Author: prtimesafrica

GAUTENG, South Africa, November 1, 2023/ — As technology continues to transform and disrupt every sector, the health sector is no exception. Digital innovation is having a tremendous impact on the healthcare industry from the way individuals gain access to services, to the breakthrough development of new technology that is radically transforming diagnostic procedures.

Helping Healthcare Professionals Solve Complex Problems
Even more notable is the impact of data in healthcare and how it is helping to solve the most challenging problems in patient health and operational efficiency.
In January 2023, Harvard Business Review Analytic Services conducted a global survey (https://apo-opa.info/3sevpGc) of 757 members of the Harvard Business Review audience who work in the health care industry or in a health care-related industry and are familiar with their organization’s use of health data.

Data Accelerating Digital Transformation
The results from the report demonstrate how innovative uses of data in healthcare is helping organizations improve patient health outcomes, enable faster clinical decisions, and improve treatment and hospital workflows.
This year’s 8th Healthcare Innovation Summit Africa 2023 (https://apo-opa.info/3FFQCvJ), featuring leading experts, innovators, and stakeholders will be sharing their insights and experiences on topics like digital health, telemedicine, data analytics, and more.
The two-day summit, being hosted at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, on November 29th and 30th presents an opportunity to network with peers and potential partners, explore the Innovation Showcase, and learn how to overcome the industry specific challenges that have arisen from the rapid technological advancements.

Attendee Testimonials
At the Healthcare Innovation Summit (https://apo-opa.info/3FFQCvJ) held in 2017, CEO of Helen Joseph Hospital in Auckland Park who was in attendance shared his experience after attending the IT Summit in 2015 and why he made the decision to come back.
It was at the IT Summit that he heard about the technology available to improve healthcare management and had the opportunity to have a conversation with an industry expert about the challenges he faced with managing data.
That conversation led to the implementation of a software system that led to the overall improvement of the hospitals performance. In the areas of administration, patient data management, HR and finances. Testifying to the incredible experience, he had which led to his decision to attend the summit in 2017 he said, “When I heard about this conference this year, I decided to come back so that I can learn more about how I can improve the hospital’s efficiency.”
Similarly, Managing Director of MediSwitch, Andrew Brown shared his perspective about the impact of the Healthcare Summit, and how important it is to continue to host such events, “I thoroughly enjoyed the event, we’ve heard from speakers who are really challenging the status quo of the adoption of technology, in the healthcare market in South Africa and in broader Africa and I firmly believe that events like this brings all of those role players together and challenges each one of us to think about what we do on a day to day basis differently so that we can actually go out there and ultimately make a difference to health care in Africa.”

Key Topics to be Addressed
The summit will address key topics like:
This summit will address key topics such as:
The Healthcare Innovation Summit Africa (https://apo-opa.info/3FFQCvJ) 2023, will most benefit individuals interested in learning about the latest African healthcare trends, presented by healthcare experts, policymakers, IT decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss digital transformation.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of the pivotal event that assembles a diverse array of stakeholders dedicated to changing the face of healthcare on the African continent. Register now and secure your seat at this exclusive event.

