September 8, 2022

Angola approves National Strategy on Climate Change

Luanda – The National Strategy on Climate Change (ENAC 2022-2035) submitted to the Executive by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Environment (MCTA), to strengthen the response to the threats of climate change, has received final approval by Presidential Decree.

According to the document, ENAC arises from the need to articulate objectives, instruments and institutions in the pursuit of sustained economic growth and sustainable development, against the backdrop of the provisions of the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals and the need to articulate Angolan policy in terms of mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

The approved instrument will lead to the development of the National Emissions Plan (PNE) and the National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change (NAPAs).

Based on the ENAC, the country will update the Internally Determined National Contribution (INDCs), which will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as well as present its commitment manifesto on climate change, identifying targets and measures, both for mitigation and adaptation, for different sectors.

This legal instrument is structured taking into account five pillars such as mitigation, adaptation, capacity building, financing and research, systematic observation and analysis, thus aiming to promote the transition to a low carbon economy, adapting the national territory to the impacts of climate change.

In this context, the government recognizes that it is essential to strengthen the technical skills of different players and priority technologies for an effective implementation of the ENAC 2022-2035, with the need to leverage the opportunity of climate financing, promoting international cooperation in this domain.

This diploma succeeds the National Policy for the Implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, due to the growth of the economy in the last decade and the change in the international and national climate scenario.

Main climate policy instruments in Angola

Angola has ratified the UNFCCC, acceded and ratified the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 2000 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2007.

In 2009, it established the Designated National Authority (DNA) for the mechanisms of the Kyoto protocol and started the development of the National Adaptation Action Programme (NAPAs). In 2012, it submitted its first national communication (Angolas’s initial National Communication to the Unite Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

In 2016, the country adhered to the Strategy for Reducing the Emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector by 2030 for developed countries and 2050 for developing countries, and in 2018 it adhered to the Kigali 5th Amendment on the faced reduction process of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Source: Angola Press News Agency

September 8, 2022

Elections2022: Botswana congratulates João Lourenço for re-election as President

Luanda – The Head of State of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, on Thursday congratulated his Angolan counterpart, Joao Lourenço, on his re-election as President of the Republic.

In a congratulatory message, the Botswana President expressed the conviction that his re-election reflects the trust of Angolan people in João Lourenço´s leadership and in the party of which he is the head of the list, the MPLA.

In his letter, Mokgweetsi Masisi praised the government and people of Angola for holding peaceful and free elections.

The Botswana president re-stated his country´s commitment to continue working with Angola on a bilateral, regional and international levels,

According to the document, these are the efforts to find solutions to the challenges facing the region and the continent, with a view to strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation existing between both countries.

Finally, the Botswana President wished his Angolan counterpart good health and success in his new five-year term at the helm of the country.

According to data from the National Electoral Commission (CNE), MPLA won the general elections with 51.17%, followed by UNITA with 43.95%.

With these results, MPLA gained 124 MPs and UNITA 90, while the FNLA, PRS and PHA elected two MPs each.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

September 8, 2022

COVID-19 threatens elimination of deadly form of meningitis in Africa, more than 50 million children miss vaccination

Brazzaville – With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying meningitis vaccination campaigns for more than 50 million children in Africa, the region is at a heightened risk of outbreaks of meningitis type A, which has nearly been eliminated on the continent. In a race against time, World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have launched a roadmap aimed at stopping bacterial meningitis outbreaks by 2030, urging countries to implement it rapidly before the start of the meningitis season in January 2023.

The pandemic severely disrupted meningitis prevention and control services, with disease surveillance, laboratory confirmation of cases and outbreak investigations all steeply declining. Based on reports from countries, WHO found that meningitis control activities were reduced by 50% in 2020 compared with 2019, with a slight improvement in 2021. Benin, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria and Togo delayed campaigns with the MenAfriVac vaccine aimed at protecting a total of 50 million children under 12 years of age against meningitis type A.

Historically, meningitis type A was the highest cause of meningitis outbreaks in Africa. In 2010, however, Africa embarked on a journey to defeat meningitis type A when an effective vaccine, MenAfriVac, was developed and deployed. The vaccine was developed in response to a plea from African health ministers after a meningitis type A outbreak in 1996 infected more than 250 000 people and killed over 25 000 in just a few months. With WHO and partners’ support, more than 350 million people in 24 high-risk African countries have received the MenAfriVac vaccine since 2010.

The drive to eliminate this type of meningitis has been immensely successful. While meningitis type A accounted for 90% of cases and deaths before 2010, no new cases have been reported since 2017. Controlling this lethal form of meningitis has led to fewer deaths from meningitis type A and other types of the microorganism. While 50% of people with meningitis died in 2004, in 2021, 95% of cases survived.

“The defeat of meningitis type A is of one of Africa’s biggest success stories in health, but the fallout from COVID-19 hampers our drive to eliminate this bacterial infection as a public health threat once and for all, and could lead to catastrophic resurgences,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “In prioritizing the response to COVID-19, we must not lose our focus on other health problems. I urge countries to ramp up implementation of the new WHO regional roadmap now, before the meningitis season begins in January 2023.”

