Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: APO

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Every day, governments make decisions that affect the health and well-being of millions of people, from responding to disease outbreaks and improving maternal and child health services to planning the health workforce and investing in stronger health systems. Yet these decisions are often made using information scattered across multiple systems, making it difficult to obtain a complete and timely picture of population health.

Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa launched the Regional Health Data Hub, a new digital platform that brings together fragmented health data and transforms it into actionable intelligence for better health decision-making across the African Region.

The consequences of fragmented data are practical. Efforts to reduce maternal deaths, for instance, depend on combining information on antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric services, health workforce availability and medicine supplies, data that are often stored in separate systems. By bringing these datasets together, the Regional Health Data Hub helps decision-makers identify underserved populations, target resources where they are needed most and make more informed decisions that improve health outcomes.

The Regional Health Data Hub is a shared digital platform that supports all 47 Member States of the WHO African Region. It enables governments, public health institutions, researchers, development partners, and other stakeholders to access harmonized health information, monitor trends, compare progress and generate the evidence needed to make informed decisions. Through a secure web platform, users can access integrated data while countries retain full ownership of their information.

“No health decision in our region should be taken in the dark. Every policy, every investment and every action to improve people’s health should be guided by reliable evidence. The Regional Health Data Hub reflects our commitment to ensuring that countries have timely access to the evidence they need to anticipate challenges, direct resources where they are needed most and improve the health and well-being of their populations,” said Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

The Hub integrates information from multiple health programmes, including maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, noncommunicable diseases, infectious diseases and health systems, into a single interoperable platform. Through interactive dashboards, maps and analytical tools, it enables users to explore trends, monitor progress towards universal health coverage and generate insights that support timely, integrated and evidence-informed decision-making.

The Regional Health Data Hub complements existing national health information systems rather than replacing them. Countries retain ownership of their data while benefiting from common standards that improve interoperability, strengthen data quality and support secure information sharing. A regional governance framework under development will further promote transparency, accountability and responsible data stewardship, helping to build trust in the use of health information across the Region.

The platform also incorporates advanced analytics and artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities that support forecasting, trend analysis and evidence generation. As additional datasets, indicators and analytical tools are introduced through a phased approach, the Hub will continue to expand its ability to support proactive planning, better resource allocation and more resilient health systems across the Region.

Better data alone do not improve people’s health—better decisions do. By giving countries faster access to reliable, integrated and actionable health information, the Regional Health Data Hub will help transform data into evidence, evidence into action, and action into better health outcomes for millions of people across the African Region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO

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Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, H.E. Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, has conveyed Kenya’s condolences to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China following the loss of lives and destruction caused by devastating floods in the Xizang Autonomous Region.

Dr. Mudavadi expressed his deepest sympathies to the families who have lost loved ones and to all those affected by the disaster. He reaffirmed the solidarity of the Government and people of Kenya with the Government and people of China, and conveyed his wishes for strength, comfort and hope to all those affected.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs, Kenya.

Source: APO

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In Mali, an estimated nine out of ten women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). And for years, Sidi Haidara, a father and recognized leader in his community, believed the practice was simply part of life.

Like many people in his community in central Mali, he saw it as a tradition passed down through generations – one that should be preserved.

Today, he walks from village to village with a very different message: No tradition should come at the expense of a girl’s health, rights, or future.

His story goes beyond one man’s personal transformation. Across parts of West and Central Africa, FGM remains deeply rooted – with Mali having one of the highest rates in the region and no laws that specifically criminalize the practice. Even recently, some men in Mali have launched an all-male pro-FGM campaign on the grounds of protecting tradition.

In places where social norms are deeply entrenched, change often begins with trusted voices from within the community – voices like Haidara’s.

How UN Women and partners are shifting mindsets and empowering new anti-FGM advocates in Mali

“I used to believe that this practice was part of our traditions and needed to be preserved”, says Haidara.

Nothing suggested that he would one day become one of the people advocating for its abandonment.

His perspective began to change after taking part in training sessions, workshops, and community dialogues organized through the Men and Boys as Agents of Change project, implemented by UN Women with financial support from the Government of Germany.

As he listened to different experiences and learned about the consequences of FGM, he began questioning his beliefs – beliefs he had never challenged before. He also came to understand that lasting change cannot simply be imposed – it grows through dialogue, trust, and community ownership.

How to end FGM in Mali: Begin with listening, questioning, and conversing

“Today, I regularly organize awareness-raising sessions with families, religious leaders, young people, and women”, he explains.

Rather than telling people what to think, he encourages conversations about what it means to protect girls and challenges long-held beliefs through dialogue.

Little by little, those conversations are making a difference. “I can see change: more parents are asking questions, several families are abandoning female genital mutilation, and discussions about protecting girls have become more open.”

People can change – and so can social norms

Haidara’s journey is part of a broader movement taking place across the regions of Mopti and Gao in Mali.

With support from the Government of Germany, UN Women works alongside religious and traditional leaders, women, young people, and men like Haidara who are committed to community-driven initiatives that prevent violence against women and girls and challenge harmful social norms.

To date, 50 community initiatives have been implemented across the two regions, while eight community-dialogue platforms provide spaces for people to discuss girls’ rights, their protection, and ways to prevent gender-based violence.

For Haidara, abandoning a harmful practice is about more than leaving a tradition behind. It is about giving girls the opportunity to grow up safely, stay in school, and shape their own futures.

His journey shows that some of the most meaningful changes happen when those who once upheld harmful social norms become the people helping to transform them.

Haidara knows traditions do not change overnight. But every conversation creates an opportunity for reflection. Every family that chooses to protect its daughters helps write a different future from the one that generations before them inherited.

In Mopti and Gao, these conversations are showing that lasting change does not necessarily begin with a new law or policy. More often, it begins when communities themselves decide to imagine a different future for their girls.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women.

Source: APO

On August 27, the 10th Japan-Nigeria Special Partnership Forum (bilateral policy consultation), was held in Abuja, the capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Japanese side was represented by Ms. TAKAHASHI Misako, Director-General for African Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Nigerian side was represented by Dr. Dunoma Umar AHMED, Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

At the meeting, consultations were held about bilateral relations, including business, development cooperation, and culture and sports. The two sides also exchanged views on a range of issues, including cooperation in international fora, such as UN Security Council reform, as well as regional situations in Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Source: APO

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Speaking at the opening of the twenty-fourth Cabinet meeting, held under the theme, “Value for Money; Maximizing Fiscal Space through System Efficiency and Government Asset Security,” President Boakai acknowledged that government procurement procedures can sometimes be frustrating because of the processes involved, but stressed that the safeguard measures are necessary to protect the country’s resources and ensure that opportunities are accessible to qualified Liberians. The edition of Cabinet meetings was focus on procurement and concessions.

“Sometimes people get frustrated about all what you have to do to go through to buy this and buy that; but just imagine if these things were not in place, and even if they are in place, that people there were not implementing them, the resources you are talking about, you will not have them,” President Boakai said.

The President asserted that procurement is not merely an administrative requirement but a key instrument for strengthening accountability, promoting fairness in the marketplace, and broadening citizen participation in government business.

“When we say procurement in the sense of procurement, it helps with accountability. It helps with fair play in the market. It also helps with making sure that every citizen has access to rendering services to this country,” he stated.

The President further emphasized that participation in government should not be understood solely as securing public employment, noting that Liberians can also contribute to national development by competitively supplying goods and services to the government. 

Noted the President, “Participation in the government doesn’t mean that everybody will work with the government, but you can serve, you can provide goods and services,” he said.

He stressed that such participation must be governed by a transparent and competitive system capable of giving all qualified citizens an opportunity, rather than creating perceptions that government contracts are reserved for friends or politically connected individuals. “To do that in a competitive society, you need to have a process by which everybody can have access without going around saying, well, they give it to their friend, they have this, they have that,” President Boakai said.

The President went on to applaud members of the Cabinet for their service, noting that public officials often receive attention for their mistakes while their day-to-day efforts frequently go unrecognized.

“People wait for the mistake you make, but we’re in leadership. So we watch and listen. We want to appreciate you very much,” he told Cabinet members.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Liberia.