SOURCE

IT News Africa

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 30, 2023/ — Africa’s food and agribusiness will be worth an estimated US$1 trillion by 2030, African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) President Dr Akinwumi Adesina told participants of the World Food Prize Foundation’s Norman E. Borlaug Dialogue (https://apo-opa.info/45SJK8Q) in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday.
The annual event in America’s agricultural heartland, revolved around this year’s theme of “harnessing change,” with delegates and panellists exploring innovative ideas to shore up innovation, adaptation, and diversification, and mechanisms for improving resilience, recovery from shocks, and sustainable systems to feed the world.
Several world leaders are actively bolstering food production and food security in Africa. This includes coming together for a landmark global Feed Africa summit in Dakar (the Dakar 2 Summit- https://apo-opa.info/3pcmbZA) last January.
The continent, which is home to 65% of the world’s remaining uncultivated arable land, ironically imports most of its food. African leaders are intent in ensuring that their countries are self-sufficient in food and become food exporters. There is a realisation that by 2050, the global population will reach nine billion, creating a pressing need for Africa to increase agricultural productivity to meet rising demands for food.
The African Development Bank, which is leading the charge to feed Africa, played an active part in the Borlaug Dialogue. At a session titled “From Dakar 2 to Des Moines” on Thursday, Adesina highlighted the achievements of the Dakar 2 summit, which the Bank organised in conjunction with the Senegalese government and the African Union.
Adesina explained how 34 African leaders endorsed country food and agriculture delivery compacts that produced action- and outcome-driven plans to ensure food security and unlock the continent’s full agricultural potential within five years. This is in line with the core of the Bank’s Feed Africa strategy, which it launched in 2016. Since then, he added, the strategy has supported more than 250 million people, who have benefitted from improved agriculture technologies.
According to Adesina, partners had committed over $70 billion to support the food compacts. The Bank is expected to provide $10 billion over the next five years.
The Bank head said Dakar 2 reflected the collective resolve of African leaders to ensure the continent feeds itself. One of the leaders, President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, who was at the Borlaug Dialogue, said: “As African leaders, we are all committed to self-sufficiency in food production. Today, Ethiopia, for the first time in its history, is self-sufficient in wheat production and is a wheat exporter to its neighbours.”
Zewde acknowledged that this groundbreaking achievement had been helped by the African Development Bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative. TAAT has distributed more than 100,000 tons of certified seeds of heat-tolerant wheat varieties, increasing Ethiopia’s wheat production by 1.6 million metric tons in 2023.
Further underlining the high level of African participation at the Borlaug Dialogue, Vice President Kashim Shettima of Nigeria spoke about the importance of leadership, which he said was essential to feed Africa and develop the continent. “A nation falls or rises dependent on the quality of its leadership,” he emphasised.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Nigeria’s Plateau State—speaking at a World Food Prize side event on transforming African agriculture through Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs)—also emphasised the essence of good leadership. “The time has come to deal with the elephant in the room, and that is corruption,” he said. He added: “We are serious about this, and we want investors to know that investing in Plateau State is a win-win.” Governor Mutfwang also stressed the importance of incentivising investors by reducing unnecessary administrative bottlenecks.
The African Development Bank has already committed US$853 million to public-sector initiated SAPZs and successfully mobilised financing of $661 million alongside its co-financing partners. Collectively, the partners are investing more than $1.5 billion to establish 25 agro-industrial zones and supporting ecosystems in 13 countries.
Adesina invited investors and other stakeholders to invest confidently in the African food and agribusiness sector. He said political will was strong and that results on the ground showed tremendous promise.
The African Development Bank is a regular contributor to the Borlaug Dialogue. Akinwumi Adesina who was the World Food Prize laureate in 2017, is recognised for his exceptional and innovative work in the African food system, including eliminating corruption in the fertiliser industry in Nigeria, leveraging resources for smallholder farmers, and increasing for crop and production efficiency, during his previous tenure as agriculture minister.
This year’s Borlaug laureate is Heidi Kuhn (https://apo-opa.info/3QCCNEC), recognised for her farmer-focused development model and work that revitalises farmlands, food security, livelihoods and resilience in conflicted affected regions around the world.
The African Development Bank’s initiatives to feed Africa drew strong commendation from Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, President Emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation, and the Foundation’s President, Ambassador Terry Branstad.

ABUJA, Nigeria, October 23, 2023/ — World Rugby has listed Nigeria as one of the six emerging rugby playing nations that is experiencing strong growth in the sport.
According to recent statistics released by the WR, the other nations who are doing pretty much in developing rugby include: Belgium, Singapore, Ghana and Zambia.
Nigeria, until last year, was under ban by World Rugby over governmental interference before the President, Dr Ademola Are set machinery in motion to ensure that the ban is lifted.
Since then the federation has organized two referees and coaching programs to keep the stakeholders abreast of the rules and training tactics of the game   with instructors coming from Rugby Africa and World Rugby.
The senior men national team, the Black Stallions, have also qualified for the final phase of Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification holding in Zimbabwe this weekend after finishing second behind Algeria at pre Olympic qualifiers in Mauritius.
The federation has also gone ahead to organize National Women’s Rugby Sevens tournament in Asaba, Delta State where Edo State RFC defeated All Commers to emerge the champions.
Reacting to the recognition from world body, President of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Dr Ademola Are said it is a pat on the back but stressed that there is so much to be done.
“Rugby can be as big as football in Nigeria and we want every Nigeria to play the game either male or female even as we need more support. With commendation from World rugby, it shows we are on the right path and we will continue to do the needful” he said.

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 19, 2023/ — Africa needs to rethink how it manages its natural resources to avoid adverse socio-economic consequences that could hamper sustainable development on the continent, experts said at a recent webinar organised by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org).
The call came ahead of the 2023 United Nations Conference on Climate Change scheduled for November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The global conference (COP28) presents a milestone moment when the world will evaluate its progress on the Paris Agreement.
Sustainable management of natural resources in Africa is critical to reducing environmental degradation and encouraging adaptation to climate change.
The African Development Bank organised the webinar with support from the International Resource Panel (www.ResourcePanel.org) and the World Resource Forum Secretariat. Participants shared challenges and best practices on the valuation of natural resources.
Merlyn Van Voore, Head of the International Resource Panel Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, said the world is grappling with the lack of appropriate tools and framework to ensure sustainable management of natural resources.
“There are overlaps between managing natural resources and what it means regarding climate and the sustainable development agenda,” she said.
She said the manufacture of electronics demanded attention. For instance, mobile phones at the end-of-life stage require the involvement of several actors, including manufacturers, extractives workers and companies, end users, and network providers, to manage the recycling of used phones.
Dr. Vanessa Ushie, the Acting Director of the African Development Bank’s African Natural Resource Management and Investment Center, said Africa and the world are facing a crisis of nature.
Citing the African Development Bank’s Africa Economic Outlook 2023 report, Ushie said natural resources, including renewables and ecosystem services, generate around 62% of Africa’s GDP.
“Nature is providing essential goods and vital services, and these are not just economic values but ecological, biophysical and environmental values as well. Without fully appreciating these services, we tend to underestimate the value of natural capital,” Ushie said.
Dr. Hans Bruyninckx, a former executive director of the European Environment Agency, said sustainable resource management should be elevated in Africa and in economies worldwide.
“This is important for everybody on this planet given the deeply unequal distribution of costs and benefits of how we do that today, particularly in an African context.”
Historically, Bruyninckx said Africa has been an exporter of resources, but in a deeply unsustainable way.  He said going forward, the continent is expected to play a significant role in the energy transition and information technology that the world relies on for smart solutions. But even more so for its social development and well-being of the people.

SOURCE

African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, October 8, 2023/ — Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi has been at the forefront of a series of industry-advancing developments in the country. Under his leadership, the country has seen noteworthy success across its energy sector, with a strong slate of foreign companies driving several large-scale projects in close collaboration with the National Oil Company Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH). Under efforts to drive the southern African region into a new era of security, President Nyusi continues to showcase resilience and a commitment to a just and inclusive energy transition in Africa.

In line with the event mandate to make energy poverty history by 2030, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) is proud to announce that President Nyusi will once again address delegates at the African Energy Week (AEW) conference in Cape Town. Taking place from October 16-20, President Nyusi’s address marks his return to this highly important event. President Nyusi joins regional Presidents in Cape Town to discuss the pathway towards a sustainable and secure energy future in Africa, including Senegalese President Macky Sall; Namibian President Hage Geingob; Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni; and Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Mozambique stands at the intersection of Africa’s energy security and transition agenda, serving as a strong example of how natural gas can accelerate both accessibility and sustainability goals. The country already represents a major green energy producer, with projects such as the 2,075 MW Cabora Bassa Hydropower project providing power to the regional community. In tandem with renewable expansion plans – the country is targeting a wave of solar, hydro and power investments – Mozambique is advancing its oil and gas developments with the aim of electrifying and growing the southern African economy.

The country has been monetizing onshore gas from the Pande and Temane fields for several years, with South Africa’s Sasol importing via the ROMPCO pipeline. Offshore, major projects are making headway, all of which are poised to transform the country. These include the $20 billion TotalEnergies-led Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), with a capacity of 43 million tons per annum (mtpa); the ExxonMobil-led Rovuma Area 4 LNG Trains 1 & 2, with a capacity of 18 mtpa; and the Eni-led Coral Sul Floating LNG project, with a capacity of 3.4 mtpa. Coral Sul achieved first LNG export in late 2022, marking a major milestone for the country.

These billion-dollar initiatives have showcased the potential for large-scale offshore investments, and with most of the country’s resources largely untapped, opportunities for E&P players remain prevalent. Mozambique’s proven natural gas resources are measured at 100 trillion cubic feet (tcf), with proven plays across both onshore and offshore acreage. Other energy companies such as Galp, Shell, Kogas and more are active in the country, but opportunities continue to grow for both regional and international firms. On the oil side, the untapped oil-rich basins of Angoche and Zambezi have enticed the participation of players such as Eni, Sasol, Delonex Energy and ExxonMobil, and yet further opportunities lie awaiting investment. Strategically located in close proximity to high-demand regional markets as well as international consumers, the country’s gas resources will remain of central value for years to come.

President Nyusi believes that Mozambican energy will be instrumental for making energy poverty history in southern Africa. Speaking during last year’s edition of the conference, President Nyusi stated that, “the suffocation that Africa is facing is not due to a lack of resources. Africa is home to 850 tcf of gas in addition to other resources which can play an important role in addressing energy poverty. It is critical to continue reforming the regulatory environment in order to attract more investment.”

“President Nyusi has been at the helm of some of Africa’s biggest natural gas developments,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “While faced with challenges regarding project developments, President Nyusi has shown dedication to engaging with both foreign companies and local communities under efforts to advance energy projects and unlock the full potential of Mozambique’s offshore gas resources. As Africa moves to advance a just and inclusive energy transition, Mozambique’s resources and leaders such as President Nyusi will be of strategic importance.”

AEW 2023 features the most comprehensive lineup of African energy and petroleum ministers as well as Presidents, all of whom have joined the conference with the objective of alleviating energy poverty and industrializing the continent. Centered on signing deals and advancing dialogue around Africa’s position in global energy affairs, AEW 2023 serves as a form of prelude to COP28 discussions about Africa’s energy transition. Leading this dialogue will be President Nyusi among other regional government heads. Join the AEW 2023 conference and take part in the discussions about Africa’s energy renaissance.

 

About Africa Energy Week:
AEW is the AEC’s annual conference, exhibition and networking event. AEW 2023 will unite African energy policymakers and stakeholders with global investors to discuss and maximize opportunities within the continent’s entire energy industry. For more information about AEW 2023, visit www.AECWeek.com.