March 11, 2023 – Page 5 – Africa Newswire

March 11, 2023

Technician Sadia Kaboré calls for strengthening preventive maintenance of biomedical equipment at Bogodogo Hospital

Ouagadougou, The new senior technician in biomedical engineering, Sadia Kaboré, called on Saturday to strengthen the preventive maintenance of biomedical equipment at the Bogodogo University Hospital, in order to provide quality care to the populations.

The student in biomedical and hospital maintenance, Rimzilgdou Anne Marie Alimatou Sadia Kaboré presented on Saturday her end-of-study work for obtaining a professional license at the Higher Institute of Technology (IST, Wayalghin Campus).

She reflected on the “Contribution to the improvement of the management of the maintenance of the biomedical teams at the university hospital center of Bogodogo (Ouagadougou)”.

After three months of practical training in the said hospital, a dozen interviews with officials and documentary research, Sadia Kaboré came to the conclusion that preventive maintenance is almost non-existent there.

According to the applicant, this is due to the lack of specific training for technicians.

She also noted that between 2021 and 2022, the number of curative maintenances increased from 200 to 160.

Of the 2396 medical equipment registered in 2022 at the Bogodogo University Hospital, 1426 are in good condition (59.51%), 596 in fair condition (24.79%), 109 in dilapidated condition (4.54%) and 267 broken down (11.14%), said Sadia Kaboré.

Miss Kaboré also deplored a lack of traceability of equipment and spare parts.

As possible solutions, Sadia Kaboré suggests making the procedures for acquiring medical equipment more flexible, which according to her should not be the same as for office supplies.

Miss Kaboré also calls on patrons to make donations of equipment in accordance with the needs of the beneficiaries.

It also counts on the increase in the number of technicians, the establishment of a preventive maintenance schedule, the increase in the budget for maintenance.

For Sadia Kaboré, it will also be necessary to build a maintenance service that meets standards, to set up computer-assisted maintenance management (CMMS).

The jury chaired by Hervé Sirima, judged Miss Kaboré’s work admissible in view of her efforts and her thirst for learning. She was asked to take into account the imperfections in the finalization of her document.

Mr. Sirima gave him a score of 17.77/20 and therefore now holds a professional license in biomedical and hospital maintenance.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

March 11, 2023

Bahrain: IPU General Assembly starts Saturday at Exhibition World Bahrain

Manama – The 146th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), with the participation of Angola, opens this Saturday in one of the halls of the Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB), in Manama, capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The event, which will be attended by 1,300 parliamentarians from 178 national parliaments and 12 regional assemblies, will be focused on analysing the organisation’s strategies to combat climate change, accountability at all levels and the transformation of speeches into actions, until the 15th of this month.

Also on the agenda is the strengthening of climate legislation to reduce emissions of polluting gases and support for a transition to clean energy.

The Angolan delegation, headed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, has on the agenda, before the opening ceremony of the event, to participate in the meeting of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)’s Group, which will serve to define strategies for action of the bloc during the event.

On Friday, the day before the start of the event, the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s Group, at a strategic meeting, submitted to its members the approval of the reports of the Kigali Meeting (Rwanda), held in October 2022, the report of the executive committee, as well as the analysis of emergency points on the situation in some countries in the region and the filling of vacancies in the organisation.

The parliamentarians of the SADC Group expressed support during the meeting for Angola to host, in October this year, the 147th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IUP).

During the meeting, Angola also presented its candidacy to occupy the vacant position in the SADC Youth Group.

Regarding the support and vote of confidence of the SADC Group, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira, said it was the recognition of Angola´s role in the region.

Carolina Cerqueira said that the country has the human, material and technical conditions to host the next assembly of the IPU.

On the sidelines of the meetings of the SADC and African Geopolitical groups, on Friday Carolina Cerqueira had a meeting with a delegation from the Parliament of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), led by its Vice Speaker, Andre Mbata, to discuss the situation in the easernt region of the DRC and the state of the bilateral cooperation between the two parliaments.

