Day: March 20, 2024

Tunis: British Ambassador to Tunisia Helen Winterton said on Tuesday her country supports Tunisia's efforts to develop its educational programmes, especially through capacity-building in English and soft skills in educational institutions. The United Kingdom aims to broaden the scope of its partnership programme over the next period to include second chance schools and vocational training centres, the ambassador said as she met Tuesday with Employment and Vocational Training Ministier Lotfi Dhieb. This in addition to supporting economic empowerment programmes, mainly through partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), The meeting helped follow up partnership programmes in employment and vocational training, reads a ministry press release. Dhieb commended partnership with the UK in all fields. He also outlined the ministry's priorities, mainly an improved employability of jobseekers among higher education and vocational training graduates. In this respect, he emphasised the importance of scaling up partnership in private entrepreneurship and support of young promoters. There is also need to increase the attractiveness of vocational training so as to attract as many drop-outs as possible and build their capacities so that they can easily integrate the national or international job market. The creation of the second chance school in the governorate of Kairouan under a partnership between Tunisia, the UK and the UNICEF, is a qualitative leap aimed to reintegrating early school drop-outs into the training system, the minister added. It is highly important to beef up language and soft skills capacities of jobseekers and coordinate action in this area, Dhieb further said. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: British Ambassador to Tunisia Helen Winterton said on Tuesday her country supports Tunisia's efforts to develop its educational programmes, especially through capacity-building in English and soft skills in educational institutions. The United Kingdom aims to broaden the scope of its partnership programme over the next period to include second chance schools and vocational training centres, the ambassador said as she met Tuesday with Employment and Vocational Training Ministier Lotfi Dhieb. This in addition to supporting economic empowerment programmes, mainly through partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), The meeting helped follow up partnership programmes in employment and vocational training, reads a ministry press release. Dhieb commended partnership with the UK in all fields. He also outlined the ministry's priorities, mainly an improved employability of jobseekers among higher education and vocational training graduates. In this respect, he emphasised the importance of scaling up partnership in private entrepreneurship and support of young promoters. There is also need to increase the attractiveness of vocational training so as to attract as many drop-outs as possible and build their capacities so that they can easily integrate the national or international job market. The creation of the second chance school in the governorate of Kairouan under a partnership between Tunisia, the UK and the UNICEF, is a qualitative leap aimed to reintegrating early school drop-outs into the training system, the minister added. It is highly important to beef up language and soft skills capacities of jobseekers and coordinate action in this area, Dhieb further said. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: The Tengandogo university hospital center carried out its first cardiac surgeries in early March on annulo-ectasiante and left ventricular aneurysm on seven patients who had to be evacuated outside, to due to the technical nature of the operations. Seven patients suffering from two cardiac pathologies, namely annulo-ectasia and left ventricular aneurysm, successfully underwent heart surgery at the Tengandogo university hospital in Ouagadougou in early March, according to a report broadcast on Wednesday by the national television of Burkina. According to specialist Dr Adama Sawadogo, these patients should be evacuated outside the country and even the sub-region taking into account the level of technicality of this operation. However, the ministry in charge of health refused this evacuation and called on local expertise, confident of its quality. Thus, the ministry decided to finance the intervention campaign for the two pathologies. 'The authorities supported us by financing most of the campa ign, the consumables, and therefore the medicines. They brought the missionaries in by covering their transport costs,' said Dr. Adama Sawadogo. 'We have completed the transfer of skills to Dr Sawadogo on valve surgery. Currently, he is very well and absolutely capable of doing a valve replacement operation with very good results,' rejoiced the specialist, Dr. Marcos Zanobini. For Dr Sawadogo, we can now dream of a rapid heart transplant in Burkina Faso Source: Burkina Information Agency

_: As part of finding a solution to the educational offer in a context of security crisis, the Ministry in charge of National Education has undertaken the construction of prefabricated classes. A field visit was carried out on Wednesday March 13, 2024 in two establishments benefiting from these infrastructures in the city of Dédougou, for an observation. In the Boucle du Mouhoun region, several establishments benefit from prefabricated classes which absorb the deficit. A field visit was carried out on Wednesday March 13, 2024 in two establishments benefiting from these infrastructures in the city of Dédougou, for an observation. It is a set of four classrooms which proudly sit at the Lycée communal and the CEG of the Amitié schools in Dédougou. These prefabricated classrooms, with an architecture that attracts any visitor, increase the reception capacities of these establishments and constitute a source of pride for those responsible. 'We have benefited from beautiful, comfortable classrooms which reliev e the problem of rooms, especially since the establishment welcomes other displaced establishments,' indicated the Principal of the Dédougou municipal high school, Ousmane Ouédraogo. For the director of the CEG of Amitié schools, Esther Coulibaly, she welcomed the construction of these classrooms in her establishment. 'These prefabricated rooms are welcome because they will solve school infrastructure problems. These are classrooms that are pretty and offer good comfort,' she explained. According to the construction teams, there is some work, namely electrification, equipment and some touch-ups to be done before the official handover of the keys to the establishments. It should be noted that the CEG of friendship schools suffers from a lack of electricity, hence the plea of its director for a connection to the SONABEL network. Source: Burkina Information Agency