While no meningitis type A case has been reported in Africa during the past five years, outbreaks still occur and are caused by other types of meningococcal bacteria. In 2019, 140 552 people in the African region died from all types of meningitis. Major outbreaks caused by meningitis type C have been recorded in seven meningitis belt countries since 2013. In 2021, a four-month outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo claimed 205 lives. Moreover, the African region accounts for the highest number of new meningitis cases globally and is the only region to still experience outbreaks. The continent reports 100 cases of meningitis cases per 100 000 people, the highest incidence in the world.

“More than 400 million Africans are still at risk of seasonal meningitis outbreaks, but the disease has remained off the radar for too long,” said Dr Moeti. “Aside from the toll on human life, outbreaks negatively impact health systems, our fragile economies, and impoverish entire populations forced to contend with multiple health and socio-economic challenges.”

In an ambitious bid to defeat bacterial meningitis in the African region by 2030, the new regional strategy launched today sets out a roadmap for countries to shore up diagnosis, surveillance, care, advocacy and vaccination to eliminate outbreaks, curb deaths by 70% and halve infections. WHO estimates that US$ 1.5 billion will be required between now and 2030 to implement the plan, which if countries fully adopt will save more than 140 000 lives every year in the region and significantly reduce disability.

Meningitis is caused by inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and is transmitted via a sneeze, saliva or phlegm from the nose and throat of infected persons. Acute bacterial meningitis is one of the deadliest and most disabling forms of the illness. It can cause death within 24 hours and leaves one in five infected people with lifelong disability after infection. In Africa, the meningitis season is particularly long, stretching from January to June.

Although meningitis affects all ages, young children are most at risk, with around half of cases and deaths occurring in children under 5 years of age.

Dr Moeti spoke today during a virtual press briefing facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Professor François Marc Laforce, Director, Technical Services, Serum Institute of India, and Rhoda Omorodion, Executive Director of Care and Development Centre, Nigeria.

Also on hand from WHO Regional Office for Africa to respond to questions were Dr Akpaka Kalu, Strategic Planning and Policy Team Lead, Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases; Dr Thierno Balde, Regional COVID-19 Incident Manager; Dr Andre Bita, Regional Meningitis Control Officer; and Dr Phionah Atuhebwe, Vaccines Introduction Medical Officer.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

September 8, 2022

Zimbabwe moves to strengthen genomic surveillance

Harare, Zimbabwe – One of the valuable tools in the global, regional, and national response to the COVID-19 pandemic is genomic surveillance. Genomic sequencing is a process used by scientists and public health experts to track the spread of viruses, how the viruses are changing and how those changes may affect public health. Information from genetic surveillance, used together with clinical and epidemiological data, guides the development of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostic assays as well as decisions on public health and social measures.

Zimbabwe recorded five variants of SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) introducing genomic sequencing in May 2021. This was done through repurposing laboratory departments that had hitherto been dedicated to other viral diseases.

To support the ongoing effort to strengthen Zimbabwe’s genomic sequencing capacity, MoHCC, with support from World Health Organization (WHO), conducted a situation analysis of COVID-19 genomic surveillance from 10-19 July 2022. The exercise aimed to identify successes, gaps and challenges faced so far and make recommendations to further strengthen genomic surveillance capacity in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, the visit was also in line with WHO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen genomic surveillance in the African region.

“The visit by WHO/AFRO genomic sequencing experts was welcome and timely as this gave us an opportunity to identify gaps and strengthen our genomic surveillance,” noted Dr Raiva Simbi, MoHCC Laboratory Services Director. “With the recent re-emergence of Marburg virus and monkeypox in the region, it’s important for us to strengthen our sequencing capacity beyond COVID-19 to other diseases.”

At the onset of the mission, the Ministry of Health and Child Care convened a stakeholders meeting during which the WHO/AFRO experts discussed with partners supporting genomic surveillance and other key areas of COVID-19 response in Zimbabwe.

These partners include the Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC), the African Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (AiBST), African Society of Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI), City Health Departments, Clinical Trials Research Center (UZCHS-CTRC), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Cordaid. Also Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), Global Fund (GF), UNICEF, UNDP, US Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Bank and WHO. The meeting was followed by site support visits to four laboratories, which include the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL), Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital laboratory, Mbare Poly Clinic and Upper East Laboratory, a drive through COVID-19 testing clinic.

The visits were done to have an appreciation of available infrastructure as well as understand how the sample referral system and processing works from point of collection to the NRML where genomic sequencing is done. The mission ended with a debriefing meeting where the team presented their findings and recommendations to MoHCC and partners.

The mission appreciated commendable work being done by both the surveillance pillar and the laboratory pillar as well as the strong public-private sector laboratory collaboration.

The mission also noted that Zimbabwe is well capacitated for sequencing and has acquired basic knowledge for sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

Key recommendations included incorporating genomic surveillance in the national budget to promote sustainability. Partnering with research laboratories and local universities to train and build a workforce with genomic surveillance expertise was also recommended.

Financial support for genomic sequencing through WHO, is being provided by the African Development Bank as well as Health Pool Fund donors that include the European Union and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

“The mission was an eye opener on all the capacities already established within the country. Zimbabwe has already done a lot to institutionalize genomic surveillance, and to enhance these gains, the country should continue to screen samples for new variants and monitor the population for any outbreaks,” said Rachel Aquilla, WHO AFRO Medical Officer for Laboratory.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa