Category: Africa

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Fundação Merck nomeou a Primeira-Dama do Gabão como Embaixadora da campanha “Mais do que uma Mãe”, com o objectivo de fortalecer a capacidade do sistema de saúde, combater o estigma da infertilidade e apoiar a educação de meninas

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Fundação Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), o braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha lançou oficialmente os seus programas em parceria com S. Exa. a Sra. Zita Oligui Nguema, Primeira-Dama da República Gabonesa e também Embaixadora da “Fundação Merck Mais do que uma Mãe”. Os programas, que começaram em 2024, têm como objectivo transformar o atendimento ao paciente, desenvolver a capacidade do sistema de saúde, quebrar o estigma da infertilidade, empoderar mulheres e apoiar a educação de meninas no Gabão e no resto da África.

O programa foi presidido pela Primeira-Dama do Gabão, S. Exa. a Sra. Zita Oligui Nguema, pelo Presidente do Conselho de Curadores da Fundação Merck, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, ​​e pela CEO da Fundação Merck, Dra. Rasha Kelej. O evento aconteceu no Palácio Presidencial, no Gabão.

A Senadora Dra. Rasha Kelej (aposentada), CEO da Fundação Merck e Presidente da campanha “Mais do que uma Mãe”, enfatizou: “É uma grande honra manter encontro com a minha querida irmã, S.E. a Sra. Zita Oligui Nguema, Primeira-Dama do Gabão. Declaramos oficialmente a sua nomeação como Embaixadora da campanha Fundação Merck ‘Mais do que uma Mãe’. Também lançamos formalmente os programas da Fundação Merck no país e reforçamos o nosso compromisso com o desenvolvimento da capacidade dos sectores da saúde e mídia, a transformação do cenário de atendimento ao paciente, o combate ao estigma da infertilidade e o apoio à educação de meninas, em conjunto no país.”

O Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp acrescentou: “O nosso objectivo é melhorar a saúde e o bem-estar geral das pessoas, desenvolvendo a capacidade dos serviços de saúde em África, Ásia e outros países em desenvolvimento. Estamos fortemente comprometidos com a transformação do cenário de atendimento ao paciente através do nosso programa de bolsas de estudo.”

S.E. A Sra. Zita Oligui Nguema, Primeira-Dama da República Gabonesa e Embaixadora da “Fundação Merck Mais do que uma Mãe”, declarou: “É um prazer receber e manter encontro com Presidente e a CEO da Fundação Merck no nosso país. Juntos, lançamos oficialmente os nossos programas conjuntos e também celebramos marcos importantes do grande sucesso dos nossos programas conjuntos para desenvolver a capacidade da área da saúde, transformar o atendimento ao paciente, quebrar o estigma da infertilidade e apoiar a educação de meninas. Esta é a primeira vez que trabalhamos em programas de tão grande impacto; estamos a fazer história. Conquistamos muito num curto período de tempo, através da nossa parceria de longo prazo, que começou em 2024.

Tenho muito orgulho de partilhar que, através da nossa parceria, concedemos 16 bolsas de estudo para os nossos profissionais de saúde locais, que serão os futuros especialistas em saúde do Gabão, que já se formaram, estão a formar-se ou iniciarão em breve as bolsas de estudo da Fundação Merck para treinamento em especialidades críticas e carentes, como Fertilidade, Embriologia, Oncologia, Diabetes e Hipertensão.”

“Também tenho muita satisfação em partilhar que, juntamente com a Primeira-Dama do Gabão, estamos a apoiar a educação de meninas, oferecendo bolsas de estudo anuais para 40 alunas de alto desempenho, porém carentes, até a formatura, para que possam alcançar o seu potencial e realizar os seus sonhos”, acrescentou a Dra. Rasha Kelej.

A Fundação Merck concedeu mais de 2.600 bolsas de estudo para profissionais de saúde de 52 países em 44 especialidades médicas críticas e carentes.

Do total de 16 bolsas de estudo concedidas no Gabão, a Fundação Merck ofereceu:

– 4 bolsas de estudo para Fertilidade e Embriologia. Essas bolsas consistiram em treinamentos práticos na Índia. O primeiro embriologista do país foi formado através do programa.

– 4 bolsas de estudo para Diabetes e Hipertensão, incluindo um curso de mestrado especial de 3 meses em Diabetes em francês e uma especialização clínica em Diabetes e Hipertensão. Ao concluírem o treinamento, esses especialistas terão conhecimento necessário para estabelecer clínicas dedicadas em hospitais e centros de saúde, aprimorando significativamente a prevenção e o controlo de diabetes, hipertensão e doenças cardíacas, trazendo imensos benefícios para a população do Gabão.

– 8 Bolsas de Estudo para Enfermagem Oncológica, área crucial para o tratamento do câncer.

Durante o programa de lançamento, as beneficiárias do programa Educar Linda também estiveram presentes, e algumas delas compartilharam testemunhos inspiradores sobre como as bolsas de estudo transformaram as suas vidas.

“Eu realmente acredito que, quando as meninas são formadas, os seus países tornam-se mais poderosos, fortes e prósperos”, acrescentou a Senadora Kelej.

A Fundação Merck, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama do Gabão, lançou sete livros infantis: “Mais do que uma Mãe”, “Educar Linda”, “Resgate da Jaqueline”, “Você Não É Quem É”, “Viagem ao Futuro”, “Jude Livre de Açúcar” e “Pressão de Mark”. Esses livros abordam questões sociais e de saúde cruciais para crianças pequenas. Alguns exemplares dos livros foram autografados pela Primeira-Dama do Gabão, pelo Presidente e CEO da Fundação Merck. Milhares de exemplares desses livros serão distribuídos para alunos de escolas.

Além disso, a Fundação Merck realizou duas edições do seu Treinamento Online de Mídia em Saúde para jornalistas gaboneses, a fim de capacitá-los a conscientizar sobre questões sensíveis, como quebrar o estigma da infertilidade, apoiar a educação de meninas, combater a violência do género, acabar com o casamento infantil e a mutilação genital feminina, e conscientizar sobre a prevenção e detecção precoce da diabetes e da hipertensão.

A Fundação Merck, em parceria com a Primeira-Dama do Gabão, também anunciou a Chamada para Candidaturas para os seus 8 importantes Prémios anuais de Jornalismo, Canção, de Moda, Cinema, para estudantes e novos talentos com potencial nessas áreas.

Informações sobre os Prémios:

1. Prémio de Jornalismo África Fundação Merck “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2026: Representantes da mídia e estudantes de comunicação são convidados a apresentar seus trabalhos para conscientizar sobre uma ou mais das seguintes questões sociais: Combater o estigma da infertilidade, apoiar a educação de meninas, empoderar mulheres, acabar com o casamento infantil, acabar com a mutilação genital feminina e/ou erradicar a violência de gênero em todos os níveis.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de setembro de 2026.