_: As part of finding a solution to the educational offer in a context of security crisis, the Ministry in charge of National Education has undertaken the construction of prefabricated classes. A field visit was carried out on Wednesday March 13, 2024 in two establishments benefiting from these infrastructures in the city of Dédougou, for an observation. In the Boucle du Mouhoun region, several establishments benefit from prefabricated classes which absorb the deficit. A field visit was carried out on Wednesday March 13, 2024 in two establishments benefiting from these infrastructures in the city of Dédougou, for an observation. It is a set of four classrooms which proudly sit at the Lycée communal and the CEG of the Amitié schools in Dédougou. These prefabricated classrooms, with an architecture that attracts any visitor, increase the reception capacities of these establishments and constitute a source of pride for those responsible. 'We have benefited from beautiful, comfortable classrooms which reliev e the problem of rooms, especially since the establishment welcomes other displaced establishments,' indicated the Principal of the Dédougou municipal high school, Ousmane Ouédraogo. For the director of the CEG of Amitié schools, Esther Coulibaly, she welcomed the construction of these classrooms in her establishment. 'These prefabricated rooms are welcome because they will solve school infrastructure problems. These are classrooms that are pretty and offer good comfort,' she explained. According to the construction teams, there is some work, namely electrification, equipment and some touch-ups to be done before the official handover of the keys to the establishments. It should be noted that the CEG of friendship schools suffers from a lack of electricity, hence the plea of its director for a connection to the SONABEL network. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: Two calls for applications will be launched in April and September for the granting of subsidies to economic operators operating in the solar energy sector as part of the Regional Access to Energy project. Off-grid electricity (ROGEAP), we learned. In Lomé, Togo, where the 2nd Information and Awareness Workshop on the implementation activities by ECOWAS and BOAD as part of the ROGEAP project was held on March 12 and 13, 2024, PFM officials ( Project Fund Manager) in charge of managing project funds informed that calls for applications will take place in the 19 member countries of the project. The Fund Manager (PFM) project assists ECOWAS in the implementation of the project for SMEs which are in the sector covered by the project, that is to say in the field of Solar Energy. Created in October 2023, the PFM launched the first phases of financing. Out of more than 1000 applications, 205 were selected, including 39 projects supported by women. 'We quickly outlined the advantages of the 19 countri es in order to be able to develop their off-grid electrification sector through SMEs with especially the growth of the activities of these SMEs in order to meet the needs of populations who will not have access to electricity. off-grid electricity by 2030,' reassures Niyibizi MBanzabigwi, PFM team leader Among the 19 countries in the project, 11 are eligible, access to PFM financing sources, 'For countries which are not eligible, there will above all be the granting of credit lines for commercial banks so that they can support the private sector for the growth of SMEs or other local businesses in order to make materials or off-grid solar equipment available for populations who will not have access to off-grid electricity by 2023,' said specified Niyibizi MBanzabigwi, PFM team leader Two calls for applications will be opened in April and September 2024 in the 19 member countries of the project in order to support and promote initiatives aimed at accelerating population access to off-grid Energy. The planned grant amounts vary between 25,000 to 250,000 US Dollars (15 to 150 million FCFA). The regional off-grid electricity access project (ROGEAP) established by ECOWAS in partnership with the West African Development Bank (BOAD) officially started its activities in April 2022. The project was launched at the regional level in October 2023 in Praia in Cape Verde with the objective of increasing ease of access to electricity in the 19 countries of the ECOWAS region and the Sahel using modern solar technology and autonomy through a harmonized regional approach. Benin has already hosted the National workshop to raise awareness and build the capacity of stakeholders on regional standards for off-grid solar photovoltaic products. Source: Burkina Information Agency

_: The healthcare staff of the Boussé health district benefited from March 5 to 7, 2024, from capacity building on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases, the main ones being cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease. Organized by the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene in collaboration with the NGO PATH, this activity which takes place from March 5 to 7, 2024, is part of the implementation of WHOPEN, a recommended strategy by the WHO to facilitate the management of non-communicable diseases in peripheral health facilities. According to the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, one in four people suffer from a non-communicable disease and they are the cause of seven (07) so-called premature deaths out of ten (10) worldwide. . In Burkina Faso, they also constitute a challenge for the health system. Also, the country's health authorities have initiated the application of WHOPEN from the CSPS level in order to bring the opportunities for treating these diseases closer to the populations. For the facilitator, Dr Sibiri Kaboré, this approach aims to reduce premature mortality due to NCDs by a third, thus promoting the well-being of populations. 