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Former President of Kiribati tours Torres Strait communities in solidarity with climate case
April 24, 2023NITThe former President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, has been visiting communities in the Torres Strait between in solidarity with Uncle Paul Kabai on Saibai island and Uncle Pabai Pabai on Boigu island in their landmark climate case against the Australian government demanding emissions reduction in line with the science.President Tong has been visiting the Islands from 17 April to 24 April as part of the Pacific Elders Voice, a group of former Prime Ministers, Presidents and high level officials in the Pacific.On Monday these communities issued the Mura Kalmel Sipa (all together we stand) statement of solidarity between Saibai, Boigu and Pacific Elders.\"At the invitation of the Saibai and Boigu Island Elders, the Chairman of the Pacific Elders\' Voice and former President of Kiribati, HE Anote Tong, visited the Islands in April 2023 and noted that climate-related threats faced by the communities there are similar to those faced by other Pacific Island countries like Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands, as well as other Pacific communities on the frontline of climate change impacts,\" it said.\"The Pacific Elders\' Voice, together with Saibai and Boigu Elders, stand in solidarity with each other\'s homelands and peoples, and our shared experience in the face of the climate crisis.\"We stand together in calling for governments to move away from subsidising fossil fuel projects and take urgent and decisive climate action that will ensure global warming remains below 1.5C.\"We stand together in friendship and solidarity in the pursuit of climate justice. We stand together in asking Australia and those responsible for perpetuating the climate crisis, including the fossil fuel industry, to hear our voices and act immediately to ensure the survival of our homelands, peoples, cultures and way of life.\"During President Tong\'s tour of Boigu and Saibai the community members taking part in workshops and training about the causes, impacts and solutions to climate change run by the Edmund Rice Centre\'s Pacific Calling Partnership.Elders have been taking President Tong on tours of their islands to examine the damage caused by climate change and discuss the impacts on community, culture, food security and fears of displacement due to sea level rise.Organisers of the tour noted that Pacific nations residents are facing similar climate change impacts as people living in the Torres Strait, such as erosion from rising seas, salt water inundation of fresh water areas, salt water pollution of soil preventing families from growing fruit and vegetables, changes to fishing patterns, and impacts on cultural sites including the flooding of cemeteries.Uncle Pabai and Uncle Paul\'s landmark climate case will argue that by failing to prevent climate change the Australian government has unlawfully breached its duty of care to Torres Strait Islanders, because of the \"severe and lasting harm\" that climate change would cause to their communities.They are seeking an order from the court requiring the government to prevent this harm to their communities by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in line with the best available science. The first hearing will be held by the Federal Court on-country in Boigu, Saibai and Badu, followed by Cairns in June.The Mura Kalmel Sipa statement was signed by Herbert Warusam Saibai Mura Buway PBC chair and Dhoeybaw Clan Chair and community member; Conwell Tabuai Saibai Councillor, TSRIC Director and Ait Koedal Clan and community member; Uncle Ialatie Gilbert Akiba, Saibai Migi Buwai Clan Elder and community member; Uncle Elvis Terrigton Warusam Koey Buwai Clan Elder and community member; Aunty Vera Toby, Custodian of Boigu Island; Uncle Dick Gibuma, Boigu Samu Clan Elder and community member; Uncle Percy Maitie, Boigu Koedal Clan Elder and community member; Brian Peter, Boigu Karbay/Baidham Clan and community member; Pastor Namia Marama, Boigu Spiritual Leader and community member; Tanaio Anau Boigu Dhoeybaw Clan/Environmental health worker with TSIRC; and HE Anote Tong, former President of the Republic of Kiribati and Pacific Elders\' Voice chair.