2. Prémio do Cinema Fundação Merck “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2026:  Todos os cineastas africanos, estudantes de instituições de formação cinematográfica ou jovens talentos da África estão convidados a criar e compartilhar um filme ou curta-metragem, seja drama, documentário ou docudrama, que transmitam mensagens fortes e impactantes que abordem uma ou mais das seguintes questões sociais: quebrar o estigma da infertilidade, apoiar a educação de meninas, empoderar mulheres, acabar com o casamento infantil, acabar com a mutilação genital feminina e/ou combater a violência do género em todos os níveis.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de setembro de 2026.

3. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2026: Todos os estudantes e estilistas de moda africanos estão convidados a criar e compartilhar designs que transmitam mensagens fortes e impactantes para conscientizar sobre uma ou mais das seguintes questões sociais: Quebrar o estigma da infertilidade, apoiar a educação de meninas, empoderamento feminino, acabar com o casamento infantil, acabar com a mutilação genital feminina e/ou combater a violência de gênero em todos os níveis.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de setembro de 2026.

4. Merck Foundation Song “Mais do Que uma Mãe” 2026: Todos os cantores e artistas musicais africanos estão convidados a criar e compartilhar uma MÚSICA com o objectivo de abordar uma ou mais das seguintes questões sociais: Quebrar o estigma da infertilidade, apoiar a educação de meninas, empoderar mulheres, acabar com o casamento infantil, acabar com a mutilação genital feminina e/ou acabar com a violência do género em todos os níveis.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de setembro de 2026.

5. Prémio de Jornalismo Fundação Merck 2026 “Diabetes & Hipertensão”: Os representantes da mídia são convidados a apresentar o seu trabalho través de mensagens fortes e impactantes para promover um estilo de vida saudável e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce da diabetes e da hipertensão.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2026.

6. Prémio do Cinema Fundação Merck 2026 “Diabetes & Hipertensão”: Todos os cineastas africanos, estudantes de instituições de formação cinematográfica ou jovens talentos da África estão convidados a criar e compartilhar um filme ou curta-metragem, seja drama, documentário ou docudrama, que transmitam mensagens fortes e impactantes que promovam um estilo de vida saudável e aumentem a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce de diabetes e hipertensão.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2026.

7. Prémio de Moda Fundação Merck 2026 “Diabetes & Hipertensão”: Todos os estudantes e designers de moda africanos estão convidados a criar e compartilhar designs que transmitam mensagens fortes e impactantes para promover um estilo de vida saudável e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce da diabetes e da hipertensão.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2026.

8. Prémio da Canção Fundação Merck 2026 “Diabetes & Hipertensão”: Todos os cantores e artistas musicais africanos estão convidados a criar e compartilhar uma música com o objectivo de promover um estilo de vida saudável e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção e a detecção precoce da diabetes e da hipertensão.

Prazo para submissão: 30 de outubro de 2026.

Inscreva-se aqui: https://apo-opa.co/4tdXYha 

As inscrições para todos os prêmios devem ser enviadas por e-mail para:

submit@merck-foundation.com

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Merck Foundation.

Contato:
Mehak Handa
Gerente do Programa de Conscientização Comunitária
Telefone: +91 9310087613 / +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

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Sobre a Fundação Merck:
A Fundação Merck, criada em 2017, é o braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha, tem como objectivo melhorar a saúde e o bem-estar das pessoas e aprimorar as suas vidas atravez da ciência e da tecnologia. Os nossos esforços estão focados principalmente na melhoria do acesso a soluções de saúde de qualidade e equitativas em comunidades carenciadas, no desenvolvimento da capacidade de saúde e na investigação científica, no empoderamento das raparigas na educação e no empoderamento de pessoas em STEM (Ciência, Tecnologia, Engenharia e Matemática) com foco especial em mulheres e jovens. Todos os comunicados de imprensa da Fundação Merck são distribuídos por e-mail ao mesmo tempo em que são disponibilizados no site da Fundação Merck. Visite www.Merck-Foundation.com para ler mais. Siga a mídia social da Fundação Merck: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4t8IStr), X (https://apo-opa.co/4vpnzoK), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4vqWXnv), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4voH54Q), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4cl1RK5) e Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4vHkAZc).

A Fundação Merck está dedicada a melhorar os resultados sociais e de saúde para comunidades necessitadas. Embora colabore com vários parceiros, incluindo governos, para atingir os seus objectivos humanitários, a Fundação permanece estritamente neutra em questões políticas. Ela não se envolve ou apoia nenhuma actividade política, eleições ou regimes, concentrando-se exclusivamente na sua missão de elevar a humanidade e melhorar o bem-estar, mantendo uma postura estritamente apolítica em todos os seus esforços.

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La Fondation Merck a nommé la Première Dame du Gabon Ambassadrice de « Plus Qu’une Mère » pour renforcer les capacités de soins de santé, briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité et soutenir l’éducation des filles

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Fondation Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, a officiellement lancé ses programmes en partenariat avec S.E. Madame ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, Première Dame de la République Gabonaise, également Ambassadrice de la « Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère », les programmes qui ont débuté en 2024 dans le but de transformer la prise en charge des patients, de renforcer les capacités de soins, de briser la stigmatisation de l’infertilité, d’autonomiser les femmes, de soutenir l’éducation des filles au Gabon et dans le reste de l’Afrique.

Le programme était présidé par la Première Dame du Gabon, S.E. Madame ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, le Chairman du Conseil d’Administration de la Fondation Merck, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, et la CEO de la Fondation Merck, Dr. Rasha Kelej. Le programme a eu lieu à la Présidence, au Gabon.

Sénatrice, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret), CEO de la Fondation Merck et Présidente de la campagne « Plus Qu’une Mère », a souligné : « C’est un grand honneur de rencontrer ma chère sœur, S.E. Madame ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, Première Dame du Gabon. Nous l’avons officiellement déclarée Ambassadrice de la campagne « Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère ». Nous avons également officiellement lancé les programmes de la Fondation Merck dans le pays et avons souligné notre engagement envers le renforcement des capacités de soins de santé et des médias, ainsi que la transformation du paysage des soins aux patients, briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité et soutenir l’éducation des filles, ensemble dans le pays »

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp a ajouté : « Notre objectif est d’améliorer la santé et le bien-être général des populations en renforçant les capacités de soins de santé en Afrique, en Asie et dans d’autres pays en voie de développement. Nous sommes fermement engagés à transformer le paysage des soins aux patients grâce à notre programme de bourses. »

S.E. Madame ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, Première Dame de la République Gabonaise et Ambassadrice de la « Fondation Merck Plus Qu’une Mère », a déclaré : « C’est un plaisir d’accueillir et de rencontrer le Chairman et la CEO de la Fondation Merck dans notre pays. Ensemble, nous avons officiellement lancé nos programmes conjoints et avons également célébré des étapes importantes du grand succès de nos programmes conjoints visant à renforcer les capacités de soins de santé, transformer les soins aux patients, briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité et soutenir l’éducation des filles. C’est la première fois que nous travaillons sur des programmes aussi percutants, c’est une histoire en devenir. Nous avons atteint beaucoup de choses dans un laps de temps très court, grâce à notre partenariat à long terme, qui a débuté en 2024.