Source: APO

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The Ministry of Health (MOH), through its Performance-Based Financing (PBF) Program, has commenced a two-day stakeholder validation meeting on the PBF Mainstreaming Plan and Roadmap, aimed at sustaining the gains achieved through PBF and strengthening its integration within Liberia’s health system.

The meeting, taking place from August 27–28 at Olive Tree, Schefflin, Margibi County, brings together Government institutions, health facilities, County Health Teams, development partners and other stakeholders to review the evidence, lessons learned and proposed pathway for the future of PBF.

PBF has been implemented as a strategy to strengthen Government health systems, with its implementation framework embedded within existing Ministry of Health structures and processes. It is also recognized in Liberia’s National Health Plan 2021–2031 and Health Financing Plan and Strategy as an implementation strategy.

Over the years, PBF has contributed to improvements in service delivery, quality of care, accountability, facility management and performance monitoring. From 2023 to 2025, hospital quality increased from 64.5 percent to 83.3 percent, while mean PHC quality across the seven PBF county series increased from 34.0 percent to 78.2 percent. Fourteen of the 17 incentivized service indicators also increased each year during the period reviewed.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the Chief Medical Officer of Liberia, Dr. Catherine Thomas Cooper, emphasized the importance of sustaining the gains achieved through PBF as external project financing comes to an end.

«“We have to think of ways where we can sustain it using more domestic funding, or think about alternative funding for maintaining our Performance-Based Financing.”»

The mainstreaming process therefore goes beyond continuing PBF as a donor-supported project. It seeks to strengthen and institutionalize the functions that have demonstrated value and ensure that they remain integrated within Government systems and processes. This includes performance management, verification, quality improvement, accountability, facility autonomy and the use of data to drive performance.

As Liberia transitions into a new budget year, stakeholders will also consider the appropriate Government budgetary allotment and financing arrangements needed to sustain the gains achieved through PBF and support the systems that enable results-based purchasing.

The mainstreaming agenda supports the Government’s broader vision, under the leadership of Hon. Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, Minister of Health, to promote a results-oriented culture across the health sector—where resources, accountability and management are increasingly linked to measurable results for the people of Liberia.

PBF will also contribute to this longer-term vision by providing a foundation for the development of Liberia’s broader strategic purchasing architecture and the Liberia Health Equity Fund (LHEF). The intended pathway is PBF → Government Mainstreaming → LHEF, with lessons and systems developed through PBF informing the transition toward broader pooled financing and strategic purchasing.

The two-day validation meeting is expected to conclude with stakeholder agreement on the PBF Mainstreaming Plan and Roadmap, providing a practical pathway for Government ownership, sustainable financing, continued performance improvement and progressive integration into Liberia’s health financing system.

The goal is simple: protect the gains, strengthen Government systems, finance results, and build toward a stronger and more sustainable health financing system through LHEF.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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In this message, the Sovereign expresses His warmest congratulations, along with His best wishes for good health and happiness to President Sandu as well as for further progress and prosperity to the friendly Moldovan people.

On this occasion, His Majesty the King conveys His esteem for the relations rooted in friendship and cooperation between the two countries, expressing His willingness to further strengthen these ties for the benefit of both peoples.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

Source: APO

Bbaale County Member of Parliament, Hon. Charles Tebandeke has questioned the cutting of hair of prisoners asking whether the practice does not infringe on the religious freedoms and constitutional rights of inmates of some faiths.

Tebandeke raised the matter on Thursday, 27 August 2026 at a sitting chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth.  

Tebandeke said the law provides exemptions for inmates whose religious beliefs prohibit hair cutting.

He cited provisions under the Prisons Regulations which state that the hair of a female prisoner should not be cut unless recommended by a medical officer.

He added that the hair of a prisoner whose religion prohibits cutting it should not be cut without a written order from the officer in charge, issued on grounds of necessity and certified by a medical officer.

Tebandeke argued that the matter went beyond prison regulations and touched on fundamental constitutional protections.

“Article 34 of the Constitution provides for respect to humanity, dignity, human treatment, protection from torture, cruelty, degradation, among others, and these are non-negotiable rights according to Article 44,” Tebandeke said.

He called on the line minister to follow up the matter with the Uganda Prisons Service and ensure that prison authorities comply with the law and regulations governing the cutting of prisoners’ hair, particularly where exemptions are provided.