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- 25 April 2023
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Gavi launches new learning initiative to address the final barriers to immunisation equity
Geneva, 13 April 2023reliefwebGavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) has launched the Zero-Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH), a new mechanism to improve how data and evidence are leveraged to successfully identify and reach the millions of children who have not yet received a single routine vaccine shot – “zero-dose” children – and the missed communities in which they live. The goal of the ZDLH collaboration is to supplement existing and ongoing monitoring efforts by building deeper understanding and sharing learning on the complex array of factors that impact efforts to reach zero-dose children, particularly in lower-income Gavi implementing countries.Funded and coordinated by Gavi, ZDLH is composed of Country Learning Hubs in Bangladesh, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda, as well as a global hub led by JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), with support from the Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) and The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF). The global hub will provide technical and operational support to countries; and disseminate learning across immunisation stakeholders at the community, national, regional and global levels.“Zero-dose children face significant and complex systemic barriers that impact their ability to access basic services, including immunisation,” said Thabani Maphosa, Managing Director of Country Programmes Delivery at Gavi. “Since the inception of our Alliance, Gavi has taken a data-driven approach to address immunisation challenges. This new investment will help inform and improve immunisation programmes to reach the most vulnerable children in urban slums, rural and hard-to-reach areas, and fragile and conflict settings – using tailored approaches and addressing gender-related barriers. Today’s new partnership is another important step in our mission to ensure no child misses out on life-saving vaccines, no matter where they live.”While incredible progress has been made in immunisation coverage, particularly in lower-income countries in the last few decades, it is clear that a percentage of children consistently miss out, with the pandemic hampering progress. The number of zero-dose children in Gavi implementing countries reduced by 14% from 2015 to 2019. However, this number increased during the pandemic; and in 2021, there were 12.5 million zero-dose children in the 57 lower-income countries supported by Gavi.As a result, during the 2021–2025 strategic period, Gavi and Alliance partners are focused on reaching zero-dose children and missed communities, aiming to leverage the power of innovation and new partnerships to reduce the number of zero-dose children in Gavi-eligible countries by 25% by 2025. Today’s ZLDH launch represents the latest initiative in this effort, alongside Gavi’s Zero-Dose Immunization Programme (ZIP), an innovative initiative that is providing two consortia of partners with up to US$ 100 million to identify and reach zero-dose children living in displaced communities and fragile and conflict settings.“JSI is uniquely positioned to lead the ZDLH and address the complex socio-cultural, political, geographic and economic root causes of under-immunisation. Our team will draw on years of successful implementation of innovative and finely tailored approaches to immunisation equity,” said Kate Onyejekwe, Director of JSI’s International Division. “We have convened a dynamic roster of partners to implement the ZDLH’s charge.”GENERATING KNOWLEDGE AT THE COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY LEVELSA country-driven and community-driven approach to evidence generation will be vital. The Country Learning Hubs – led by in-country partners and supported by Gavi, JSI and IIHMR – will first engage with government and other key stakeholders to identify country learning priorities. Once priorities are aligned, the hubs will begin work on strengthening routine information systems, and implementing research studies – with regular reporting of progress and results shared across the Alliance at the country and global levels. A Learning Innovation Unit will leverage digital peer networks to help accelerate at scale how national and subnational immunisation staff share, learn and apply evidence-based practices within and across Country Learning Hub countries, and at the regional and global levels.A populous country, Nigeria has one of the biggest zero-dose burdens globally, with more than 2.2 million children missing out on routine vaccines in 2021. However, there is increasing momentum and engagement at both the national and subnational levels to address this challenge. Bangladesh, Mali and Uganda made progress through 2020–2021, with the number of zero-dose children in all three countries declining, but obstacles remain: over 157,000 children were unprotected in Mali; nearly 50,000 in Uganda; and close to 30,000 children in Bangladesh.The four Country Learning Hubs – in Bangladesh, Mali, Nigeria and Uganda – will be led by a variety of organisations with specific in-country knowledge:
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- 25 April 2023
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Darpan Power Women of Influence Gala 2023
24 March, 2023DarpanLess than 2 weeks away to go for the Power Women of Influence Gala 2023, we\'re so excited to announce our power-packed panel, — The Hon Attorney General of British Columbia, Niki Sharma, Business Leader and Regional Vice President of RBC, Devinder K. Gill; Social Activist also known as the \"Mother of Education\" in Afghanistan, Dr. Sakena Yacoobi; Indian Actor and the Winner of the Miss Universe pageant 2000, Lara Dutta Bhupathi; Media Personality and Host of CBC Vancouver News at 6, Anita Bathe. Neetu Garcha from Global BC will be the moderator.Be it in the form of a gentle, soothing touch from our selfless mothers, or the fearless and bold leadership of global leaders, we are surrounded by women of excellence in more ways than one. As mothers, daughters, and sisters, we are no strangers to the many sacrifices the female figures in our lives continue to make, going above and beyond to contribute to the betterment of our families and society.In the workforce, we have seen an uprising of women who, everyday, break the shackles of gender inequality and shatter glass ceilings to realize not only their own full potential, but really that of humanity overall! While world-renowned names may often grace the media and high profile events, sometimes, local heroes who are close to home may go unnoticed. Undoubtedly, it is these gifted and driven women who are making impactful positive contributions to society, which creates a ripple effect and leaves a global footprint. The time has come to recognize these women for all that they are, and for all that they have done for our communities. Having experienced the South Asian community inside out, DARPAN Magazine wholeheartedly takes on its next calling by humbly taking on the noble responsibility and honor of creating a platform to celebrate, admire, and recognize esteemed and accomplished women in our community. We take this opportunity to invite you to partner with DARPAN Magazine as we embark on this journey and urge you to join hands with us in celebrating the very females that build our homes and strengthen our communities, at the first ever DARPAN Power Women of Influence 2023. While world-renowned names may often grace the media and high profile events, sometimes, local heroes who are close to home may go unnoticed. Undoubtedly, it is these gifted and driven women who are making impactful positive contributions to society, which creates a ripple effect and leaves a global footprint. The time has come to recognize these women for all that they are, and for all that they have done for our communities. Having experienced the South Asian community inside out, DARPAN Magazine wholeheartedly takes on its next calling by humbly taking on the noble responsibility and honor of creating a platform to celebrate, admire, and recognize esteemed and accomplished women in our community. We take this opportunity to invite you to partner with DARPAN Magazine as we embark on this journey and urge you to join hands with us in celebrating the very females that build our homes and strengthen our communities, at the first ever DARPAN Power Women of Influence 2023. The first ever Darpan\'s Power Women of Influence 2023 event, proudly hosted by DARPAN Magazine, will take place on Friday, March 24, 2023.Ranging from business leaders and local politicians to young activists and TV personalities along with our chief guest (a world renowned celebrity) who will be walking for a cause and a power packed panel discussion. Our attendees witness their inspiring journey, which is then revered and celebrated by the community as a whole. DARPAN Power Women of Influence 2023 event will be one of the most-anticipated events in the Lower Mainland drawing 500-600 influential members such as key stakeholders, respected community and business leaders, and political dignitaries.The evening will consist of a Cocktail and Networking hour/ Extraordinary keynote speakers and a Panel Discussion by BC’s most influential South Asian women, followed by top-notch entertainment, and a gourmet meal.
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- 25 April 2023
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Profs. Andrew Pollard / Sarah Gilbert and Drs. Rino Rappuoli / Mariagrazia Pizza named winners of...
