Day: July 19, 2023

The national pavilion at the show “Design Tokyo” held from July 19 to 21, 2023 at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center, was inaugurated Wednesday by Tunisian and Japanese officials and has seen a large influx of visitors who came to discover the national handicrafts, said the National Office of the Tunisian handicrafts. The International Exhibition of Design Products “Design Tokyo” is among the largest trade fairs in the Asian region, which is a major export destination for handicrafts. It brings together designers and craftspeople from all over the world. According to the Office, Tunisia’s participation in the show, which focuses on artistic ceramics and olive wood, is aimed at promoting national crafts and opening up to other markets, particularly in Asia. The national pavilion exhibits a selection of products from national craft companies operating in the two sectors selected, namely artistic ceramics and olive wood. It also offers a virtual platform for bringing together national designers and potential buyers.

Source: EN – Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunisia is hosting the 14th edition of the African Cryptography Conference “Africa Crypt 2023”: Towards strengthening cooperation, consolidating expertise and promoting research in the field of cryptography, to be held from July 19 to 21, 2023 in Sousse, under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Communication Technologies, in cooperation with the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR). This conference, considered to be the most important scientific meeting bringing together a large number of experts, researchers and specialists in mathematics and cryptography from various countries (Canada, France, Switzerland, Morocco, etc.), aims to strengthen cooperation and develop Tunisian capacities and skills, in addition to promoting research in the field of cryptography, cybersecurity and digital trust. During the conference, numerous workshops and training sessions will be held on quantum cryptography and post-quantum cryptography algorithms and protocols. During the event, a number of scientific papers will be presented, providing an opportunity to discuss future opportunities and challenges in this field, and to review successful examples of the uses of cryptography and its various applications. In conjunction with the conference, a competition in the field of cryptography will be organised for students.

Source: EN – Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Nabil Ammar on Tuesday met with representatives of the Tunisian community in Riyadh as part of his visit to Saudi Arabia. The Minister commended on the occasion, the important role played by the Tunisian diaspora in national development and in representing Tunisia abroad, according to a press release. He underlined the need to organise regular meetings with the Tunisian community living in the Kingdom in order to listen to their concerns and meet their expectations and aspirations. The Department of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad and the various diplomatic and consular missions remain open to all initiatives and proposals tabled by the community, he promised. Ammar last Sunday started a tour of Gulf countries, notably Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Source: EN – Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunisia expressed solidarity with Algeria following a serious traffic accident which took place, on Wednesday in Tamanrasset, southern Algeria, causing several deaths. Tunisia offers its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims as well as to the entire Algerian people, reads a statement of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. According to Algerian civil protection, a bus and pickup truck collided on a highway in southern Algeria, near the village of Outoul, about twenty kilometres west of Tamanrasset. The accident, which left at least 34 dead and 12 injured, was followed by a fire when the bus, linking Adrar to Tamanrasset, about 2,000 km from Algiers, hit the other vehicle, said the same source.

Source: EN – Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

At least five thousand citizens from 17 provinces of the country will travel to Lubango, southern Huila Province, in the beginning of August to represent the 164 municipalities at the Fair of Municipalities and Cities of Angola, which will run from 10 to 13 August this year.

The estimate is being put forward by the government authorities, based on confirmations and reservations made in local hotels and similar units, in order to attend the 4th edition of the event, which will also be part of the 121st celebration of the Festivities of Our Lady of the Mount (Nossa Senhora do Monte).

Speaking to ANGOP, the director of the Social Communication Office of Huíla, Luís Garrido stated that 96% of the space made available for the exhibition, which has 7,000 square metre venue, at the Nossa Senhora do Monte stadium, is already filled with reservations from municipalities, ministerial departments, public and private companies.

As for accommodation, Luís Garrido emphasised that Huíla will directly host more than 5,000 people, who in addition to the city of Lubango, will be housed in the nearest municipalities, namely Humpata and Chibia.

Regarding the offer of services, he said that the hotel and similar units are full for the period of the fair, which at the same time will take place the Festivities of Nossa Senhora do Monte.

“The entire catering network is committed to the more than five thousand people that will attend the event. We are prepared and we adivise operators to improve their services in order to have a positive response from the people who’ll request the services”, he said.

The official added that, given the number of visitors the province will receive, the Nossa Senhora do Monte tourist complex is also available.

Luís Garrido stressed that the fair will generate informal employment and awaken operators who provide services such as beauty salons, shops, tailors, designer stylists, among others.

He stressed that the security of the event is ensured by the defence and security forces and with regard to health, the National Institute of Medical Emergencies (INEMA) and the government of Huíla will guarantee it.

The event promoted by the Ministry of Territorial Administration, which had a three-year break due to covid-19, this year returns under the motto “Life is in the municipalities”.