Je suis très fière de partager que grâce à notre partenariat, nous avons accordé 16 bourses à nos prestataires de soins de santé locaux qui seront les futurs experts de la santé du Gabon, qui ont obtenu leur diplôme, suivent ou commenceront bientôt les bourses de formation de la Fondation Merck dans des spécialités critiques et mal desservies telles que la Fertilité, Embryologie, Oncologie, Diabète et Hypertension

« Je suis également très heureuse de partager qu’avec la Première Dame du Gabon, nous soutenons également l’éducation des filles en offrant des bourses annuelles pour soutenir l’éducation de 40 écolières très performantes mais défavorisées, jusqu’à ce qu’elles obtiennent leur diplôme, afin qu’elles puissent atteindre leur potentiel et réaliser leurs rêves », a ajouté le Dr. Rasha Kelej.

La Fondation Merck a accordé plus de 2 600 bourses à des prestataires de soins de santé de 52 pays dans 44 spécialités médicales critiques et mal desservies.

Sur un total de 16 bourses accordées au Gabon, la Fondation Merck a fourni :

  • 4 bourses en Fertilité et Embryologie. Il s’agissait de formations pratiques en Inde. Le tout premier embryologiste du pays a été formé grâce à ce programme.
  • 4 bourses pour le Diabète et l’Hypertension, dont un master spécial sur le diabète de 3 mois en langue française et une bourse clinique sur le Diabète et Hypertension. À la fin de la formation, ces spécialistes disposeront de l’expertise nécessaire pour établir des cliniques dédiées dans les hôpitaux et les centres de santé, améliorant ainsi considérablement la prévention et la prise en charge du diabète, de l’hypertension et des maladies cardiaques, apportant d’immenses avantages à la population gabonaise.
  • 8 bourses pour les soins infirmiers en oncologie, ce qui est très essentiel pour les soins contre le cancer.

Lors du programme de lancement, les bénéficiaires du programme Éduquer Linda étaient également présents, où quelques-uns d’entre eux ont partagé des témoignages inspirants sur la façon dont les bourses ont changé leur vie.

« Je crois vraiment que lorsque les filles sont éduquées, leurs pays deviennent plus puissants, plus forts et plus prospères », a ajouté la Sénatrice Kelej.  

La Fondation Merck, en partenariat avec la Première Dame du Gabon, a lancé sept livres d’histoires pour enfants, « Plus Qu’une Mère », « Éduquer Linda », « Le Secours de Jackline », « Pas qui vous êtes », « Une balade vers le futur », « Jude Sans Sucre » et « La Tension de Mark ». Ces livres abordent des problèmes sociaux et sanitaires critiques pour les jeunes enfants. Quelques exemplaires des livres d’histoires ont été signés par la Première Dame du Gabon, le Chairman et la CEO de la Fondation Merck. Des milliers d’exemplaires de ces livres d’histoires seront distribué aux écoliers.

De plus, la Fondation Merck a organisé deux éditions de sa Formation des Médias sur la Santé En Ligne pour les journalistes gabonais afin de leur permettre de sensibiliser à des questions sensibles telles que briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, soutenir l’éducation des filles, mettre fin à la VBG, mettre fin au mariage des enfants et aux MGF et sensibiliser sur la prévention et le dépistage précoce du diabète et de l’hypertension.

La Fondation Merck, en partenariat avec la Première Dame du Gabon, a également annoncé l’Appel à Candidatures pour ses 8 importants prix annuels destinés aux médias, musiciens, créateurs de mode, cinéastes, étudiants et nouveaux talents potentiels dans ces domaines.

Détails des Prix :

1. Prix de Reconnaissance des Médias Africains de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère » 2026 : les représentants des médias et les étudiants en journalisme sont invités à présenter leur travail pour sensibiliser l’opinion à un ou plusieurs des problèmes sociaux suivants tels que : briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, soutenir l’éducation des filles, l’autonomisation des femmes, mettre fin au mariage des enfants, mettre fin aux MGF et/ou mettre fin à la VBG à tous les niveaux.

Date limite de soumission : 30 septembre 2026.

2. Prix du Film de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère » 2026 :  tous les cinéastes africains, étudiants des établissements de formation en réalisation cinématographique ou jeunes talents d’Afrique sont invités à créer et à partager un long ou un court métrage, qu’il s’agisse d’un drame, d’un documentaire ou d’un docudrame, pour transmettre des messages forts et influents sur un ou plusieurs des problèmes sociaux suivants tels que : briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, soutenir l’éducation des filles, l’autonomisation des femmes, mettre fin au mariage des enfants, mettre fin aux MGF et/ou mettre fin à la VBG à tous les niveaux.

Date limite de soumission : 30 septembre 2026.

3. Prix de la Mode de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère » 2026 : tous les étudiants et créateurs de mode africains sont invités à créer et à partager des créations pour transmettre des messages forts et influents afin de sensibiliser à un ou plusieurs des problèmes sociaux suivants tels que : briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, soutenir l’éducation des filles, l’autonomisation des femmes, mettre fin au mariage des enfants, mettre fin aux MGF et/ou mettre fin à la VBG à tous les niveaux.

Date limite de soumission : 30 septembre 2026.

4. Prix de la Chanson de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère » 2026 : tous les chanteurs et artistes musicaux africains sont invités à créer et à partager une CHANSON dans le but d’aborder un ou plusieurs des problèmes sociaux suivants tels que : briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, soutenir l’éducation des filles, l’autonomisation des femmes, mettre fin au mariage des enfants, mettre fin aux MGF et/ou mettre fin à la VBG à tous les niveaux.

Date limite de soumission : 30 septembre 2026.

5. Prix de Reconnaissance des Médias de la Fondation Merck « Diabètes & Hypertension » 2026 : les représentants des médias sont invités à présenter leur travail à travers des messages forts et influents pour promouvoir un mode de vie sain et sensibiliser à la prévention et à la détection précoce du diabète et de l’hypertension.

Date limite de soumission : 30 octobre 2026.

6. Prix du Film de la Fondation Merck « Diabètes & Hypertension » 2026 : tous les cinéastes africains, étudiants des établissements de formation en réalisation cinématographique ou jeunes talents d’Afrique sont invités à créer et à partager un long ou un court FILMS, qu’il s’agisse d’un drame, d’un documentaire ou d’un docudrame, pour délivrer des messages forts et influents visant à promouvoir un mode de vie sain et à sensibiliser à la prévention et à la détection précoce du diabète et de l’hypertension.

Date limite de soumission : 30 octobre 2026.

7. Prix de la Mode de la Fondation Merck « Diabètes & Hypertension » 2026 : tous les étudiants et créateurs de mode africains sont invités à créer et à partager des créations pour transmettre des messages forts et influents visant à promouvoir un mode de vie sain et à sensibiliser à la prévention et à la détection précoce du diabète et de l’hypertension.

Date limite de soumission : 30 octobre 2026.

8. Prix de la Chanson de la Fondation Merck « Diabètes & Hypertension » 2026 : tous les chanteurs et artistes musicaux africains sont invités à créer et à partager une CHANSON dans le but de promouvoir un mode de vie sain et de sensibiliser à la prévention et à la détection précoce du diabète et de l’hypertension.

Date limite de soumission : 30 octobre 2026.

Postulez ici : https://apo-opa.co/4tdXYha 

Les candidatures pour tous les prix doivent être soumises par courrier électronique à : submit@merck-foundation.com

Distribué par APO Group pour Merck Foundation.

Contacter :
Mehak Handa
Responsable du programme de sensibilisation communautaire 
Téléphone : +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email : mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

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À propos de la Fondation Merck :
La Fondation Merck, créée en 2017, est la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, vise à améliorer la santé et le bien-être des populations et à faire progresser leur vie grâce à la science et à la technologie. Nos efforts sont principalement axés sur l’amélioration de l’accès à des solutions de soins de santé de qualité et équitables dans les communautés mal desservies, à renforcer les capacités de recherche sur les soins de santé et la recherche scientifique, l’autonomisation des filles à travers l’éducation et l’autonomisation des personnes en STEM (Science, Technologie, Ingénierie et Mathématiques) avec un accent particulier sur les femmes et les jeunes. Tous les communiqués de presse de la Fondation Merck sont distribués par e-mail en même temps qu’ils deviennent disponibles sur le site Web de la Fondation Merck. Veuillez visiter www.Merck-Foundation.com pour en savoir plus. Pour en savoir plus, contactez nos réseaux sociaux de la Fondation Merck : Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4t8IStr), X (https://apo-opa.co/4vpnzoK), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4vqWXnv), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4voH54Q), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4cl1RK5) et Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4vHkAZc).

La Fondation Merck se consacre à l’amélioration des résultats sociaux et sanitaires pour les communautés dans le besoin. Bien qu’elle collabore avec divers partenaires, y compris des gouvernements, pour atteindre ses objectifs humanitaires, la fondation reste strictement neutre sur le plan politique. Elle ne s’engage pas et ne soutient pas d’activités, d’élections ou de régimes politiques, se focalise uniquement sur sa mission d’élever l’humanité et d’améliorer le bien-être tout en maintenant une position strictement apolitique dans toutes ses activités.

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La Fondation Merck célèbre la Journée Mondiale de la Santé 2026 – Transformer les soins aux patients en Afrique et au-delà grâce à plus de 2 600 bourses destinées aux professionnels de la santé de 52 pays

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Fondation Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne célèbre la Journée Mondiale de la Santé 2026 en partenariat avec les Premières Dames d’Afrique et d’Asie, qui sont également Ambassadrices de la campagne de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère », réaffirmant leur engagement à améliorer et révolutionner l’accès aux soins de santé en Afrique, en Asie et dans d’autres régions grâce à leurs programmes de bourses et de formation professionnelle.

Sénatrice Dr Rasha Kelej (Ret), CEO de la Fondation Merck, a déclaré : « À la Fondation Merck, nous restons déterminés à transformer le paysage des soins aux patients et à améliorer l’accès à des solutions de santé équitables et de qualité en Afrique, en Asie et au-delà. Au cours des 14 dernières années, nous avons célébré chaque jour la Journée Mondiale de la Santé grâce à nos efforts continus pour renforcer les capacités de soins de santé dans les communautés mal desservies.

Je suis fière d’annoncer que nous avons attribué plus de 2 600 bourses à de jeunes professionnels de la santé de 52 pays dans 44 spécialités médicales critiques et mal desservies. Grâce à ces bourses, de nombreux anciens boursiers de la Fondation Merck devient des experts de premier plan dans leurs domaines respectifs dans leurs pays, notamment la Namibie, Libéria, Gambie, Burundi, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Zambie, Guinée, l’Éthiopie, Congo, Népal, Bangladesh et Zimbabwe, entre autres. »

« Il s’agit véritablement d’un moment historique et nous sommes fiers de faire partie de l’héritage de l’Afrique en donnant les moyens à une nouvelle génération d’experts en santé qui serviront les générations futures. » a ajouté le Dr. Kelej.

Comme chacun le sait, le manque de ressources financières n’est pas le seul défi auquel l’Afrique est confrontée. Un problème bien plus urgent est la pénurie de professionnels de santé qualifiés, capables de prévenir, diagnostiquer et traiter efficacement les maladies.

Cette grave pénurie de personnel médical et de santé constitue l’un des obstacles les plus importants à l’accès à des soins de santé de qualité sur tout le continent.

Selon le rapport 2021 de l’OMS, la région africaine représente 24 % de la charge mondiale de morbidité, alors qu’il n’y a que 2,9 professionnels de santé pour 1 000 habitants. Cet écart a un impact profond sur les résultats en matière de santé.

Par conséquent, les bourses de la Fondation Merck sont extrêmement importantes car elles offrent aux médecins une formation spécialisée, contribuant ainsi à réduire les écarts en matière de soins de santé et à améliorer les soins aux patients dans les communautés mal desservies.

La Fondation Merck travaille en étroite collaboration avec ses Ambassadrices, les Premières Dames d’Afrique et d’Asie et des partenaires locaux, tels que les Ministères de la Santé, de l’Éducation, de l’Information et de la Communication, du Genre, de l’Université, des instituts de recherche, des médias et des arts, pour renforcer les capacités en matière de santé et relever les défis sanitaires, sociaux et économiques dans les pays en voie de développement et les communautés mal desservies.

La Fondation Merck soutient également activement les femmes et les jeunes dans les sciences et technologies à travers son programme STEM et les prix du Sommet Annuel de Recherche en Afrique (MARS) de la Fondation Merck, qui reconnaissent et célèbrent les meilleures chercheuses africaines et les meilleurs jeunes chercheurs africains, promouvant l’excellence dans la recherche.

Dr. Kelej a partagé : « Le thème de la Journée Mondiale de la Santé 2026, « Ensemble pour la santé. Soutenez la science », s’aligne parfaitement avec notre programme qui forme les professionnels de la santé et autonomise les femmes et les jeunes dans les domaines STEM (science, technologie, ingénierie et mathématiques) ».

CEO de la Fondation Merck a également annoncé l’Appel à Candidatures pour 2026.