The Angolan official expressed full support and solidarity for an urgent and lasting peace that will bring more stability to Central Africa, particularly in the Great Lakes sub-region, regional security and alleviate the suffering of the local populations.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the main parliamentary interlocutor of the United Nations.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

March 11, 2023

Mutorwa lauds businesses meeting government half-way

Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, has commended local businesses who have complemented government’s efforts in developing the country into a world class transport and logistics hub.

Mutorwa said this at the official opening of the Arandis B-Two Truckport on Friday, explaining that facilities of that nature are significant milestones that align with Namibia’s Transport Policy.

Situated along the B2 Highway, the truckport, measuring 440 000 square metres, is one of the several facilities that form part of the town’s envisaged Logistics Hub, aimed at relieving traffic congestion in Walvis Bay.

The facility is 100 per cent solar operated.

“The new Namibia Transport Policy will lead towards an integrated, sustainable and inclusive system; congnisant of the requirements of Namibia’s international and regional network connectivity welfare of its citizens.

I can assure you that the roles expected to be played by developments such as the Arandis B-Two Truckport in the country’s logistical corridor set-up, cannot be strongly and convincingly emphasised enough,” the minister noted.

Arandis Mayor, Risto Kapenda, at the same occasion expressed certainty that the truck port will unlock the potential investment that is vested in the town’s envisaged logistics hub.

“The Namibian Gypsum Industry should commence its commissioning in July 2023. Close to 6000 square metres, it should be able to produce more than 1 million square metres of gypsum boards every year once it enters operation, thus producing over 150 jobs,” he expressed.

Kapenda added that the Namibia Green Charcoal Production Plant, another foreign direct investment from Belgium, will be inaugurated in August this year and is expected to produce approximately 20 000 tons of charcoal and 8000 tons of briquettes per year.

The project is expected to employ around 60 people once it enters its first phase of production.

“These are but some of the several projects currently under construction or nearing completion and once completed, will attract approximately 4 860 heavy duty vehicles per annum, which will require the use of the truck port.”

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

March 11, 2023

8 dead dozens others wounded in a shooting in Johavah Witness center

The shooting rampage at a Jehovah’s Witness center in Germany left eight people dead, including the gunman, authorities said on Friday.

The shooter, identified as 35-year-old Philipp F., fired at people during a worship service in the northern city of Hamburg on Thursday evening.

The gunman was a former member of the religious community, and he apparently killed himself after police entered the building, Thomas Radszuweit, from the State Office of Criminal Investigation, told a news conference in Hamburg.

Police gave no motive for Thursday night’s attack. But they acknowledged recently receiving an anonymous tip that claimed the man identified as the shooter showed anger toward Jehovah’s Witnesses and might be psychologically unfit to own a gun.

Eight people were wounded, including a woman who was 28 weeks pregnant and lost the baby. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the death toll could rise.

Philipp F. did not have any criminal record and was the legal owner of a gun, he added.

The shooter killed four men, two women, and an unborn baby, at the Jehovah’s Witness center, according to the police. Eight others were wounded in the attack.

More than a dozen people were evacuated unharmed from the building.

Authorities have not indicated a motive for the shooting but said investigations are ongoing.

Hamburg prosecutor Ralf Peter Anders told reporters that there was no indication of a terrorist motive.

He said the investigators were currently analyzing his laptops and smartphones to uncover further information.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed sorrow for the victims. “Several members of a Jehovah’s community fell victim to a brutal act of violence last night. My thoughts are with them and their families,” he said on Twitter.

Source: Somali National News Agency

March 11, 2023

Kakamega Farmers Receive Government Subsidized Fertilizer

The National Government has sold 13 341 bags of Subsidized fertilizer to farmers across Kakamega County.

Kakamega Central Deputy County Commissioner Ngalia Ndaya said the county received 23 806 bags of subsidized fertilizer to distribute to farmers ahead of the planting season.

He noted that the government registered about 203,145 farmers in Kakamega during the Nationwide registration exercise to enlist them to benefit from the subsidy. The Government is distributing the subsidized fertilizer at Sh 3500 to registered farmers.

He urged farmers to prepare their land in readiness for the planting season.

The Fertilizer subsidy programme is part of the efforts by the government to realize food security by enhancing production.

Source: Kenya News Agency