'The Boussé workshop will consist of strengthening the capacities of local health structures in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases, the main ones of which are cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic pulmonary diseases,' he said. The management team, midwives and head nurses of the district revisited their practices in light of the evolution of knowledge on these pathologies through modules on health education, advice on behavior health, epidemiology and diagnosis. But also on aspects such as the diabetes management protocol and peripheral arterial hypertension. They also carried out practical exercises measuring blood pressure, capillary blood glucose and risk assessment. It should be noted that each CSPS benefited from an allocation consisting of a blood pressure moni tor, a glucometer and strips. The head doctor of the health district, Adeline Salou/Dabiré, expressed her gratitude to the authorities of her ministry and to the partners for the choice made on her district in this pilot phase of the project. She also praised the relevance of this approach, the application of which will provide relief to patients located in remote locations. 'They will have the possibility of being monitored on site, something which will help to reduce the occurrence of possible complications,' she added. Adeline Salou/Dabiré invited them to share knowledge with their colleagues, upon their return to the post. Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: Participants in the international conference titled 'Building Bridges Between Islamic Sects', organized by the Muslim World League in Mecca Al-Mukarramah, highlighted the importance of consolidating ties between peoples of the Islamic Nation and destroying calls for division, sowing discord and distorting the image of Islam and Muslims. Secretary General of the Association of Islamic Universities, Dr. Sami Al-Sharif, explained that the conference comes at an important time, noting that the theme of the conference was chosen because the Islamic world is going through serious challenges due to distortion of the image of Islam and Muslims. He stressed that this image requires establishing bridges with the West and with others to correct the image of Muslims, highlighting the efforts undertaken by the Muslim World League represented in numerous initiatives aimed at establishing bridges of cooperation and understanding between East and West. He said this conference is important because it brings to gether sects of different Islamic principles. It aims to return to the truth and establish real bridges to present the right image of Islam, created by God, which worships a single Lord, believes in a single Prophet, reads a single Quran and turns to a single Qiblah. According to him, there must be a single position and a unification of ideas and visions to face the danger. Secretary General of the Central Ahl al-Hadith Society in Pakistan and member of the Pakistani Senate, Dr. Abdul Karim Bakhsh, confirmed that the conference was taking place at an important time and that the Islamic nation was in dire need of unity in the ranks Islamic. He expressed his thanks to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for organizing this conference next to the Holy House of God, during which he discussed several reasons for the existing differences between Islamic sects and put forward a number of suggestions to resolve these differences, at the same time emphasizing the urgent need to unify the Islamic ranks at t he present time. For his part, Secretary General of the Imam Al-Khoei House of Knowledge in Najaf, Jawad Al-Khoei, said that this occasion is in accordance with the honor of the time of the holy month of Ramadan and the sanctity of the place because, he will say, Mecca is a very important factor in uniting hearts and uniting Muslims. He said: 'we are, thanks to Almighty God, the foundations of our religion, one and we all share monotheism, prophecy and the two testimonies'. He praised the pioneering role played by the Muslim World League in the past and present and its constant efforts to bring together and unite Muslim scholars, especially in the current difficult times, where Muslims have to come before the world and demonstrate their strength, unity and cohesion to be the best nation ever created for its people. In turn, a member of the Council of Muslim Elders, Ali Muhammad Al-Amin, stressed that these circumstances arose with the aim of further uniting the word of the nation and solidarity among them selves to confront the conspiracies that contribute to sow division among the people. The international conference also examined 'Building Bridges Between Islamic Sects' through its sessions titled 'Practical Initiatives to Bridging Views of Sect Followers,' organized by the Muslim World League. The session was chaired by the President of Alexandria University of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr. Abdulaziz Qansuh. President of Thailand's Pattani University, Dr. Ismail Lutfi Javakia, explained that the difference between the nation's scholars has existed since the days of the Companions and Salaf and is part of human nature. Dr. Javakia emphasized that all sects can welcome Islamic law and its provisions because common sense is compatible with methodology and moderation. He noted the importance of the unity of the nation which opens the doors of cooperation and mercy, highlighting what characterizes the country of the Two Holy Mosques in terms of moderation in place and approach by uniting the ranks of the I slamic nation, including this conference and its results of charters and recommendations. The Secretary General of the Islamic Summit in Lebanon, the Secretary General of the National Committee for Islamic-Christian Dialogue and the Secretary General of the Arab Team for Islamic-Christian Dialogue in Lebanon, Dr. Muhammad bin Nimr Al-Sammak, noted the practical steps taken by the Muslim World League to bring together the unity of Muslims with the aim of creating an accommodating culture that respects pluralism and diversity in society. Meanwhile, His Excellency the Under-Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for Economic Affairs in Uganda, Dr. Ahmed Kawesa Ssengendu, stressed that solidarity among Muslims is the best way to progress, prosper and advance on the path to success. On the other hand, Executive Chairman of the Supreme Council of Philippine Scholars for Peace and Development Dr. Abdul Hannan Magarang Tagoe in his speech affirmed that Islam is a religion of peace and respect s humanity as creation of Almighty God. He continued that this diversity enriches life on Earth, because each individual has unique skills that they can use to build society and serve humanity, indicating that the diversity of talents and skills leads to complementing each other and achieving to the prosperity and progress of humanity in general. He stressed the need to respect human diversity, to work to promote a culture of respect and tolerance between peoples, to use skills to build a society where justice and peace prevail, and to recognize that every being human has an inestimable value which will contribute to creating a more humane and united world. Source: Burkina Information Agency