Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

The Youth Charter (YC) (www.YouthCharter.org) today announced the Africa-focused expansion of its acclaimed Youth 4 Africa Framework, calling for a new era of holistic, integrated and cross-sector youth development across the continent. Building on over 30 years of global experience in Sport for Development and Peace (SDP), the Youth Charter is urging African governments, CAF member associations, Pan-African institutions, NGOs, the private sector, and international development agencies to align sport, education, health, employment and peacebuilding into a unified strategy for delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

This announcement comes as African partners accelerate youth-focused initiatives across the continent, including the Tibu Africa–IOM Morocco Africa Cup of Living Together and the CAF x Afreximbank Schools Football Programme, both of which demonstrate the growing commitment to using sport as a driver of human development, opportunity and social cohesion.

Sport as a Catalyst for African Youth Empowerment

According to Geoff Thompson, Youth Charter Founder & Executive Chair:

“Africa’s youth are the greatest asset the continent possesses. But to unlock their potential, we must move beyond isolated projects and adopt an integrated, holistic model of community transformation. Sport—linked with education, employability, health and peace—is a powerful engine for hope, aspiration and opportunity.”

The Youth 4 Africa approach builds on the Youth Charter’s Community Campus Model, an ecosystem that integrates:

• Sport & Physical Activity
• Education & Digital Skills
• Health, Wellbeing & Life Skills
• Arts, Culture & Creative Expression
• Training, Employment & Enterprise Pathways
• Peacebuilding, Citizenship & Social Cohesion

A Continental Shift: Evidence from Morocco & the CAF Ecosystem

The Youth Charter highlights recent African initiatives as evidence of an emerging continental movement:

1. Tibu Africa & IOM Morocco – Africa Cup of Living Together

A model of sport as social inclusion, engaging migrant and Moroccan youth with education, leadership, and employability pathways—advancing SDGs on quality education, reduced inequalities, sustainable communities and peace.

2. CAF x Afreximbank Schools Football Development

A landmark partnership positioning football as a workforce pipeline for African youth, connecting early-age sport participation to career pathways across coaching, administration, media, events, technology and sport entrepreneurship.

These initiatives demonstrate how sport, when embedded within national strategies, can strengthen Africa’s human capital, reduce inequality and support peaceful, cohesive societies.

Call to African Institutions and International Partners

The Youth Charter is calling for:

• African Union (AU) bodies to integrate holistic sport-for-development frameworks into Agenda 2063 implementation.
• CAF, Member Associations and Ministries of Sport/Education to expand community-based sport ecosystems linked with learning and employment.
• Afreximbank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and private sector partners to invest in sport-driven youth development and community infrastructure.
• International agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, IOM, UNESCO) to embed sport and culture within youth, migration, peacebuilding and resilience programmes.

“Sport is Africa’s universal language,” Thompson added. “If we integrate it with education, skills and opportunity, we can empower millions of young Africans to become tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs and peacebuilders.”

– on behalf of Youth Charter.

Media Contact:
Youth Charter International Secretariat
Email: info@youthcharter.org
Website: www.YouthCharter.org
Phone: +44 (0)161 223 2440

Youth Charter @ Social Media:
LinkedIn: @ YouthCharter
Facebook: @ YouthCharter
Instagram: @ youthchartersdp
YouTube: @ YouthCharter
X: @ YOUTHCHARTER

Youth Charter #Hashtags:
#International Olympic Committee 
#Olympism
#Fight4theStreets
#YoungLivesLost
#Call2Action 
#LegacyOpportunity4All
#SportDevelopmentPeace
#Empowerthenextgeneration
#CommonwealthSecretariat
#UNSustainableDevelopmentGoals

About Youth Charter:
The Youth Charter is a UK registered charity and UN accredited non-governmental organisation. Launched in 1993 as part of the Manchester 2000 Olympic Bid and the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the Youth Charter has Campaigned and Promoted the role and value of sport, art, culture and digital technology in the lives of disaffected young people from disadvantaged communities nationally and internationally. The Youth Charter has a proven track record in the creation and delivery of social and human development programmes with the overall aim of providing young people with an opportunity to develop in life.

Specifically, The Youth Charter Tackles educational non-attainment, health inequality, anti-social behaviour and the negative effects of crime, drugs, gang related activity and racism by applying the ethics of sporting and artistic excellence. These can then be translated to provide social and economic benefits of citizenship, rights responsibilities, with improved education, health, social order, environment and college, university, employment and enterprise.

