Municipality.

FNLA

The National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) advocates the reorganization of fishing activity in the country, if it wins the general elections.

The party also intends to pay attention to the imports of fishing products, due to the fact that the party considers fishing to be an activity of great importance.

According to the party´s programme, presented Sunday on its ten minutes of airtime on RNA station, FNLA plans to rehabilitate factories that process fish products, increase the level of inspection, promote artisanal fishing and encourage river fishing.

CASA-CE

The Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola-Electoral Coalition (CASA-CE) on Sunday devoted its ten minutes of airtime on RNA to interviewing some citizens and ask them about the social and economic situation in the country.

Issues related to health, education, employment, housing and electricity were the most addressed.

APN

The National Patriotic Alliance (APN) continues to work in Zaire Province, having Saturday held a rally in the city of Mbanza Kongo, where it highlighted the bet on education, with free education from primary level to higher education.

The programme of the APN is also aimed at fighting poverty and increasing the number of jobs, as well as agricultural production.

PRS

If the Social Renewal Party (PRS) wins the general elections in August, it plans to increase the subsidy to former soldiers and veterans of the homeland, so that they can have a “more dignified life”.

During his ten-minute airtime on RNA, the party’s president, Benedito Daniel, noted that it is laughable the current subsidy of “18,000 kwanzas monthly” to cover the cost of living of the former soldier to support their families.

The current subsidy for former combatants (participants in the clandestine struggle, political prisoners and guerrillas) is 23.500 kwanzas, according to official data.

MPLA

The construction of more infrastructures in the education, health and road sectors in Moxico Province is part of MPLA´s governance programme for the five-year term (2022-2027), in case of winning the general elections on 24 August.

This information was provided on Sunday in the municipality of Léua (Moxico), by the party’s first provincial secretary, Gonçalves Muandumba, during a political act as part of the electoral campaign that began on 24 August.

The MPLA government programme aims to reduce the deficit of urban infrastructures, promoting the continuity of the construction of integrated projects in main cities of the country, encouraging the public-private partnership model.

In Lunda Sul, the MPLA´s first provincial secretary, Daniel Neto, said Sunday in Saurimo that the party needs the confidence vote of the people and of the militants in order to continue with the many development programmes underway, ensuring the wellbeing of Angolan families.

Daniel Neto said that one of the programmes was the extension of public and home electricity, drinking water, construction of more houses, as well as the promotion of agriculture.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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Elections 2022: Second summary of the ninth day of campaign

Luanda – The ninth day of the electoral campaign on Monday is being marked by the mobilisation of voters and mass political rallies across the country, ahead of the general elections of 24 August.

PHA

The Humanist Party of Angola (PHA) pledged to work to ensure everybody’s access to healthy diet, clothing, housing, drinking water, health, work and education “in order to improve the Angolan people’s living standards.

The pledge was made by the leader of the PHA, Florbela Malaquias, who met the sovereign of Bailundo, Ekuikui IV, on Monday. PHA leader is working in the province of Huambo, where she will hold a march followed by a mass rally to attract the voters in the Angola’s central Huambo region.

P-NJANGO

The Nationalist Party for Justice in Angola (P-NJANGO) announced for this week his party’s door-to-door campaign in the outskirts of several provinces.

The spokesperson for the party José Manuel da Costa told ANGOP that in the second week of the electoral campaign, the activities will focus on the provincial and municipal headquarters.

UNITA

UNITA on Monday in the municipality of Cacuaco in Luanda held a door-to-door voter mobilisation campaign followed by a mass rally that brought together supporters, sympathizers and friends in Cacuaco municipality in Luanda.

The activities aimed at raising voters’ awareness on the importance of exercising the right of citizenship and the advantages as well as convincing the voters.

FNLA

The National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) pointed out that agriculture, education; health and public security are the four axes that make up its government programme, if it wins the general elections.

The four pillars were announced on Monday in Mbanza Kongo, northern Zaire province, by the party’s president and candidate for President of the Republic, Nimi Simbi.

CASA-CE

The President of the Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola, Electoral Coalition (CASA-CE) Manuel Fernandes promised in Soyo, northern Zaire province, to turn the municipality into a tourist hub in the next five years.

Addressing a mass political rally, as part of his coalition’s electoral campaign, Fernandes said that the municipality of Soyo had the cultural and historical potentials to deserve that status.

If the coalition wins the elections, he proposes to rule with more social justice and a fair distribution of the country’s wealth.

APN

The President of the APN (National Patriotic Alliance), Quintino Moreira, worked on Sunday in the border commune of Luvo, Mbanza Kongo municipality, Zaire, as part of his canvassing day for the 24 August elections.

