Category: Africa

Source: APO – Report:

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The Ministry of Health has received emergency health kits from the World Health Organization (WHO) valued at approximately KSh 10 million to support Kenya’s response to the ongoing March–April–May (MAM) long rains and flooding affecting several parts of the country.

The donation was received on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, by Secretary Administration Mr Adan Halakhe from WHO Kenya Acting Representative Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo during a handover ceremony held at Afya House, Nairobi.

In his remarks, Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale expressed appreciation to WHO for the timely support, noting that the contribution will strengthen Kenya’s capacity to respond to public health risks associated with flooding.

The CS said the emergency kits, which contain essential medicines, medical supplies and life-saving equipment, will support frontline health workers in providing critical care, managing disease outbreaks and maintaining essential health services in affected areas.

He noted that the ongoing long rains have led to flooding in several counties, resulting in displacement of families, disruption of services and increased risk of disease outbreaks.

The Cabinet Secretary reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of Kenyans, noting that the Ministry, working closely with county governments and partners, has activated emergency preparedness and response mechanisms to ensure communities at risk receive timely health services.

These efforts include strengthening disease surveillance, supporting rapid response teams, ensuring the availability of essential medicines and enhancing public awareness on preventive measures during the rainy season.

Members of the public have also been urged to remain vigilant by maintaining proper hygiene, using safe water, sleeping under treated mosquito nets and seeking early medical care when experiencing symptoms of illness.

Speaking during the handover, WHO Kenya Acting Representative Dr Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo expressed condolences to families affected by the floods and reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s response efforts.

She noted that flooding across several counties has disrupted access to safe water, sanitation and essential health services, increasing the risk of diseases such as cholera and malaria.

The emergency supplies handed over include cholera case management kits, rapid diagnostic and investigation kits, water treatment supplies and trauma kits expected to support health services for approximately 5,000 people in the most affected areas.

The event was attended by Director of Public Health Dr Stephen Muleshe, WHO officials and senior Ministry of Health officials.

– on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Source: APO – Report:

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Creatives following the proceedings of the House on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 from the public gallery burst into jubilation following Parliament’s approval of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The pent-up happiness followed a long wait by the creatives for the Bill that among others, directs that originators of creative works including musicians and authors, receive better remuneration for their productions. Several others who could not be accommodated in the gallery patiently waited outside the precincts of Parliament, often checking their phones for updates of the proceedings.

The House, chaired by Speaker Anita Among, adopted an amendment proposed by Hon. David Kabanda (NRM, Kasambya County) that gives the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs the authority to prescribe procedures for collecting, distributing and receiving royalties and other entitlements from the use of copyright or neighbouring rights, in consultation with the Registrar General of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau. The Bill further stipulates that an equitable remuneration be paid to performers and producers if a sound recording or audio-visual fixation is published for commercial advertisement purposes or used for broadcasting or public performances.

“The remuneration shall be paid through a payment system established under the National Payment Systems Act. The Registrar shall monitor the use of a sound recording or audio-visual fixation for commercial advertisement purposes, broadcasting or other communication to the public, and send periodic reports to the minister,” Kabanda proposed. 

He added that the provision will streamline payments to creatives for their copyrighted works.The function of collecting societies has also been expanded to include the mandate to collect and pay royalties to its members or the owner of a copyright, a move aimed at promoting equitable remuneration for content creators.

The Bill also provides that the Registrar shall not issue an order or notice for blocking, taking down or obstructing of infringing content unless the owner of the copyright work has a certificate of registration as proof of ownership.

The Attorney General, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, guided that registered copyrights will offer effective legal protection for creatives, including recalling infringing content.

“Once a creative produces work, they have a right to that work. But for one to benefit from the protections provided by the law, you must register a copyright. It will be difficult to tell someone that they are infringing your rights when they did not know they were your works,” said Kiryowa Kiwanuka.

The new law introduces stricter penalties for people who publish, broadcast, distribute or reproduce work without the authorisation of or license from the rights owner or his or her agent.

Such people, upon conviction, could face a jail sentence of up to 10 years, or be caused to pay up to 2,500 currency points (Shs50 million), or receive both punishments in a sentence by a judge of the Commercial Court. For a person found selling or buying any apparatus, knowing that it is to be used for making infringing copies of work, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding 2,000 currency points (Shs40 million) or imprisonment not exceeding seven years or both.

A new concept of orphan works has also been introduced by Bill, which are works protected by copyright but whose author or copyright owner cannot be identified or found.

“The Minister shall not license a person to exploit orphan works unless the applicant has demonstrated to the Minister that the author of the work cannot be found. A person licensed to exploit orphan works shall pay an annual license fee determined by the Minister by regulations,” reads the Bill in part.

The Bill also checks any person illegally operating as a collecting society by prescribing upon conviction, a fine not exceeding five thousand currency points (Shs100 million) or imprisonment to a term not exceeding 10 years or both.

It further stipulates that where a person is licensed to exploit orphan works, he or she shall be entitled to the economic rights of the author but where, before the expiration of the license, the identity of the author is known, the copyright shall revert to the author.

Literary works including novels, stage directions or plays and encyclopedias will now be protected under the new law, in a bid to domesticate copyright treaties including the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886).

“Further, works such as translations, adaptations, and expressions of folklore are explicitly recognised as derivative works, ensuring protection for traditional knowledge as its own form of intellectual property aside from copyright,” the Bill further reads.

In a report of the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the chairperson, Hon. Stephen Baka Mugabi, noted that the Bill does not establish a dynamic framework for managing content created with artificial intelligence, and recommended that intellectual property laws are amended to cater for the emerging technology in the field of copyright.

“As Al becomes deeply integrated into the creative field, the distinction between human-created works and machine-generated ones is becoming increasingly important yet copyright laws are currently designed for human creatives. Without forward-looking provisions, legislation may struggle to address the complexities of emerging technologies,” Mugabi said.

The Bill, first introduced as a Private Member’s Bill by Hon. Hillary Kiyaga (NUP, Mawokota County North), was later taken up by government under the auspices of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

Hon. Norbert Mao, the justice minister moved the Bill for Second Reading wherein debate ensued, with Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, moving the Bill for Third Reading before the House passed it.

The Bill now awaits presidential assent before it becomes legally binding.

– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO – Report:

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Uganda’s ambition to transform Primary Health Care through resilient community health systems entered a decisive phase on 4 March 2026, when a cohort of 348 newly trained Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) was passed out in a high-profile ceremony held in Mbarara City and Rukungiri District. 

The passing out event marked not only the deployment of a new cohort of frontline health workers but also a tangible milestone in the country’s long journey to fortify Primary Health Care (PHC) and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 

The latest deployment brings the national total of trained CHEWs to 5,616, with the Ministry of Health targeting 21,432 CHEWs by 2029 to ensure full parish-level coverage. Mbarara City and District produced 138 graduates, while Rukungiri District added 210. Each CHEW completed six months of competency-based training at a cost of approximately USD 2,100-2,200 per trainee. 

CHEWs are now deployed in 40 districts, with expansion planned to 30 more by August 2026. WHO has pledged sustained technical support, from programme design and evaluation to role clarity, emergency preparedness, and supervision frameworks, to ensure Uganda’s community health workforce thrives.

The ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, and attended by a high-level delegation including the WHO Representative, Dr Kasonde Mwinga; diplomats; national and local leaders; and members of the public. Their presence underscored the growing political commitment and international support for Uganda’s CHEW programme, an initiative years in the making and designed to address longstanding gaps within the existing community health system, which had previously been served only by Village Health Teams (VHTs) introduced in 2001.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Aceng hailed CHEWs as the “foundation of a resilient PHC system in communities, where most health challenges originate and can be resolved”, urging them to champion sanitation, hygiene, preventive health behaviours, and timely linkage and referral of community members to care; among other integrated services being offered by the CHEWs.

The newly deployed CHEWs join a programme already showing early success. Since the 2022 pilot in Mayuge, Lira, and Lira City, the CHEW model has contributed to improved immunisation coverage, antenatal care attendance, facility-based deliveries, and early detection of malnutrition compared to districts where the scale-up has not reached.  These gains reflect the programme’s implementation science approach, in which district teams, researchers, and stakeholders continually refine strategies based on real-time data.

In her remarks, Dr Mwinga reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to strengthening Uganda’s Primary Health Care architecture. She underscored the role of CHEWs in expanding promotive, preventive, and basic curative services to underserved populations, thereby reducing inequities and improving health outcomes. She further emphasised that the CHEW model aligns with WHO’s global health workforce strategies, noting that Uganda’s persistent distribution gaps make community-level cadres essential to resilient health systems.

However, the CHEWs’ full integration into district and national structures remains a work in progress. The WHO called for stronger coordination platforms, better monitoring tools, and sustainable government-led financing models across all districts.

As the 348 graduates take their posts, they bring renewed hope that Uganda’s long-term vision for a strong, people-centred PHC system is becoming a reality.

– on behalf of World Health Organization – Uganda.

Source: APO – Report:

• Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health continues to build cancer care capacity by providing around 269 Scholarships of One-year Clinical Training in many oncology sub- specialties, and One year and Two year Post Graduate Diploma and Master Degree of Cancer and Clinical Oncology, Medical Oncology and Pain Management.
• Merck Foundation is making history in Africa by training the First African Oncologists and First Cancer Care Teams in Countries such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad, Malawi, Niger, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.
• Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO together with African First Ladies recently released “Ray of Hope” children’s storybook and Animation Film for Cancer Awareness in three languages. Watch ‘Ray of Hope’ animation film here: https://apo-opa.co/4sMUSjt

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) with Africa’s First Ladies and Ministries of Health is continuing to build and advance cancer care capacity through their Cancer Access Program, with the aim to increase the limited number of Oncologists in Africa.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.) explained, “At Merck Foundation, we are transforming cancer care in Africa by addressing one of its most critical gaps: late diagnosis and the shortage of trained specialists.

Together with my dear sisters, African First Ladies, we have strengthened cancer care capacity in the continent by providing 269 Oncology Scholarships for healthcare providers from 34 African and Asian countries, significantly increasing the number of trained oncologists and developing the multidisciplinary cancer care teams. In several of these countries, there wasn’t even a single oncologist. We are very proud that we are making history by training the first oncologists and first multidisciplinary cancer care teams in many countries like The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, and many more.”

Merck Foundation in total provided more than 2500 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialities.

“Merck Foundation remains committed to transforming the landscape of patient care in general, and cancer care in particular, leading Africa toward a healthier future,” Dr. Rasha Kelej further explained.

As part of their Cancer Access Program, Merck Foundation has to date provided 269 Scholarships for healthcare providers from 34 countries as per the following:

Merck Foundation is establishing Multidisciplinary Oncology Care teams in many African countries by providing scholarships of One year clinical training in most of oncology sub- specialties such as; Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Pediatrics Oncology, Gynecology Oncology, Breast Oncology, Haemato-Oncology, Orthopedic Oncology, Palliative Care, Pathology Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Research in Oncology, Genital Urinary oncology, Advanced Cytopathology Training, Interventional Radiology, Radiation Technician, Laboratory Technician, Oncology Nursing.

Moreover, Merck Foundation provides One-year and Two-year Post Graduate Diploma and Master Degree of Cancer and Clinical Oncology, Medical Oncology and Pain Management from reputed Universities in UK like University of South Wales, University of Buckingham, Queen Mary University of London, and Cardiff University.