8 March, 2023The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and SK bioscience jointly announced Profs. Andrew Pollard / Sarah Gilbert and Rino Rappuoli / Mariagrazia Pizza as two groups of co-recipients of the second IVI – SK bioscience Park ManhHoon Award.The IVI-SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award annually honors up to two individuals and/or groups that have made extraordinary contributions to the discovery, development and delivery of vaccines and the advancement of global health. The award was launched in 2022 to commemorate the legacy of the late Vice Chairman Dr. Park MahnHoon of SK bioscience. This year’s award ceremony is scheduled to take place at IVI on April 25, the second anniversary of Dr. Park’s death. SK bioscience contributes funding for two 100 million Korean won (approx. US$85,000) annual prizes to IVI for the awards.“IVI, jointly with SK bioscience, is pleased to announce the selection of the winners of the second set of IVI-SKBS Park MahnHoon awards. The award recipients are Profs. Andrew Pollard and Sarah Gilbert for their work on COVID-19 and other critical global health and emerging disease vaccines and Drs. Rino Rappuoli and Mariagrazia Pizza for their development of new, more scientific approaches to the development of all vaccines,” said Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General of IVI. “These two groups of vaccine champions have spearheaded the development of vaccines against COVID-19 and meningitis, respectively, which have saved numerous lives and advanced vaccine science and global public health.”Prof. Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Oxford, led the clinical development of the Oxford/AZ COVID-19 vaccine across 3 continents, one of the first and most widely administered vaccines in the fight against the pandemic. He has conducted extensive clinical, basic and epidemiological research crucial to the understanding of the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases and has led pioneering work on meningococcal, pneumococcal, typhoid and COVID-19 vaccines which underpins global policy on immunization against these diseases.Prof. Sarah Gilbert, Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford and a co-inventor of the Oxford/AZ vaccine, was the driving force behind the creation of this novel adenoviral vectored COVID vaccine. More than 3.1 billion doses of the vaccine have been released for supply to over 180 countries, including over 580 million doses that were made available to COVAX for low- and middle-income countries, or about 31 percent of all COVAX supplies. As a leader of vaccine advocacy she is also the author of the book ‘Vaxxers: The Inside Story of the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine and the Race Against the Virus.’ Her work also focuses on the rapid transfer of vaccines into GMP manufacturing and first in human trials as part of efforts to accelerate the development and introduction of new vaccines.Dr. Rino Rappuoli and Dr. Mariagrazia Pizza jointly pioneered a new more scientific approach to vaccine development – “reverse vaccinology” that takes what we understand about the viral and bacterial pathogens and immune responses against them to design an optimal vaccine candidate. Using this approach they developed a new vaccine against the Type B meningococcus, a devastating infection of the nervous system that occurs most commonly in infants aged under 1 year, as well as children and adolescents. This vaccine is now licensed (Bexero) and has shown to be highly efficacious in preventing the disease. Dr. Rappuoli is now the Scientific Director of Biotecnopolo di Siena Foundation in Italy and was formerly the Chief Scientist at GSK Vaccines, His extensive contributions to vaccinology also include a molecule, CRM197, that today is the most widely used carrier for vaccines against H. influenzae, N. meningitidis and pneumococcus, and is used to vaccinate most children worldwide.Dr. Mariagrazia Pizza is former Senior Scientific Director Bacterial Vaccines at GSK. In the 1980s, she took on a project aimed at designing genetically detoxified pertussis toxin. This research led to the identification of a genetically detoxified pertussis toxin as the antigen ideal for a new vaccine for being devoid of toxicity but highly immunogenic. In 1999, she became the project leader for the identification of new Meningococcus B antigens using the ‘reverse vaccinology’ approach. This allowed the development of the MenB vaccine, which has been licensed in more than 40 countries worldwide.Dr. Christian Mandl, chair of the IVI -SK bioscience Park MahnHoon Award Selection Committee (and IVI’s Scientific Advisory Group), said, “I had the privilege of joining some 10 leading vaccine experts on the Selection Committee to evaluate the qualifications of world-renowned vaccinologists and global health leaders to single out the awardees. These awardees deserve global recognition for their exceptional contributions to vaccine research, the development and testing of novel vaccines, the discovery of breakthrough technologies, and the impact these vaccines have had on the health of people everywhere.”Dr. Hun Kim, Global R&BD President of SK bioscience, said, “Vaccine development is a task that must be carried out with the single goal of promoting the health of humanity by overcoming the fear of uncertainties and long time required. By building upon the spirit of the late Vice Chairman Park MahnHoon who made significant contributions to the global health sector, SK bioscience will continue to take the lead in developing vaccines and ensuring equitable vaccine supply in collaboration with IVI.”