« Je suis heureuse d’annoncer l’appel à candidatures pour les bourses 2026 destinées aux jeunes professionnels de la santé, avec un accent particulier sur les femmes diplômées en médecine. Cela comprend des programmes de bourses en présentiel, des programmes de formation clinique et des diplômes d’un an en ligne et des masters de deux ans dans 44 spécialités médicales critiques et mal desservies. Les candidatures sont déposées par l’intermédiaire des bureaux de nos ambassadrices et partenaires de longue date, des Premières Dames d’Afrique et du Ministère de la Santé de chaque pays », a partagé le Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Pour postuler à des bourses en présentiel dans les domaines de la fertilité, de l’oncologie, du diabète et d’autres spécialités :

https://apo-opa.co/4cc7x90

Pour postuler à des bourses en ligne, visitez :

https://apo-opa.co/4c9nLj7

La sélection pour chaque bourse sera basée sur une demande du Bureau de la Première Dame, du Ministère de la Santé et/ou de la Société Médicale, dans le but de combler les lacunes du système de santé publique de chaque pays.

La sélection sera basée sur le respect des critères d’éligibilité de chaque institut de formation et fondation, la disponibilité des bourses et la disponibilité des fonds.

Distribué par APO Group pour Merck Foundation.

Contact :
Mehak Handa
Responsable du programme de sensibilisation communautaire
Téléphone : +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
E-mail : mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Rejoignez la conversation sur nos plateformes de réseaux sociaux ci-dessous et faites entendre votre voix :
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Website : www.Merck-Foundation.com
Télécharger l’Application de la Fondation Merck : https://apo-opa.co/4mwM6nN

À propos de la Fondation Merck :
La Fondation Merck, créée en 2017, est la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, vise à améliorer la santé et le bien-être des populations et à faire progresser leur vie grâce à la science et à la technologie. Nos efforts sont principalement axés sur l’amélioration de l’accès à des solutions de soins de santé de qualité et équitables dans les communautés mal desservies, à renforcer les capacités de recherche sur les soins de santé et la recherche scientifique, l’autonomisation des filles à travers l’éducation et l’autonomisation des personnes en STEM (Science, Technologie, Ingénierie et Mathématiques) avec un accent particulier sur les femmes et les jeunes. Tous les communiqués de presse de la Fondation Merck sont distribués par e-mail en même temps qu’ils deviennent disponibles sur le site Web de la Fondation Merck. Veuillez visiter www.Merck-Foundation.com pour en savoir plus. Pour en savoir plus, contactez nos réseaux sociaux de la Fondation Merck : Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3Q81ZFm), X (https://apo-opa.co/4c9rj6o), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4dJGqVj), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3PTtKRU), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4ceNmsw) et Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4tBljt5).

La Fondation Merck se consacre à l’amélioration des résultats sociaux et sanitaires pour les communautés dans le besoin. Bien qu’elle collabore avec divers partenaires, y compris des gouvernements, pour atteindre ses objectifs humanitaires, la fondation reste strictement neutre sur le plan politique. Elle ne s’engage pas et ne soutient pas d’activités, d’élections ou de régimes politiques, se focalise uniquement sur sa mission d’élever l’humanité et d’améliorer le bien-être tout en maintenant une position strictement apolitique dans toutes ses activités.

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China’s military support for Somalia is on the rise – what Taiwan and Somaliland have to do with it

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Brendon J. Cannon, Associate Professor, Khalifa University

China recently pledged to expand military support to Somalia in its fight against al-Shabaab militants. Beijing has promised equipment, training and closer security cooperation with Mogadishu. This marks a shift from China’s traditionally cautious and small presence in the country. Brendon J. Cannon has researched how external powers – including China – engage with sub-Saharan Africa. He explains how these dynamics are converging in Somalia.

What form does China’s support in Somalia take?

China’s interests in Somalia take two paths.

The first is broadly geopolitical. It relates to China’s long-standing interests in the Horn of Africa as a strategic crossroads. The region links the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. The Horn of Africa includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and Somaliland. Sudan and Kenya are important actors in the region’s affairs.

Beijing’s priorities here are about expanding political influence and embedding itself in regional security architectures. This explains its existing military presence in Djibouti and infrastructure investments across Ethiopia, as well as neighbouring states like Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan.

The second path is specific to Somalia. It is mainly shaped by China’s domestic politics and stance on Taiwan. Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province, and is concerned that Somaliland’s ties with Taipei could lend legitimacy to separatist movements. Somaliland is a de facto independent state that left its voluntary union with Somalia in 1991, and diplomatically recognised Taiwan in 2020.

To understand this Somalia-specific dynamic, it is necessary to look at what China’s support to Somalia entails. Beijing provides diplomatic backing, development assistance and, more recently, security cooperation framed around counterterrorism and support for Somalia’s fight against al-Shabaab militants.

Even so, China’s economic footprint remains modest. Unlike neighbouring Ethiopia, where Beijing has financed railways, ports and airports, Somalia has not received large-scale Belt and Road infrastructure.

Chinese engagement is, therefore, better understood as selective and strategic rather than transformative.

What are the strategic interests driving this engagement?

China is increasingly involved in Somalia because of Somaliland’s diplomatic recognition of Taiwan and its progress in pushing for its own international recognition.

Since 1949, Taiwan has been an independent, self-governing state, though the People’s Republic of China lays claim to the island.

Beijing has worked over the past three decades to isolate Taiwan diplomatically. It’s offered development, technology and infrastructure assistance in exchange for states severing diplomatic relations with Taipei.

As of 2026, only Eswatini and Somaliland in Africa maintain some form of diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

From Beijing’s perspective, the fact that a small, de facto independent state in the Horn of Africa had the temerity to exchange diplomats with Taiwan was bad enough. When Israel became the first state to formally recognise Somaliland’s independence in December 2025, Beijing reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. US policymakers are also pushing to recognise Somaliland.

China and Somalia’s leaders in Mogadishu frequently affirm their support for “One Somalia” and “One China”, respectively. In their view, Somaliland must submit to Mogadishu’s rule. Ditto for Taiwan: it must join the People’s Republic of China.

Neither Somaliland nor Taiwan wish to be part of what they view as broken political experiments.

Their larger, angry neighbours don’t care. They resort to bullying and threaten violence – in different ways.

China has wealth, economic power and a global profile. It also has a huge military and growing navy, much of it tailormade to invade Taiwan. Despite this, Taiwan still prefers to go it alone, with support from the United States, Japan, Australia and others.

Mogadishu, on the other hand, is unable to exercise legitimate control over much of its own territory. Despite decades of external security assistance and military training, Somalia still has no capable military. The national army continues to underperform against al-Shabaab and remains entangled in clan-based politics.

Failure to shift the status quo in either Taiwan or Somaliland unites China and Somalia against smaller, weaker entities.

How does China’s approach in the Horn of Africa differ from that of western actors?

In my view, Beijing’s growing interest in Somalia is less about development corridors and more about political alignment, diplomatic positioning and security cooperation.

Western states have tended to emphasise counterterrorism operations, governance reforms and security sector training. Other actors like Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have combined military engagement with infrastructure investment and commercial interests, sometimes becoming deeply embedded in Somalia’s internal politics.

China, by contrast, has focused on regime support to reinforce Somalia’s territorial integrity. This assistance has been less overtly military, and is closely tied to diplomatic objectives.

China prefers building technological and institutional dependencies – in telecommunications, technology and surveillance, for example – across much of Africa.