The candidate for vice-president of the Republic for APN, Noé Mateus, said in Luanda that his party was aiming to expand community sports so that the country would once again have the “stars” that it once had.

PRS

The leader of the Social Renewal Party (PRS), Benedito Daniel, will lead a mass political event in Lunda Sul.

MPLA

MPLA leader João Lourenço said on Monday that the youth vote could actually sway the elections outcome as they (young people) make up a large portion the voting-eligible population.

Delivering his speech at the opening ceremony of the National Holiday Camp of University Students (Canfeu), underway from 1- 4 August in Luanda, João Lourenço reiterated MPLA’s commitment to improving the quality of education to ensure the country’s development and the need for students to learn the key foreign languages and handle new technologies.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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Elections2022: CASA-CE pledges to turn Soyo into tourist hub

Soyo – Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola – Electoral Coalition (CASA-CE) has announced plans to turn the municipality of Soyo, northern Zaire province, into a tourist hotspot in the next five years.

The pledge came from the coalition’s leader, Manuel Fernandes, while addressing a mass political event in Soyo on Sunday, as part of electoral campaign underway in the country.

CASA-CE president said that the municipality of Soyo has the cultural and historical potentials that deserve such a status.

He added that the transformation of Soyo into a tourism hub by CASA-CE, if it wins the 2022 elections, will contribute to the diversification of the national economy and development of the locality.

Manuel Fernandes also promised to allocate to Zaire province 15% of tax revenues from the oil exploration, as well as building a higher institute for oil in the region.

CASA-CE also reiterated its focus on policies to boost national production to reduce imports of consumer goods, as well as creating more jobs.

The politician also highlighted the implementation of local elections in the country in a short period of time in order to give more powers and autonomy to the municipalities.

For the 24 August polls, Zaire province has 321,781 registered voters, who are expected to cast their ballots

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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Elections 2022: Over 16,000 polling station staff attend training

Huambo – At least 16, 972 polling station members started a training session on Monday, ahead of the general elections set for 24 August.

Benefitted from the five-day training are staff from the provinces of Huambo, Lunda Norte, Cunene, Zaire and Uíge

Of this number, 7,800 are attending the training in Huambo, 4,676 in Lunda Norte, 3,700 Cunene, 720 Zaire and 76 Uíge.

The course will also address issues such as constitution and composition of polling station, delivery of election equipment, identification and composition of kits, ballot papers, among others topics.

Some 14.3 million voters are expected in the August 24 general elections.

Overseas voting will take place in 12 countries and 25 cities.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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Malawi marks World Breastfeed Week with commitment to step up breastfeeding

1 August 2022, Lilongwe- In solidarity for the World Breastfeeding Week, Malawi through the Ministry of Health, held a special event to launch a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and its need in the lives of babies and mothers. The launch of the campaign, which will run from 1 to 7 August 2022 took place in a rural community of Chimutu in Lilongwe. Participants at the launch included the Minister of Health, Honorable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, government officials, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Malawi, Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, UNICEF Malawi Representative, Rudolf Schwenk and other partners.

WHO recommends that children initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – meaning no other foods or liquids are provided, including water. However, according to Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2019-2020), only 6 of 10 infants are breastfeed within the first hour of life in Malawi, leaving them more vulnerable to disease and death.

Addressing the participants at the launch, the Minister of Heath, Honorable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda said even though the performance of exclusive breastfeeding in Malawi is above the targeted 50 percent, it is important for government and partners to continue to support and protect breastfeeding.

“We are still facing challenges in initiating breastfeeding soon after delivery in some hospitals. We still have inadequate support for our working lactating mothers. For Malawi to accelerate and maintain a good score in optimal breastfeeding, we need greater investment in breastfeeding support policies and programmes.”

WHO Representative to Malawi, Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, said “WHO is committed to supporting countries with implementation and monitoring of the ‘Comprehensive implementation plan on maternal, infant and young child nutrition’, endorsed by Member States in May 2012. WHO is currently supporting Malawi in training health workers to provide skilled support to breastfeeding mothers, help them overcome problems, and monitor the growth of children.”

UNICEF Malawi Representative Rudolf Schwenk revealed that performance of breastfeeding indicators is signaling a regression in infants that are breastfeed within first hour of life; from 8 out 10 in 2016 (MDHS 2015/6) to 6 out 10 infants (MICS 2019/2020). Likewise, exclusive breast feeding among children under 6 months dropped from 72 percent in 2010 to 64 percent according to the MICS 2019/2020.