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- 25 April 2023
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African Development Bank Group marks progress in gender equality with EDGE Certification
8 March, 2023AfDBA year after launching the EDGE certification(link is external) process, the African Development Bank has attained Level 1 Assess, in recognition of its commitment to monitoring, benchmarking and achieving gender parity in its workforce.The Bank began the EDGE certification process in 2022. EDGE is the world\'s leading certification that measures gender equity in the workplace.The Bank is now EDGE certified at Level 1 (EDGE Assess), which recognizes the organization’s commitment to an impactful action plan to accelerate its progress across the 4 pillars of the EDGE Global Standards - representation, pay equity, policies and practices, and inclusiveness of culture.“This is a new milestone in the Bank’s journey to join, under the leadership of our President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, a global community of organizations committed to giving equal opportunities to men and women in the workplace,”said African Development Bank Acting Vice President Jacques Edjangue.“Significant progress has been made on the Learning & Development front to empower our women in the workplace, ”the Acting VP added.EDGE noted in a statement(link is external) on its website that the Bank, “by working to close gaps identified during the assessment, will continue to expand its efforts towards creating a more gender-equal workplace.”The African Development Bank remains committed to pursuing initiatives and procedures that promote gender equality within its institutions. In 2019, 83% of the executive workforce at the African Development Bank was men. But within three years, the ratios of women at senior leadership had changed from 17% to 32%. The Bank has set a goal for reaching 50/50 gender parity across its workforce in the near future.Aniela Unguresan, Founder of EDGE Certified Foundation said: “It is with great pride that we announce the certification of the African Development Bank Group at the first EDGE Certification level, EDGE Assess. We look forward to the African Development Bank Group’s continued progress towards gender equality in the workplace as the organization works towards the next EDGE Certification level.”
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- 25 April 2023
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CAMERA WORK: Beauty of Women IV
March 3, 2023The Eye of PhotographyThe CAMERA WORK Virtual Gallery presents the fourth part of the exhibition cycle »Beauty of Women«. With 45 works by more than 20 artists from the years 1949–2018.Beauty is not only defined by ideal images, as Martin Schoeller shows perfection beyond social norms in his series »Female Bodybuilders«. A tableau of four large-format works by the ar\\st is part of the exhibition, which also devotes an entire room to the impressive career of late supermodel Tatjana Patitz.In »Beauty of Women IV,« a portrait of Mother Teresa by Yousuf Karsh and a photograph of Simone de Beauvoir by Elliott Erwitt testify to the fact that beauty, beyond appearances, is also founded in action.The exhibition also features portraits of supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Waris Dirie, Kate Moss, and Claudia Schiffer, as well as portraits of actresses such as Monica Bellucci, Audrey Hepburn, and Angelina Jolie.It deals with various aspects of beauty and can only be visited at any time of the day in the gallery virtual room.CAMERA WORK Virtual Gallery⊙ camerawork.de/en/virtualgallery/CAMERA WORK Gallery⊙ Kantstrasse 149⊙ 10623 Berlin, Germany⊙ Tuesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.⊙ www.camerawork.de/en
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- 9 March 2023
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Washington DC to host World Culture Festival 2023
March 4, 2023Daily Excelsior(Photo taken at the World Cultural Festival in New Delhi in 2016)Washington, Mar 4: The fourth World Cultural Festival will be held in the American capital here this fall, organiser Art of Living has announced.Several world leaders and hundreds and thousands of people from across the globe are expected to attend the three-day mega event from September 29 to October 1 at the historic National Mall.The previous three editions of the World Culture Festival were held in Bengaluru (2006), Berlin (2011) and New Delhi (2016).“In a world which is so polarised, divided and despondent, it is time for us to come together in celebration, where we appreciate the rich diversity on this planet,” Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said. “It is high time we recognise we are a one world family,” he added.The event’s reception committee is being led by Ban Ki-moon, who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations, and includes multiple current and former heads of states, members of the United States Congress and a range of spiritual and faith leaders, according to a media release.“We are incredibly excited and proud to announce that Washington DC will host the fourth World Culture Festival in 2023. From September 29 to October 1, we will come together on the National Mall for a celebration of culture, diversity and unity,” District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a video message.“We will come together on the National Mall for a celebration of culture, diversity and unity. As Washington DC welcomes the world, we invite all global citizens to join us in honour of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s message that diversity is the beauty of creation,” she added.“We certainly know that to be true in Washington DC. It is the foundation of our DC values and the reason we are so excited to host the World Culture Festival,” Bowser said.In a statement, Art of Living said visitors from every corner of the globe will travel to the US capital to be a part of the festival, honouring the rich human diversity expressed through music, art, food, dance, meditation and inspirational talks.The landmark event will bring the world together in celebration to uplift the human spirit and reaffirm a collective commitment to peace and unity, it said.Thousands of diverse artistes have already committed to participate and announcements about the festival’s programming schedule will be made later this spring, it added.