The 34 countries include Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

According to WHO data (2022), Africa sees roughly 1.1 million new cancer cases and up to about 700,000 cancer deaths each year. Cancer mortality rates in Africa are much higher than in many other regions of the world, reflecting late diagnosis, limited access to care, and gaps in health systems. Therefore, Merck Foundation’s oncology scholarships play a critically important role in strengthening cancer care capacity across the continent.

Dr. Rasha Kelej further shared, “Nearly two-thirds of cancer cases can be successfully treated when diagnosed early, and up to one-third can be prevented by reducing key risk factors such as exposure to radiation, certain infections, and lifestyle-related causes. To raise awareness about it, we have recently launched a children storybook and its adaptive animation film “Ray of Hope”, in partnership with African First Ladies. The story deals with childhood cancer and highlights the critical importance of early detection and access to well-trained cancer care teams capable of recognizing early warning signs.”

Read ‘Ray of Hope’ storybook here:

https://apo-opa.co/3P7SV2R#

Watch ‘Ray of Hope’ animation film here:

https://apo-opa.co/4sMUSjt

Merck Foundation has also created awareness materials including awareness leaflets and videos on Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.

Dr Judith Mkwaila, Merck Foundation Alumni from Malawi shares, “It was a great honor and privilege to be awarded the Merck Foundation Scholarship to pursue the Surgical Oncology fellowship training program at Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth, India. The fellowship gave me both, theoretical and hands-on training in complex oncological procedures for head and neck cancers, breast, upper gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers. I was exposed to a multidisciplinary team approach in cancer care hence deepening my knowledge and skills in multimodality approach to cancer treatment for both curative and palliative purposes. Due to the knowledge and skills acquired through the training, I was able to start a General Surgical Clinic and become the First and Only Female Chief Surgeon at the Mzuzu Central Hospital. I am very thankful to Merck Foundation for the opportunity given to me to pursue this fellowship program and for continuing this noble cause of increasing access to high quality cancer care.”

– on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager 
Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

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About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4bBoJVb), X (https://apo-opa.co/3N9Ttof), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3NxQXbj), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/41aXMTl), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4rGzqfk) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4shAvuW).

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies will host a roundtable with podcasters and key stakeholders on 24 March 2026 under the theme: “A Multi Stakeholder Dialogue on Podcasting: Legislators, Policymakers, Regulators, Podcasters, and Industry Stakeholders Charting Balanced Regulation for Sustainable Growth, and Strong Accountability”.

The roundtable comes amid the rapid growth of podcasting in South Africa, driven by increased smartphone usage, wider internet access and a dynamic creator economy. As podcasts continue to reach wider audiences across news, culture and community-focused programming, questions have emerged about how existing regulatory frameworks apply to on-demand audio content distributed over the open internet.

The committee Chairperson, Ms Khusela Sangoni-Diko, said that the engagement is intended to provide a constructive platform for dialogue between Parliament, regulators, creators, platforms and civil society.

“Podcasting represents one of the most exciting developments in South Africa’s digital content ecosystem. It has opened space for diverse voices, languages and perspectives, while creating new opportunities for innovation and economic participation,” said Ms Diko.

She further said that the roundtable would help clarify how public-interest protections can be balanced with the need to nurture a growing creative sector.

Participants will include representatives from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, regulators, independent podcasters, digital platforms, legal experts, civil society organisations and academic institutions. Discussions will focus on how podcasts fit within the existing legal framework, possible co-regulatory models, mechanisms for handling complaints and measures to expand opportunities for local creators.

Ms Diko said that the committee hopes the engagement will produce clear and actionable outcomes to guide future policy considerations. “Our intention is not to stifle creativity, but to ensure that as the sector grows, it does so within a framework that supports innovation, protects the public interest and expands participation in South Africa’s digital economy,” she said.

The roundtable is expected to produce a report outlining consensus points, areas for further work and recommended next steps for policymakers, regulators and industry stakeholders.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.