In both the short and long term, greater Chinese involvement risks adding another layer of geopolitical competition in an already fragile region. Rather than acting as a stabilising force, Beijing may find itself drawn into the same local dynamics that have frustrated other external actors.

Somaliland, in comparison, has developed a relatively functional security sector and a high degree of domestic political legitimacy.

What could greater Chinese involvement mean for Somalia’s security?

There is little reason to expect China’s military assistance to succeed where others have failed. Its broader impact will likely be political rather than operational.

Increased Chinese backing for Mogadishu could deepen internal divisions within Somalia. It may intensify competition over territory, authority and external patronage.

Nowhere is this dynamic more visible than in Las Anod, a contested city in eastern Somaliland.

It has recently become the focal point of a new political entity – SSC Khatumo, armed by external state actors, including China, according to reports. It is backed by Mogadishu and viewed by Somaliland as illegitimate.

Political developments in Las Anod have taken on geopolitical overtones. Abdikhadir Firdhiye was inaugurated in January 2026 as the first president of what Mogadishu has recognised as its Northeast State. The SSC Khatumo administration considers Las Anod its capital.

Among those attending Firdhiye’s inauguration were ambassadors from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, China, Djibouti and Sudan. Their interests extend well beyond local governance.

For Somaliland, the message was clear: its bid for independence is now entangled in a much wider geopolitical contest.

– China’s military support for Somalia is on the rise – what Taiwan and Somaliland have to do with it
– https://theconversation.com/chinas-military-support-for-somalia-is-on-the-rise-what-taiwan-and-somaliland-have-to-do-with-it-279600

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China’s Africa strategy is shifting and Iran conflict will speed it up

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Lauren Johnston, Associate Professor, China Studies Centre, University of Sydney

The global geoeconomic volatility wrought by the second Donald Trump US presidency and hostilities in the Middle East make the shift in China’s Africa strategy even more important for China and for Africa.

China’s Africa strategy started to shift in 2019, towards investment. It is anchored in Hunan Province.

The “Hunan Model” emerged because the “Angola Model” (building infrastructure and extracting resources) faced sustainability hurdles. Given the vulnerability of African countries to shocks, they often struggle to keep up with mounting debt repayments. The other factor was China’s changing domestic needs.

Traditional trade partnership and growth corridors were also under increasing contestation and subject to high trade barriers.

Under these pressures, Beijing selected Hunan Province to become its “project implementation unit” for a new era of trade and development between China and Africa.

The model has become more important since formal approval of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Deep Cooperation Pilot Zone in early 2024 and the growth of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Exhibition since launch in 2019.

Read more: China’s Africa strategy is shifting from extraction to investment – driven from the industry-rich Hunan region

It seeks to deepen and bring greater balance to China-Africa trade and industrial integration. It is also at the heart of efforts to overcome the three main barriers to African development – shortages of capital, skilled labour and infrastructure – while offering China a secure and growing supply of resources.

Based on years of study of China-Africa trade relations, I argue that the tensions in the Middle East and the economic disruptions they have caused globally will speed up China’s thrust towards renewables and the electrification of its economy. It will also accelerate its push for new markets. This has implications for Africa.

Hunan Province is central to green transportation and to construction, heavy industry and minerals processing. It is also central to China’s economic relations with Africa.

What Hunan is all about

At the centre of the Hunan Model sit two national policy initiatives:

Hunan Province’s capital, Changsha, is home to China’s third-largest wholesale market, the Gaoqiao Grand Market. It is the primary distribution hub for non-commodity African imports landing in and near Changsha and passing through “green lanes” that fast-track African exports into China.

The market has a permanent trade facilitation hall where African countries market their goods directly and which provides other trade services.

The Hunan Model also has three functional areas to support trade between land-locked Hunan and the world, with an emphasis on Africa:

The China-Africa cooperation zone also has five “functional clusters” that drive trade, investment and industrial development between and within China and African nations. These target specific sectors where Hunan excels – and that match potential for growth and industrialisation in Africa. Construction machinery, mining equipment and precious metals processing are among them.

The China-Africa Economic and Trade Exhibition comprises the permanent exhibition hall in the zone and a series of trade expos, held in China and in Africa.

In the last few years, as I’ve detailed in a journal article, a series of China-Africa Economic and Trade Exhibition events have also begun springing up in African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria.

Impact of Middle East conflict

The importance of the Hunan Model has, arguably, been increased by the second Trump presidency and intensifying US-China trade tensions. As western markets become more restrictive, China has pivoted towards the global south with remarkable speed. Africa is no exception. In 2025, while Chinese total foreign trade grew by 3.8%, China-Africa trade surged by 17.7%.

Read more: US trade wars with China – and how they play out in Africa

More recently, tensions in the Middle East have offered a dramatic shock to the global economy and its energy supply chains. This is likely to intensify China’s push towards renewables and electrification of its economy. It may also elevate global demand for electric vehicles, and it is Hunan Province that is home to Chinese e-vehicle giant BYD.

Given Hunan’s centrality to China’s own renewables industry, especially electric transformation and minerals processing, as well as construction, the Hunan Model can drive a new renewables-run era in China and between China and Africa too.

Read more: China’s interests in Africa are being shaped by the race for renewable energy

In 2025, the “biggest highlight” of Changsha’s exports to Africa was the explosive growth of the “new three items”. These are lithium batteries, electric vehicles and photovoltaic products. Hunan’s exports of these items to Africa increased by 160.4%, 840.4% and 62.1% year-on-year, respectively. That’s why they have become a “new calling card” for Hunan’s exports to Africa.

Alongside electric transportation companies like BYD, Hunan Province is also home to electric railway giants like CRRC, which is at the heart of a “green” rail export surge. Moreover, in the wake of conflict in Iran, China has announced a new rare minerals research and innovation hub, to be set up in Changsha, Hunan.

Avoiding ‘Africa last’

While the Hunan model offers a focus on surmounting non-tariff barriers to trade and an industrial-focused alternative to past extraction-heavy policies, risks remain. The sheer scale of Chinese exports to Africa – up 17.7% in 2025 while African exports to China grew only 5.4% – underscores a growing trade imbalance.

African countries and sub-regions must build their own industrial supply chains, as China did with investment from earlier industrial giants.

The Hunan Model has its own research alliance of Chinese scholars and industry experts to inform its advance and progress. African nations require their own equivalent.

Shock after shock is upsetting the world economy. The Hunan Model is no longer just an experiment or a policy idea. It is driving China-Africa economic transformation. It offers potential for growth and development in China and Africa.

– China’s Africa strategy is shifting and Iran conflict will speed it up
– https://theconversation.com/chinas-africa-strategy-is-shifting-and-iran-conflict-will-speed-it-up-280046

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Seitlholo raises concern over delays in Meyerton wastewater project

Source: Government of South Africa

Seitlholo raises concern over delays in Meyerton wastewater project

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, has raised concerns over delays in the completion of the R220 million upgrade of the Meyerton Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW). 