The MP also asked the Committee on Human Rights to investigate the extent of the practice across prisons and establish whether the rights of prisoners were being protected.

The Minister for Internal Affairs, Hon. Ephraim Kamuntu said they will engage the prison authorities.

However, Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi said there is no immediate need for a parliamentary investigation into the matter.

He said that if the practice has been taking place, prison authorities may have been acting under the existing regulations which instead can be reviewed.

“We will sit with the Law Reform Commission and consider your concern and if it requires an amendment, we will advise accordingly and move on,” Kafuuzi said.

However, Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi said there is no immediate need for a parliamentary investigation into the matter.

He said that if the practice has been taking place, prison authorities may have been acting under the existing regulations which instead can be reviewed.

“We will sit with the Law Reform Commission and consider your concern and if it requires an amendment, we will advise accordingly and move on,” Kafuuzi said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

The Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Robinah Nabbanja has revealed that conflicting lists of beneficiaries have delayed the compensation of traders whose businesses were destroyed following the flooding of the Nakivubo channels.

Speaking during the Prime Minister’s time on Thursday, 27 August 2026, Nabbanja said her office convened several meetings with traders and other stakeholders to establish credible lists of beneficiaries.

“We constituted a team comprising of Uganda Revenue Authority [URA], Kampala Capital City Authority [KCCA] and Kampala City Traders Association [KACITA]. This team agreed to come up with the list of beneficiaries, but each had their own list,” said Nabbanja.

She said URA submitted a list of 360 beneficiaries with KCCA and KACITA presenting 460 and 480 traders respectively.

According to the Prime Minister, the failure to harmonise these lists prevented government from releasing the compensation before the end of the 2025/2026 financial year.

“We wanted to start paying them in May but the traders petitioned the President again. As a result, the financial year in which they were to be paid ended and money was not sent to the Office of the Prime Minister because it lacked a list of beneficiaries,” Nabbanja said.

She told the House that the verification undertaken by the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) had identified 737 beneficiaries and that the compensation process now awaits guidance from President Yoweri Museveni following the traders’ petition.

Budadiri County East MP, Hon. Julius Nakiyi had who expressed concerns about the prolonged delay in compensating the affected traders.

Nakiyi said traders who had approached him wanted clarification on the whereabouts of the compensation package of Shs20 billion pledged by the President and when it would be released.

The compensation relates to losses suffered during the severe flooding of October 2025 when water from the Nakivubo drainage channel flooded arcades and commercial buildings in downtown Kampala.

Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth expressed concern that compensation exercises were repeatedly undermined by inflated or manipulated beneficiary lists. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Desire Muhoozi has faulted Soroti farmers over failure to utilise the aflatoxin removal machine.

The minister said this as she was responded Bukedea County Member of Parliament, Hon. David Okwere who said that 80 per cent of cereals being purchased by PELA commodities factory in Soroti contain aflatoxin.

Okwere said that the discovery was made during a recent visit to Soroti Industrial Park which houses PELA commodities, a factory that deals in value addition of cereals like millet and sorghum, among others. 

“What we learnt is that all the cereals which this factory is purchasing have got about 80 per cent of aflatoxins and this is a red flag that all the people in Teso Sub Region are consuming aflatoxins,” he said.

Okwere called for an intervention from the Ministry of Agriculture saying that if not mitigated, residents of Teso risk contracting cancer as a result of consuming aflatoxins.

The minister however, said that government invested in the aflatoxin removal machine in Teso sub region but it has been idle since 2018. 

“Ever since government availed the equipment according to your requirement, you have not been using it and right now the Uganda Development Corporation has taken on the responsibility to privatise it,” she said.

She called on leaders to encourage locals to utilise such equipment, once they are availed.

The Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperative (Industry), Hon. David Bahati said he will coordinate with the Agriculture Ministry and send a technical team to Soroti to establish the facts on the ground.

Aflatoxins are poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals made by certain molds (Aspergillus fungi). They grow on staple food crops like corn, peanuts, tree nuts and grains especially in warm and humid areas.

Eating contaminated food can cause severe liver damage and long-term health issues.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.