Day: June 21, 2023

As part of his working visit to Budapest, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, held talks with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó. The meeting was followed by an extended working session attended by delegations from both countries in the framework of the work of the 5th session of the Tunisian-Hungarian Joint Economic Commission, held for the first time at the level of the foreign ministers of the two countries. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations, their prospects and ways to develop them in priority areas for both countries, as well as regional and international issues of common interest, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two Ministers highlighted the richness and diversity of areas of cooperation, particularly in agriculture, water management, ICT, the green economy, tourism, higher education and scientific research. On this occasion, they reaffirmed their desire to further develop bilateral relations, given the promising opportunities for cooperation and the mutual trust and interests that exist between the two countries. Nabil Ammar stressed the willingness of the Hungarian authorities to support Tunisia in its efforts to cope with the effects of the global food and energy crisis, climate change and its negative impact on the Tunisian economy. He welcomed the “positive response” of the Hungarian authorities to the possibility of recruiting qualified Tunisian workers in Hungarian economic sectors suffering from labour shortages, within an organised framework whose mechanisms will be defined by experts from both countries. The two ministers also expressed their common desire to establish fruitful cooperation in the fields of rail transport and mining. The work of the Fifth Tunisian-Hungarian Joint Economic Commission led to the signing of two memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the fields of agriculture and archives. For his part, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade took the opportunity to respond positively to the Tunisian proposal to increase the number of scholarships for Tunisian students from 200 to 250 from the start of the next academic year. The two ministers also held a press conference to review the results of the fifth meeting of the Joint Economic Commission and the position of the two countries on certain issues of common interest.

Source: EN – Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Indian High Commission in Seychelles will not be charging emergency fees for medical visas issued to Seychellois travelling for emergency treatment in India as of June 21.

The statement was made by the Indian High Commission in a press communique on Tuesday.

“Seychellois requiring Emergency Medical Visa will have to however produce an emergency certificate from the medical authorities recommending the treatment,” said the communique.

The High Commission told SNA that 1,392 medical visas were issued to Seychellois travelling to India for treatment in 2022.

Currently, many Seychellois travel to other countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Reunion, to receive medical treatment when the services are not available on Mahe, the main island of the archipelago.

Since 2010, a large number of patients are sent to Seychelles has been sending patients to Chennai’s MIOT International Hospital which provides medical care in over 63 specialties.