“Breastfeeding must be considered as a child development priority that requires investment at all levels. The rise in exclusive breastfeeding rates has been a success because of joint efforts from various stakeholders supporting this agenda at national, community and health facility levels. Our interventions should therefore continue being strengthened at all levels.” Said UNICEF Malawi Representative Rudolf Schwenk.

Joint statement by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on World Breastfeeding Week 2022 is calling on governments, donors, civil society and the private sector to step up efforts to:

• prioritize investing in breastfeeding support policies and programmes, especially in fragile and food insecure contexts;

• equip health and nutrition workers in facilities and communities with the skills they need to provide quality counselling and practical support to mothers to successfully breastfeed;

• protect caregivers and health-care workers from the unethical marketing influence of the formula industry by fully adopting and implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, including in humanitarian settings; and

• implement family-friendly policies that provide mothers with the time, space and support they need to breastfeed.

This World Breastfeeding Week, under its theme Step up for breastfeeding: Educate and Support, UNICEF and WHO are calling on governments to allocate increased resources to protect, promote and support breastfeeding policies and programmes, especially for the most vulnerable families living in emergency settings.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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WHO committed to support Nigeria in operationalizing the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022.

Abuja, 1 August, 2022 – The World Health Organization Country Representative (WR), Walter Kazadi Mulombo, has underscored the organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in fast-tracking the operationalization of the recently enacted Health Insurance Act.

Dr Mulombo made the pledge during a high-level meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, the Director General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Professor Mohammed Sambo and a team of WHO Health Financing Mission delegates from the WHO Geneva, Africa Regional Office and Nigeria.

The first ever High-level WHO Health Financing Mission to Nigeria, led by Dr Joseph Kutzin was scheduled to provide a sustainable health financing support to the country towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health security while undertaking targeted advocacy to accelerate operationalization of the NHIA Act including the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF). This is in line with WHO’s goal of ensuring that all individuals and communities receive the quality health services they need without suffering financial hardship.

Dr Mulombo said President Buhari’s signing the NHIA Bill into law will make health insurance mandatory for all legal residents in Nigeria and expands coverage to over 83 million poor and vulnerable people. He expressed the optimism that government will prioritize immediate appropriation of the Special Intervention Fund in the Act to establish the Vulnerable Group Fund.

“Indeed, the task of ensuring that all citizens have access to the quality healthcare they need without falling into poverty is a deliberate political decision to achieve the cardinal objectives of population coverage, service coverage, and financial protection. I have no doubts that in a large federal nation like Nigeria, this milestone of appropriating the Special Intervention Fund will be achieved in the 2023 fiscal year”, he said.

In his remarks, Mr Mustapha appreciated WHO as the foremost development partner to Nigeria on health, and louded WHO’s invaluable guidance particularly on the COVID-19 pandemic.

“WHO has demonstrated that it is an organization that cares for and caters for the health needs of the people. On the NHIA, let me commend the DG for his tenacity and determination to have this Act come to fruition. I want to thank WHO and other partners who supported in drafting the Bill. This modest attempt has provided basic health insurance coverage to the vulnerable, and making it mandatory will go a long way in assisting our people to manage their income and remain at work in terms of the depressed economy we are witnessing”.

The SGF further expressed government’s committment to appropriate the Special Intervention Fund (SIF) in the 2023 national budget for the establishment of the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF). “No family in Nigeria has economically survived catering for any of their own suffering from cancer. The health of our poeople is therefore topmost on our priorities despite competing demands”, he stated.

During their advocacy visit to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister commended the unique role WHO is playing in the health sector in Nigeria while appreciating her strong commitment and steadfastness to improving the healthcare of all Nigerians at all times.

Earlier, the mission had visited the NHIA headquarters, where Professor Sambo said that although Nigeria has operated health insurance for the past twenty-three years with low citizen coverage because it was not mandatory, the new law has the potential to accelerate achievement of universal health coverage for all Nigerians. The Director General of the NHIA added that WHO’s support so far has been crucial and the Mission is the first of its kind in the history of the organization.

“I have been reliably informed that this is the first high-level mission to the National Health Insurance Scheme now Authority since inception and I have no doubts that this engagement of WHO’s most senior and finest experts in health financing will produce credible results. There is no gainsaying that health is one of the critical elements of development. With the new law and implementation modalities, the NHIA is poised to achieving universal health coverage for all Nigerians soon,” he stated.

The Mission also met with the Senate Committee Chairman on Health Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, the House Committee Chairman on Health Services, Honourable Tanko Sununu, the Director General of Budget, Dr. Ben Akabueze, and key Development Partners on Health in Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari signed the NHIA Bill into an Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in May 2022.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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