Seitlholo raised concerns during an oversight visit to the facility in the Midvaal Local Municipality, within the Sedibeng District Municipality, as part of ongoing efforts to address sanitation challenges. 

Tuesday’s visit aimed to assess progress on the upgrade and expansion of the project, which resumed in 2017, and to engage with key stakeholders.

He was accompanied by Sipho Mosai, Chief Executive Officer of Rand Water, as well as Midvaal Executive Mayor Peter Teixeira, Sedibeng Executive Mayor Lerato Maloka, and Desmond Fransman, Chairperson of the Vaal-Orange Catchment Management Agency.

Meyerton Wastewater Treatment Works project was funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation through its Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant. With Rand Water appointed as the implementing agent, the project is intended to improve sanitation services and ensure that the effluent treated at the plant meets the required standards. 

Two phases of the project have been completed, while the third phase, which will expand the plant’s capacity from yielding 10 megalitres per day (ml/d) to 25 ml/d is still underway.

Seitlholo expressed concern over the delays, warning that ongoing failures in wastewater management will threaten the municipality’s water resources, locally and nationally. Rand Water has, however, committed to completing the project within the current financial year.

Project delays have been attributed to contractor cash flow constraints, payment challenges, and persistent rainfall, which disrupted construction. Rand Water said it has since implemented recovery measures, including resolving payment issues, re-engaging subcontractors and accelerating construction to recover lost time.

The utility added that sanitation challenges are not only limited to Midvaal but also affect the broader Sedibeng District.

Beyond the delays, Seitlholo emphasised the need to protect water resources as a component of the water value chain.

“If we do not take care of the value chain, how are we going to secure the quality at the end of it? How are we going to give people clean drinking water?” the Deputy Minister said.

He stressed that safeguarding rivers, tributaries and dams from pollution is essential to ensuring a safe water supply, warning that the discharge of untreated sewage continues to threaten water quality.

“I am concerned about the beginning of water value chain and this has propelled me to engage with stakeholders in the country on how to fundamentally get to a point where our water resources, tributaries, rivers, and dams are not being infiltrated by millions of litres of raw sewerage every day,” said the Deputy Minister, underscoring his commitment to the protection of water resources.

Seitlholo added that the improvement of the water value chain at the infrastructure level, with a completed upgrade of Meyerton WWTW will significantly improve sanitation services for communities, including Rothdene, Meyerton, Rustervaal, Sicelo Shiceka informal settlement and the surrounding industries.

The Department of Water and Sanitation maintains that the oversight visits are essential to hold implementing agents accountable, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure that infrastructure projects deliver tangible benefits to communities without further delay. – SAnews.gov.za
 

GabiK

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Failing municipalities are choking local economic growth, says President

Source: Government of South Africa

Failing municipalities are choking local economic growth, says President

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for urgent reforms to unlock local economies, warning that poor governance at municipal level is undermining service delivery and stifling economic growth.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2026 National Local Economic Development (LED) Summit at the Birchwood Conference Centre on Wednesday, President Ramaphosa said persistent failures in local government are directly affecting economic opportunity.

“The Auditor-General’s report on local government highlights persistent weaknesses that directly undermine service delivery and constrain local economic development,” he said.

He listed key shortcomings, including “weak financial management and revenue collection, failure to maintain infrastructure, ineffective supply chain management, irregular and wasteful expenditure, and weak consequence management”.

These failures, he said, are felt daily by citizens and businesses.

“These challenges translate into unreliable electricity, water insecurity, poor roads, poor service delivery and unsafe trading environments.” 

President Ramaphosa stressed that governance reform is non-negotiable if municipalities are to play their role in economic development.

“Without fixing governance, we cannot fix service delivery and without fixing service delivery, we cannot unlock local economic development. The task of this summit is to shift the discussion from the problems to the solutions,” the President said. 

He raised concern over the chronic underinvestment in infrastructure maintenance, noting that municipalities are falling far below required benchmarks.

“National Treasury Guidelines require municipalities to budget 8% of the carrying value of property, plant and equipment. Many municipalities are budgeting less than 1%,” he said. 

The President called for improved revenue collection and greater use of private investment to address infrastructure backlogs, saying municipalities must take the lead in resolving service delivery constraints. 

“As my contribution to the deliberations of the summit, there are four sets of actions that I would like to put forward. The first of these is to unblock service delivery constraints at local government level, especially with regards to basic infrastructure,” he said. 

He emphasised that reliable energy, water and transport systems are essential to economic growth. 

“Energy security, water provision, roads and rail lines are the foundation of growth. We have made much progress in tackling load shedding and improving the efficiency of our logistics sector. This summit must now translate national progress into local success,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa added that municipalities must ensure conducive conditions for businesses to operate. 

“Municipalities must be the frontline in unblocking infrastructure constraints, ensuring that the local industrial park has the power it needs… and that township businesses have streetlighting to trade safely beyond daylight hours,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM

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Gianni Merlo re-elected as International Sports Press Association (AIPS) President for sixth and final term in landslide victory

Source: APO

Italy’s Gianni Merlo will continue in his role as President of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) (www.AIPSMedia.com) for another four years after achieving a landslide victory over his Hungarian counterpart Zsuzsa Csisztu on 12 April, during the 88th AIPS Congress at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

Merlo secured a commanding 83 votes (76.85%) out of the 108 valid votes cast to renew his mandate for a sixth and final term. Csisztu from Hungary got 25 votes (23.15%). The only other time Merlo had an opponent in the presidential election was in 2005, when he was first elected.

CONTINUITY “I think the people have decided to continue, because the programme that I proposed is one that is looking to the future and will also help prepare the younger generations,” Merlo said. 

Kenya’s Evelyn Watta beat Ioannis Daras from Greece to the 1st Vice President position with an even bigger margin. The Kenyan took a whopping 99 votes (90%) out of the 110 valid votes, leaving Daras with just 11 (10%). The incumbent Esat Yilmaer from Turkey dropped out of the race prior to the election.

Manuel Queiroz from Portugal was elected as the new treasurer by acclamation following the withdrawal of his opponents. 

In the election for the four Vice President positions, China’s Gao Chao led the way with 83.64% of the votes. He was followed by Ernesto Ortiz Gomez from Uruguay, Michal Dusik from Czechia and Estonia’s Maarja Värv.

EC MEMBERS And out of the 24 that were vying to be EC members, the following 12 were elected: Hiroki Shoda (Japan); Adel Alzahrani (Saudi Arabia); Morad Moutaouakkil (Morocco); Rudy Nuyens (Belgium); Predrag Milinkovic (Serbia); Jura Ozmec (Croatia); Jože Zidar (Slovenia); Ahmed Al-Kaabi (Oman); Sabanayakan Selvakumaraswamy (India); Catalin Tepelin (Romania); Fernando Nürnberg Zambrana (Bolivia); Josef Langer (Austria).