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- 9 March 2023
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Desert Flower activist and author Waris Dirie as guest in Donut City
Feb 21, 2023MeinBezirk.atWaris Dirie looks back on a moving life. It\'s a mature film, because her award-winning autobiography also became a success on the screen. Now Dirie\'s coming to the Donut town.WHEN/DONAUSTlTY. Desert flowers are characterized by their resilience. I think the Somali-Austrian author, Waris Dirie, has chosen this title for her most famous work. This autobiography is about Dirie\'s life. She grew up as a nomadic girl in the desert of Somalia.At the age of 13, she fled to Mogadishu in the face of forced marriage with a much older man. Afterwards, she led her way to London, where she was discovered in a shop by a photographer and became a successful model. Dirie used her success as an activist against female genital mutilation.On March 5th, Dirie will be a guestFrom 1997 to 2003, she was the UN Special Envoy against the circumcision of female genital mutilation. In 2002, she founded her own organization, the Desert Flower Foundation.Now, Waris Dirie\'s coming to visit Donut. Sunday, five. March, she\'s coming to the Cineplexx Danube Center, where the footage of her bestseller is shown. The event will be hosted by the EVP district party wife Gudrun Kugler and her deputy, Christian Klar. Let\'s start at 13.Registration is by mail to office@gudrunkugler.Maybe.
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- 9 March 2023
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GAVI Vaccine Alliance: Pate’s appointment boosts Nigeria’s chances of vaccines, says FG
Feb 20, 2023The GauaridanMinister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has said that the appointment of the former Minister of State for Health, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GAVI Vaccine Alliance, has improved and brightened Nigeria’s chances of commencing local production of vaccines.He said that Pate’s appointment was a validation of confidence the global community has on Nigerian health professionals “because entrusting such a position to Nigeria is also saying something about us”, he said.Speaking at a dinner organized by Friends of Prof Pate to celebrate his appointment as the new GAVI Chief Executive on Saturday evening in Abuja, the Minister, who noted that Nigeria wants to develop a strategy for vaccine production as a matter of urgency, called for a multi-focal approach to vaccine production as a matter of global health security.Ehanire stated that vaccine manufacturing is a global security, stressing that “we do not know what will happen in any place. But if you look at the impact of the Russia/ Ukraine war, a lot of fall out was observed even in faraway countries as grains, gasoline petroleum products became in short supply, showing that what happens in one remote place can affect others, and if you are producing vaccine in one part of the world if anything happens to that particular continent, the rest of the world will suffer.”Adding: “I had always advocated for a multi-focal approach to vaccine production as a matter of global health security issue. Apart from the Ministry of Health, many people here will recall the agony we suffered when the COVID-19 vaccines were first released.“Those who produced these vaccines were taking care of themselves without leaving any room for Africa and that was when the President declared vaccine manufacturing a national security item. we have been at that, preparing and working to indigenously have a vaccine production site“We have troubled NAFDAC until we got the WHO Maturity Level 3 which allows us to regulate vaccine manufacturing in Nigeria, and we are gunning for Maturity Level 4. So, with Prof Pate in charge of GAVI Vaccine Alliance, our chances are again improved to support the capacity to the manufacturing of vaccine.”The Minister urged Prof Pate to support Nigeria’s ambition to commence local production of vaccines.Ehanire, who described Pate’s appointment as well-deserved, said: “I received the news of the appointment of Prof Pate with great excitement. He is someone I have so much respect for and he deserves that position.“He is the first Nigerian and also the first African to hold that position. It was a validation because entrusting such a position to Nigeria is also saying something about us. Not long ago, we got very good news that we are getting to be in the good books of the Global Fund because not too long ago, they gave us a very generous grant, the largest grant they have ever given to any country. These are expressions of faith and confidence in all the processes that this country has put in place, and also a recognition of the new image of the country.“This is a very glorious appointment; we celebrate it. We have seen all the places Prof Pate has been to, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Ministry of Health, the World Bank, Harvard University and now, the GAVI. That is a string of achievements.