Seychellois citizens enjoy free universal healthcare and the government pays for overseas treatment for persons who are not able to receive treatment in local healthcare facilities and have exhausted all treatment options in the country.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Data Controllers and Processors in the country have been asked to register their services with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Data Controllers are entities that determine the purposes and means of processing personal data while data processors are entities that process personal data on behalf of data controllers. Principal Data Protection Officer Abdullahi Ali said data processors must ensure that personal data is processed in a lawful and reasonable manner and without infringing the privacy rights of the data subjects. He also urged organizations to train critical employees who are responsible for data collection and storage on data privacy and protection in compliance with data privacy and protection act. The officer said data protection legislations are not crafted in any way to punish Wananchi but rather to create awareness so that people will be accountable to one another whether as data controllers or processors. Speaking in Kwale County during an awareness outreach program by the Office of the Data Commissioner, Ali said processing of personal data should be necessary, relevant and not excessive. The sensitization forum brought together representatives from the government, institutions, private sector, civil societies, the media and the general public. ‘Data controllers should undertake necessary steps to ensure the integrity and security of personal data that it collects and processes,’ he said, adding that they should not retain personal data for a period longer than is necessary for the purpose for which the data is collected. He urged Data controllers and processors to show accountability and compliance with Data Protection Act 2019. Ali said the new Act sets out the rules and principles governing the collection, use, disclosure and care for personal data or information by a data controller or processor. Kwale Assistant County Commissioner Beatrice Odira said compliance with the Data Protection Act applies to all public and private institutions hence the need to take it seriously. Odera welcomed the efforts by the Data Commissioner in awareness creation at a time of increased use of technology in the global cyberspace. Chimvua Kombo, Principal Administrative Secretary, County Government of Kwale said the devolved unit will prioritize data protection and respect others privacy in accordance with the Data Privacy and Protection Act 2019 to avoid non-compliance. He said the county administration will go out of its way to protect the privacy of the individual and personal data by regulating the processing of personal information. Meanwhile, in Kilifi the Data Protection Commission has in conjunction with the Kenya School of Government (KSG) developed a curriculum on data protection to create more awareness among stakeholders. The curriculum which is under implementation will also be taught in some selected institutions aimed at empowering data controllers, data processors and data subjects on the regulations to comply with personal data protection. Speaking during a similar sensitization forum on the Data Privacy and Protection Act (DPA) 2019, Ali said the commission intends to create more awareness on the importance of personal data protection laws. ‘Among the responsibilities of the commission is to establish the legal and institutional mechanism to protect personal data,’ said Ali. He added that Kenya is among 36 out of 54 African countries that have data protection laws and regulations and added that the constitution of Kenya, 2010 guarantees the rights of privacy as a fundamental right. Addressing the forum, Kilifi Assistant County Commissioner Ms. Miskey Ahmed welcomed the initiative by the Data Protection Commission to sensitize Kenyans on the laws protecting personal data. Ahmed urged data controllers, processors and other stakeholders to take advantage of the on-going countrywide awareness campaign to acquaint themselves with Data Privacy and Protection Act 2019 and strictly adhere to its requirements.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Three university students were among the five people who perished in a building that collapsed on Monday evening in Murang’a town. Two of the students were pursuing various courses at Murang’a University while the third was in third year at Moi University. One of the students, Emmanuel Asande died a few minutes after he was taken to Murang’a Level-5 hospital. Asande, who was undertaking his industrial attachment at the construction site, had worked in the building for the last two weeks. A preliminary medical report indicated the second-year student at Murang’a University of Technology who was pursuing civil engineering, died due to injuries he sustained in his spinal cord. His colleague, Daniel Nkulet, a third year procurement student, was working at the construction site as a casual worker. Nkulet who had deferred his studies for a semester, had worked in the building which had reached third storey before collapsing, for about four weeks. Vice Chancellor of Murang’a University of Technology Professor Dickson Nyariki termed the incident as unfortunate saying it has claimed lives of young people who were hardworking and who had bright futures. ‘The information about the students was disturbing and has left the university fraternity in grief. I convey my condolences to the affected families and promise the university will play a role in burial preparations of the two,’ he added. The president of Murang’a University Students Organization (MUSO) Davis Kemboi said they will organize an occasion to mourn the two students. ‘We were shocked and emotionally affected by the death of our colleagues who were just trying to earn something to support their education. We send our condolences to the families of our two comrades,’ said Kemboi. The third student, Geoffrey Wachira who was pursuing Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology at Moi University also met his death at the construction site where he was working as a casual labourer. His father, Lawrence Kingori told KNA his son opted to work at the construction site after he completed his attachment at Murang’a Level 5 hospital. ‘My son was to go back to university for his fourth year in September this year and so I allowed him to do some construction to earn some money. He had worked at the building for barely two weeks before he met his death.’ Said King’ori. A close friend to the family Patrick Muturi termed Wachira as a hardworking young man saying the tragedy had robbed the family and the community of a person who could be of great help in future. The building which was being constructed at Jua kali area in Murang’a town, tilted on one side on Monday evening leading to the collapse of some of the walls. Those affected were at ground floor of the building which left five dead and four recuperating at Murang’a Level-5 hospital. Rescue teams drawn from Kenya Defense Forces, County disaster, National Disaster Management Unit, the Red Cross helped in the rescue mission, an exercise which ended on Tuesday evening. On Tuesday, speaking when he visited the scene, Principal Secretary for Public Works Joel Arumonyang said the government is working to put in place regulations which will address gaps in the construction sector. He decried loss of lives which have been witnessed through collapsing of buildings saying such tragedies can be avoided. He added that they will engage the national assembly to pass the building control bill which will address gaps in the building sector. ‘Inspection of buildings is going on and already we have covered 26 counties, and this exercise will continue to ensure people live in safe buildings,’ he added. The PS said that through the National Construction Authority (NCA) they will ensure vigilance and called on professionals to give their best in terms of supervision. The CEO of the NCA, Maurice Aketch, stated that the relevant authorities had commenced investigations into the actual cause of the collapse of the building. ‘NCA is working to ensure all constructions happening in the country comply with all the regulatory requirements and especially standards to maintain quality, safety and the wellbeing of Kenyans and the environment,’ he remarked.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ministry Health in conjunction with Education will roll out a life skills curriculum for learners to understand reproductive health. Dr Edward Serem, Head of the Maternal and Reproductive Health Division at the Ministry of Health (MOH) said the government has put in place appropriate measures to address challenges facing adolescents, women, and youth. Serem was speaking at the sixth Annual Scientific Conference on Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (ASRHR) convened by Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) jointly with the Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR) and FP 2030 in partnership with the Ministry of Health at a hotel in Diani. ‘We are currently reviewing the comprehensive strategy to deliver age-appropriate, culturally acceptable information including abstinence, prevention of HIV, STIs, and leverage on life skills education for adults and youths in schools and out of school including tertiary,’ Serem said. The life skills curriculum developed from reproductive maternal health is supposed to be taught in primary and secondary schools. ‘This is the primary intervention, giving information and education to the young,’ he said, adding that Community Health Promoters (CHPs) will be engaged to reach those out of school. Serem said parents will also be sensitized on positive parenting through community dialogues, and more youth-friendly healthcare facilities will be open to provide comprehensive Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services including family planning to the age-appropriate. ‘To further widen access to youth-friendly services, pharmacists have been included and are being trained to provide short-term injectable contraceptives,’ said Serem. He added that the Ministry of Health will promote the establishment of psychosocial support programmes to counsel and guide adolescents and youths affected by alcoholism and drug abuse. Serem reiterated the government’s commitment to international treaties on sexual and reproductive health services. ‘The Government is committed to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.7 which put a lot of emphasis on the provision of universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services,’ Serem said. ‘Over the last two decades Kenya has made efforts to develop policies, and guidelines and expand service delivery in response to reproductive health issues including enhancing access to adolescence and youth-friendly clinics this has been spearheaded by the Ministries of Health, Education and Development partners,’ he said. On his part, Netherlands Ambassador Maarten Brouwer noted that the topic of sexual and reproductive health remains at the core of development. ‘We envisage a world where everyone can access the quality of health services. We aim to contribute more to help adolescent girls and young women from underserved and unserved communities be meaningfully included in all decision-making regarding harmful practices, sexual and gender-based violence, and unintended pregnancies,’ he said. RHNK Dr.John Nyamu who is the Chairman said the conference provides a platform for stakeholders to network and engage with donor organizations to chart pathways for collaborative SRHR advocacy. Nyamu urged the government to implement policies and international treaties it has ratified on reproductive health. ‘We are not short of policies in the country just as is in other countries on the continent. What we lack is the political goodwill to implement the policies and enhance reproductive health services by our people,’ said Nyamu.