The voting members agreed that after the AIPS Secretary General has been appointed, Mohamed Ould El Hassan (Mauritania), who finished 13th in Sunday’s race, will be automatically appointed to the Executive Committee.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE “The plan is to improve on what we’ve done until now because our association must evolve every year,” said Merlo. “There is new media and many other things and it is important for us to have working groups to study the issues affecting our profession nowadays. We cannot stop now because the situation around the world is changing so quickly so we must begin to think ahead immediately. We must be in contact with the people that have a real vision of what will happen in the future to be ready.

“In this case I will be a coach of a new team where we will find who will be the new striker. And I think that the team is very good and we can do a lot. It depends on the will of everybody. My first duty is to bring them together to play in the proper way with a good strategy on the field. Let’s see because from tomorrow we will begin the first meeting.”

PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMIT Earlier in the day, the Congress had voted in favour of a presidential term limit of a maximum of 12 years but this amendment is to take effect from the next period. In another major decision taken on Sunday, members of the Executive Committee “must be no older than 75 years on January 1 of the year in which the election takes place.”

HONORARY MEMBERS At the end of the Congress six members of the outgoing EC were recognised as Honorary Members. Esat Yilmaer (Türkiye), Charles Camenzuli (Malta), Vicente Dattoli (Brazil), Hiroshi Takeuchi (Japan) and Amjad Mallik (Pakistan), Emanuel Fantaneanu (Romania).

ELECTED AIPS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE 2026 – 2030:

PRESIDENT
Gianni Merlo (Italy) 

1st VICE PRESIDENT
Evelyn Watta (Kenya) 

TREASURER
Manuel Queiroz (Portugal)  

VICE PRESIDENT
Gao Chao (China)
Ernesto Ortiz Gomez (Uruguay)
Michal Dusik (Czechia)
Maarja Värv (Estonia)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Hiroki Shoda (Japan)
Adel Alzahrani (Saudi Arabia)
Morad Moutaouakkil (Morocco)
Rudy Nuyens (Belgium)
Predrag Milinkovic (Serbia)
Jura Ozmec (Croatia)
Jože Zidar (Slovenia)
Ahmed Al-Kaabi (Oman)
Sabanayakan Selvakumaraswamy (India)
Catalin Tepelin (Romania)
Fernando Nürnberg Zambrana (Bolivia) 
Josef Langer (Austria)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Sports Press Association (AIPS).

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Roelf Meyer appointed US ambassador

Source: Government of South Africa

Roelf Meyer appointed US ambassador

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer as South Africa’s Ambassador to the United States, describing him as a seasoned and capable envoy suited to strengthening bilateral relations.

The President confirmed the appointment on the sidelines of the National Local Economic Development (LED) Summit in Boksburg on Wednesday.

“Roelf Meyer is a South African, a very loyal and patriotic South African, who has distinguished himself in a number of areas where he has worked. And yes, he did lead the National Party negotiating team, together with myself. 

“He was a Cabinet Minister in the initial government of national unity and has done very well in those areas,” President Ramaphosa said. 

The President highlighted Meyer’s recent international mediation work as a key asset to his diplomatic role.

“Recently, he’s been involved in mediation processes in a number of countries, and that, in many ways, has sharpened his diplomatic skills, where he has been able to get involved either in conflict situations, trying to bring peace amongst differing warring parties at a very quiet level, continuing to assist even our government in these different diplomatic efforts,” he said. 

The President said Meyer has already begun engaging key stakeholders in the United States.

“When we needed to appoint an Ambassador to the United States, I found him to be more than qualified to be able to work in the United States, recalibrate our relationship with the United States and interface with a number of stakeholders. 

“As it is now, he’s been interfacing with a number of people in the United States, both in Capitol Hill and in the various departments of the United States.

“Already a lot of interactions have taken place. So he is, for me, more than well qualified to execute this task,” the President said. 

He added that Meyer is expected to formally present his credentials to the US government.

“He still has to present his credentials to the government of the United States or to the President of the United States and I am more than hopeful that just as we have received and accepted the credentials of Ambassador Bozell, he will also be accredited equally in that manner,” President Ramaphosa said. 

President Ramaphosa expressed confidence that Meyer will represent South Africa effectively.

“He has always flown the South African flag, and he will do so like all our ambassadors all over the world, and all we should do is to wish him well and the very best, and give him all the support that he needs,” the President said. 

He emphasised the importance of the United States as a strategic partner.

“The United States is the largest economy in the world, and it still plays an important role in our own economic fortunes,” said the President. – SAnews.gov.za

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President drives red tape cuts and local business support to unlock township economies

Source: Government of South Africa

President drives red tape cuts and local business support to unlock township economies

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for sweeping reforms to cut red tape and support small businesses, warning that bureaucratic delays at municipal level are driving away investment and limiting opportunities for township entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the 2026 National Local Economic Development (LED) Summit at the Birchwood Conference Centre, President Ramaphosa said improving the ease of doing business must be a top priority for local government.

“Cutting red tape is crucial both to attract large scale investments and also to enable informal traders and small township entrepreneurs to succeed,” he said on Wednesday. 

While acknowledging progress in some municipalities, he expressed concern that these remain isolated successes.

“Some of our cities and municipalities have done well in improving the ease of doing business. They have systems and targets for zoning approvals, issuing construction permits, connecting businesses with water and electricity, issuing trading and business licences, including using e-registration systems. There is regulatory certainty. However, I worry that these municipalities are the exception rather than the rule,” the President said. 

He pointed to administrative inefficiencies that continue to block economic activity.

“More often than not, bureaucratic delays at municipal level prevent local investments from getting over the line,” he said. 

Among the key challenges are delays in issuing business licences, which prevent small enterprises from accessing support.

“There are backlogs in issuing business licences, which, among other things, prevent micro enterprises from accessing government support. This must change,” he emphasised. 

President Ramaphosa said government is working to address these issues through policy reforms, including the Business Licensing Bill and the Red Tape Reduction Framework, but stressed that municipalities must act decisively. 

“We call on local government to drive its own red tape reduction reforms,” he said. 

He further urged stronger collaboration between municipalities and the private sector to unlock local economic potential.

“We would also like to see continuous engagement with local business associations and forums, so that we may understand their frustrations and address their concerns,” he said. 

The President emphasised that investment decisions are heavily influenced by how business-friendly municipalities are.

“Investment will always gravitate towards municipalities that make it easy to do business,” the President said. 

He also called on established businesses to partner with municipalities, develop local suppliers, invest in skills and open value chains. 

“We must leave this summit with a programme of action that binds us to clear deliverables and timelines. 

“We must ensure that the collaborative blueprint we draft here over the next two days contributes to a new reality for every South African, for every business, in every municipality, in every corner of our land,” he said. 

He concluded by reaffirming the country’s entrepreneurial potential and the need to create an enabling environment for it to thrive.

“South Africa is a country of entrepreneurs. Our task is to unleash their potential and, in so doing, to build an inclusive economy that creates opportunities for all,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

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