The 4th edition of the fair aims to publicise what has been done in the country and present the social and economic plans of the municipalities and will also serve to hold the Forum of Municipalities and Cities of Angola, scheduled for the 11th, with the aim of discussing issues related to local administration.

Meanwhile, with an extension of 79,022 square kilometres, the province of Huíla has 14 municipalities, namely Lubango capital, Chibia, Gambos, Humpata, Cacula, Quilengues, Caluquembe, Caconda, Chipindo, Chicomba, Quipungo, Matala, Cuvango and Jamba

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

As of July 1, the new Seychelles Home Care Agency became fully operational after migrating from the Agency for Social Protection.

The establishment of the agency through the enactment of the Home Care Agency Act is aimed at modernising and improving the quality of home care service offered to the elderly, disabled, and other groups needing such care in Seychelles – 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean.

The Home Care Agency is governed by a board of directors appointed for three years. Its main role is to support and oversee the management of the Agency’s affairs and make recommendations on guidelines and policies in line with the government’s strategic vision.

SNA caught up with the CEO of the agency, Dr Daniel Kallee, also an ordained Anglican priest, to talk about the work of the team that manages around 3,300 caregivers in their mission to invigorate and transform the home care service in the three main islands of Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue.

SNA: Tell us about your path to Seychelles, work in community programmes and priesthood.

DK: I am an ordained Anglican priest who came to Seychelles in 1985 from Mauritius and have worked on all the Islands in Seychelles for the past thirty-eight years. With my past training in community development work from Central Africa in Zambia, I joined the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports in 1999 to work in the programme development section, where I started as a programme development officer to later being appointed as Director for the Community Life Programmes until December 2010.

My ability in community work led to my appointment as the Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral from 2012 until 2021. During that time, I enrolled with the Diocesan Training Centre in Mauritius to further my academic studies with Acts Academy of Higher Education for a doctoral degree in 2016 which I completed in 2020.

SNA: What is the main role of the Home Care Agency?

DK: The main role of the Home Care Agency emanates from its Act of 2022, which was enacted by the President of the Republic and the National Assembly. The Agency was established to register beneficiaries of home care services and home caregivers and administer and regulate the provision of Home Care services and any connected matters.

CEO of the agency, Dr Daniel Kallee. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY

SNA: What responsibilities did the agency have that were not there before?

DK: The Home Care Agency is mandated by law to deliver effective home care services. It is pivotal in achieving the highest quality of life possible for those who need assistance to live independently and to allow a person to live safely in their home.

The allocation of home caregivers’ competency in providing home care will be upgraded through training. The agency will have a section responsible for promoting well-being, training, and education. A training programme will be developed after key concepts of home care services have been identified as indispensable by key stakeholders like the Ministry of Health and the Department of Social Affairs for all caregivers.

SNA: What are the agency’s first priorities?

DK: Training will be organised with the involvement of all key partners at the district level for all carers so that we act as a common front to improve home care services. The registration of caregivers for training will first be a new development in home care services before a contract is signed with the agency to certify their competency. The Agency will also be responsible for drawing a contract between the caregivers and beneficiaries or by his or her guardian or close relative in case they cannot do so.

The Agency will also set up a separate section to monitor home care services. A principal monitoring officer will lead a team of five monitoring officers on Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue to ensure that a regular visit is undertaken to determine the standard and level of services being offered and to assess the well-being of the recipients. The monitoring section will also investigate any complaint by the recipients or by his or her family member, the caregivers or any complaint by our stakeholders and members of the community. The Agency will also monitor all private home care services operating as a business in Seychelles.

The monitoring section will address all the negatives around the home care services and caregivers in Seychelles. The Board of the Agency is conscious of the long procedures for home care application. An exercise will be undertaken to review the process and make it more accurate, brief, and easy for the population.

The monitoring section will address all the negatives around the home care services. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY

SNA: There are many negative perceptions around home care services and carers in Seychelles. How will the Agency change this?

DK: In line with the different policies for home care services, there is a need to relook at all the existing policies to make them relevant and to address and curb unnecessary assistance and wastage of government resources, as the Agency is recording around 65 new cases monthly. With an aging population, it will be important to reassess all home care cases on a one-to-one basis and redefine the needs of all recipients.

SNA: How will Seychelles benefit from the Home Care Agency in the long run?

The agency will operate a system reflecting modernised home care services based on merit and where the human side is taken into consideration, and the customer care service is improved by all the staff of the Agency and the caregivers.

It is an opportunity to start the operation of a new agency for home care, and the new expected outcome will depend on the change we hope to bring in the prevailing culture of home care services in Seychelles to a more dignified service for all who need assistance.

Source: Seychelles News Agency