“Before then, he had his footprints at the Ahmadu Bello University and Balewa College. GAVI is lucky to have Prof Pate as its CEO, with his pedigree in almost every areas of public health. GAVI is very lucky to have you. We will support you, it is a declaration of more confidence in our country”, the Minister said.Also speaking, Minister of State for Health, Hon. Ekumankama Joseph Nkama said that Pate was appointed the Chief executive of GAVI based on his accomplishments, adding that Pate will make the nation proud in his new office.On his part, the Chairman of, the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, stated that Prof Pate has the intellect, capacity and ability to achieve, adding that Nigeria has an opportunity to support the celebrant to succeed so that he can also support routine immunization and primary healthcare in the country.The Board of GAVI approved the appointment of Pate as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Vaccine Alliance following an extensive recruitment process.He was selected following a year-long recruitment process personally overseen by the Chairman of the GAVI Board, Prof José Manuel Barroso. Pate is expected to resume the role on August 3, thereby replacing Dr Seth Berkley, who will be stepping down after 12 years.
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Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate to become next CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
Feb 13, 2023Gavi, the Vaccine AllianceGavi, the Vaccine Alliance announced today the appointment of Dr Muhammad Ali Pate as its new Chief Executive Officer. Dr Pate will be officially starting as CEO on 3 August 2023. A proven global health leader with experience at the national and international levels, Dr Pate will lead Gavi as it continues its work to support routine immunisation, outbreak response and COVID-19 vaccinations around the world.Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, who was selected following a yearlong recruitment process personally overseen by the Chair of the Gavi Board, Professor José Manuel Barroso, will bring a wealth of experience to the role. A medical doctor trained in both internal medicine and infectious diseases, with an MBA from Duke University in the United States, Dr Pate served as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health between 2011 and 2013. In this role, he led a flagship initiative to revive routine vaccinations and primary health care, chaired a presidential taskforce to eradicate polio and introduced new vaccines into the country.While serving as Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population of the World Bank and Director of the Global Financing Facility at the World Bank between 2019 and 2021, he led the Bank’s US$ 18 billion COVID-19 global health response and represented the Bank on various boards, including those of Gavi, the Global Fund, CEPI and UNAIDS. He is currently the Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership at Harvard Chan School of Public Health and has served on several health-focused boards and expert panels in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors during his career.Commenting on the appointment, Professor Barroso said: “Dr Muhammad Ali Pate stood out in a field of world-class candidates. With his knowledge and experience of both national immunization programming and international emergency response and global finance, I am confident that Gavi will continue to build on its vision and mission, as well as navigate the many challenges and opportunities we will face.”Dr Pate, whose appointment was confirmed today at an extraordinary meeting of the Gavi Board, said: “I’m deeply honoured to be joining Gavi as its incoming CEO. Gavi is one of the most impactful organisations in global health, a testament to the great work of the Alliance partners and Secretariat staff. It will be my privilege to lead it, building on the work of Dr Seth Berkley, and continue to support countries to scale up critical routine immunisation programmes, reach more zero-dose children, expand access to new vaccines, transform primary health care systems, and help fight outbreaks and future pandemics.”Sitting CEO Dr Seth Berkley has led Gavi for more than half of its existence, making it a centrepiece within the global health landscape, including recently co-establishing COVAX to serve countries during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, having so far shipped nearly 1.9 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to 146 countries. Since Dr Berkley took the helm in 2011, the Alliance has averted 11.8 million future deaths (compared to 4.5 million between 2000 and 2010); and has helped immunise more than 676 million children – more than double the 305 million children