Source: Kenya News Agency

State Department for Cooperatives Principal Secretary (PS) Patrick Kilemi has called on the cooperative movement in Kenya to pull their numbers together and assist the country in boosting blood reserves through blood donation. The PS commended the Cooperative Alliance of Kenya (CAK) for organising a blood donation exercise annually in the build up to the Ushirika day celebrations. Speaking on Wednesday at the Kencom bus terminus during Ushirika blood drive exercise, Kilemi said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that we should have blood pints reserves equal to at least one percent of the population. ‘With Kenya having an estimated population of 52 million people, we should have 520,000 pints of blood in our blood banks,’ said the PS. He added that the blood donation at the Kencom bus terminus is targeting to collect 2,000 pints of blood, an increase from the 700 pints collected last year. ‘My appeal to all cooperators in the country is to donate blood from wherever they are as a commemoration of the Ushirika day and also help the country in achieving the target of 520,000 pints,’ said Kilemi. The PS said that in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, the cooperative movement is the anchor where they are enabling aggregation and they are going back to the days of independence dubbed ‘harambee’ where people came together. ‘The government is looking at the productive aspects of our nation because due to the small holder nature of our people, the only way we can have viable production units is to come together. As the cooperative movement we are aggregating all the value chains into cooperatives so that we have viable production units in marketing and savings,’ said Kilemi. The PS said that they are looking at the key value chains that is dairy, cotton, maize among others. Cooperative Alliance of Kenya (CAK) Chairman Macloud Malonza said that the blood donation drive is a precursor to the Ushirika day celebrations to be held on July 1, 2023 as he encouraged cooperative movement members across the country to donate blood as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Malonza said that they want to support the Kenya Kwanza manifesto on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by making blood available to the population. ‘We have around seven million members across the country and I would like to urge them wherever they are to donate blood in the spirit of togetherness the same way we come together and put our savings in the Sacco’s and assist each other,’ said Malonza. Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority (KTTA) Regional manager Festus Koech said that last year as a country we approached 75 percent of our blood needs with a target of reaching 80 percent this year. ‘The much-needed blood groups are the rare blood groups that is the rhesus negative which are A negative, B negative, O negative and AB negative because less than two percent of Kenyans have these particular blood groups and that is why when we have a shortage of these blood groups. We see appeals being made for Kenyans to go to the nearest blood donation stations so that they can donate to save lives,’ said Koech. James Wamugunda who works at the judiciary as a legal researcher said that this was his fourth time to donate blood which he started after a relative needed blood as they were undergoing an operation and realised the need for donating blood to save people’s lives. ‘We came here with my colleagues from the judiciary since we are informed that the country is in need of blood and I would like to urge members of the public to come and donate blood because there are people who are in need,’ said Wamugunda.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) in collaboration with the Ministry of National Treasury and Planning have held a public participation forum with the aim of structuring, implementing and evaluating the National Retirement Policy framework. The forum brings together various stakeholders, trustees, members of the retirement benefit schemes, pension providers and the public in efforts to improve the sector’s management and development as well as enhance the benefits coverage. The forum through the policy also seeks to mitigate old age poverty, smooth consumption of pensions and promote national saving as a secondary objective for development in the country. Speaking during the forum, at a Nairobi Hotel, RBA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charles Wachira, said the policy consolidated under the National Treasury aims to provide guidance by offering consistency, efficiency, accountability, clarity, credibility and validation in the sector. He added that the policy’s main objective is to raise the legal framework, empower, ensure and enable every Kenyan worker and retirees to live with dignity in their own social and economic lives. The CEO emphasised that the forum will not only help eliminate difficulty in accessing the retirement funds but also increase the 25 percent coverage rate compared to the 40 percent income generating ratio. ‘The outcome of this forum is to input contributions, views and frameworks that will enable us to incorporate the labour force who have inadequate income or nothing at all and assist them to have a comfortable retirement,’ said Wachira. Echoing his remarks, RBA Board of Directors Chairman Nelson Havi divulged that the policy will review the current retirement benefits system and put in place applicable laws that will ensure an affordable, sustainable, equitable and predictable regulatory and supervisory framework. He said, ‘The Kenya Kwanza government is set to intentionally get out of comfort with the ordinary purview of pension through public participation forums. We will see which areas of the National Retirement Benefits policy to improve.’

Source: Kenya News Agency

Angolan Airlines ,TAAG, Wednesday announced the strengthening of its fleet, with the formalisation of an order for nine aircraft of the Airbus 220-300 type, with phased delivery scheduled for April, 2024.

In its note reached ANGOP, TAAG states that the order is the result of the signing of three commercial agreements during the Paris Air Show 2023 with Lessor companies ACG , Azorra and NAC.

“This is an achievement that will work on long-term leasing contracts, under dry lease,” the report said.

The document adds that the equipment will have Angolan flying personnel and with maintenance secured by local staff.

Currently, TAAG has a total of 15 A220-300 aircraft ordered from manufacturer Airbus, through international partners.

With this acquisition, TAAG estimates a saving of around 25% in fuel costs and a reduction in operating costs of 20% at global level.

The Airbus A220 aircraft has a capacity for 142 passengers (130 in economy class and 12 in business class).

TAAG explains that the strengthening of the fleet is evidence of the company’s modernisation and growth path.

TAAG was founded in 1938 and is based in Luanda, the country’s capital city.

For over 80 years, TAAG has been connecting Angolans through domestic and international connections

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

New starting blocks installed at Alvalade swimming pool in Luanda will be unveiled on Saturday, Angolan Swimming Federation has announced.

The inauguration will take place on the eve of the start of the National Category Swimming Championships.

This is an unprecedented move at this level, which puts an end to the reinforced concrete blocks of the only Olympic swimming pool in Luanda, built 58 years ago.

The ”national championship” will be held by categories, with 1º de Agosto and Clube Náutico the main candidates to the title.

The athletes will be submitted to four rounds, being two on Saturday and the same number on Sunday.

The event brings together athletes from 1º de Agosto, ADEOA, Clube Náutico, Naval and Onda Sport Club

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)