reached between 2000 and 2010.Thanks to Dr Berkley’s vision for health equity, Gavi has added a number of new vaccines to its portfolio during his tenure, including for HPV, polio, cholera and malaria, and in its current strategy cycle is focusing on reaching zero-dose children across marginalised communities. The Alliance also played an increasingly influential role in emergency response, developing vaccine stockpiles for diseases such as cholera and introducing innovative financing mechanisms to fund emergency purchase of Ebola and COVID-19 vaccines. The economic result of Gavi’s expansion of activities during his tenure has been profound, unlocking over US$ 160 billion of economic benefits compared to US$ 24 billion in its first ten years.Commenting on Dr Pate’s appointment, Dr Berkley said: “Leading Gavi and helping the Alliance to continually surpass itself in terms of saving lives, protecting children and supporting countries during global health emergencies has been the greatest honour of my career. I am proud and humbled to have been part of what the Alliance has achieved, and I am confident in its future under Muhammad’s leadership: having worked with him during his time as Minister and at the World Bank, I know he understands intimately the landscape we work in and will be uncompromising in his drive for public health equity.”Dr Berkley will continue to serve as CEO until 2 August 2023, while working with incoming CEO Dr Pate to ensure a smooth transition.
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The addresses dedicated exclusively to women to know in 2023 in Paris : Heimat club by Waris Dirie
Jan 20, 2023Vogue France“Proud Female Fitness” is the credo of Heimat by Waris Dirie. Meaning “home” in German, Heimat has teamed up with model Waris Diris to bring this brand new private fitness club to life in the former Dapper Museum dedicated to African art. Enough to highlight this link between art and sport dear to the top Somali who participated in the curation and the benevolent atmosphere of this space spread over 4 floors. Thanks to a monthly subscription system, women find themselves in this cocoon where the practice of sport is supervised by attentive coaches, more than 50 various group lessons (cardio, boxing, dance, fitness, etc.), three rooms with state-of-the-art equipment (including the Kinesis machine, one of the only two available in Paris) as well as a basement dedicated to relaxation with a jacuzzi and sauna area or even a protein smoothie bar (and cocktails for the end of the day). Most ? Scattered around the venue, works of art by African female artists are all for sale and the proceeds will go to the Waris Dirie Desert Flower Foundation which fights against excision.
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Padma Awards 2023: List of Science and Engineering Recipients Named for Civilian Awards
Jan 26, 2023KnownewsThe Government of India has announced the list of Padma Award winners for the year 2023. The Padma Awards are one of India’s highest civilian honors held annually on the eve of Republic Day. The awards are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and outstanding service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of a higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award is intended to recognize achievement in any field of activity or discipline involving an element of public service.Padma Awards, which were established in the year 1954, are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day, except for short breaks in the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.This year’s list consists of 10 names from science and technology. Shir Srinivas Varadhan is awarded the highest civilian honor Padma Vibhushan. Shri Deepak Dhar received Padma Bhushan, while eight people received Padma Shri in science and engineering.Laureates1. Padma VibhushanShri Srinivas Varadhan – Science & Technology – United States of America2. Padma BhushanShri Deepak Dhar – Science and Engineering – Maharashtra3. Padma ShriShri Khadar Valli Dudekula – Science and Engineering – KarnatakaShri Modadugu Vijay Gupta – Science and Engineering – TelanganaShri Ganesh Nagappa Krishnarajanagara – Science and Engineering – Andhra PradeshShri Arvind Kumar – Science and Engineering – Uttar Pradeshprof. (Dr.) Mahendra Pal – Science & Engineering – GujaratShri Bakshi Ram – Science and Engineering – HaryanaMs. Sujatha Ramdorai – Science and Engineering – CanadaShri Abbareddy Nageswara Rao – Science and Engineering – Andhra Pradesh
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- Sunhak Peace Prize
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Future generations refer not only to our own physical descendants
but also to all future generations to come.Since all decisions made by the current generation will either positively
or negatively affect them, we must take responsibility for our actions.