Source: APO – Report:

Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) unveils an exciting dual release: the powerful EOS R6 Mark III and innovative RF 45mm F1.2 STM prime lens – both designed for storytellers looking to elevate their creativity.

The EOS R6 Mark III is a powerful stills camera with advanced filmmaking features, offering exceptional quality and control for photographers covering a range of subjects from sports and wildlife to weddings and portraits. Positioned above the EOS R6 Mark II, the EOS R6 Mark III offers significant upgrades in resolution, tracking, and connectivity offering additional choice alongside the existing EOS R5 and EOS R6 models.

Joining the lineup is the innovative RF 45mm F1.2 STM, Canon’s lightest f/1.2 RF lens at just 346g. This lens stands out in its category – it is ultra-fast, features smooth autofocus and delivers performance without a professional-level price tag. The lens introduces Canon’s widest aperture to the enthusiast range for the first time, offering excellent low-light performance and greater creativity. The RF 45mm F1.2 STM is a game-changer for photographers seeking depth of field control and outstanding creative results.

EOS R6 Mark III: Quality meets performance

The EOS R6 Mark III delivers an exceptional balance of resolution, speed and reliability – making it a versatile tool for a wide range of photography styles. Featuring a newly developed 32.5 megapixel full frame sensor and 40fps continuous shooting [1], it captures more detail than the EOS R6 Mark II while maintaining impressive speed. With an expanded buffer capable of handling up to 150 RAW images in a single burst (when using CFexpress cards), intelligent autofocus tracking, and robust filmmaking features, the EOS R6 Mark III is built for action. Its customisable controls and weather-resistant body [2] make it a resilient and adaptable camera that fits seamlessly into any creative workflow – from sports and wildlife to events, landscapes and portraits.

The EOS R6 Mark III excels in low light [3], offering an ISO range up to 64,000 for clean, detailed images even in challenging conditions. In-camera crop modes effectively extend reach – perfect for wildlife and sports – while up to 8.5 stops [4] of combined image stabilisation keep handheld shots sharp and steady.

This camera also demands less storage than the EOS R5 line, offering a well-balanced trade-off between file size and performance. It supports faster workflows, eases storage requirements and still delivers the image quality that users expect.

Never miss a moment

The EOS R6 Mark III is a reliable companion for high-pressure occasions like sporting events, weddings, and red carpets, with several new and improved features over its predecessors. Improved tracking algorithms lock onto moving subjects – including trains, airplanes, and horses – with greater ease, while the Register People Priority function allows users to pre-select 10 faces for priority tracking. For even more peace of mind, pre-continuous shooting records 20 frames in H+ mode before the shutter is pressed, in full RAW, JPEG, or HEIF.

Discover your inner filmmaker

For photographers expanding into video, the EOS R6 Mark III offers a seamless and confident entry into the world of filmmaking. It captures stunning 7K RAW Light footage up to 60p, delivers beautifully detailed oversampled 4K 60p with cinematic motion and supports 4K 120p for even slower, more dramatic results. Full HD 180fps recording is also available for creative slow-motion effects.

Content can easily be repurposed across platforms with Open Gate, a capability that captures the entire sensor’s output to enable more flexibility in framing, stabilisation, and post-processing. It also supports pro-level tools like waveform monitor, proxies, metadata tagging, full-size HDMI, and 4-channel audio.

Built for a smoother workflow

The EOS R6 Mark III introduces a range of new and improved features that also support a smarter, faster workflow. Dual aspect markers frame for multiple platforms in one shot, while a redesigned control tab offers a customised shooting experience. For better organisation and security, dual card slots support the fast and high-capacity CFexpress Type B and the widely used UHS-II SD. Quick and secure file transfers are also guaranteed thanks to built-in wireless connectivity, with support for the latest 5 GHz Wi-Fi [5] and Bluetooth 5.1.

Key features of EOS R6 Mark III:

• 32.5 megapixel resolution
• 40fps [1] electronic shutter
• Up to 8.5-stop IS [4]
• Wi-Fi [5] and Bluetooth
• CFexpress and UHS-II SD card slots
• Up to 7K RAW video
• Open Gate

RF 45mm F1.2 STM: Fast aperture, high impact

The RF 45mm F1.2 STM marks several firsts, introducing Canon’s first f/1.2 aperture non-professional RF lens, weighing under 350g and offering autofocus at an accessible price point. Positioned within the enthusiast RF lens range, it is designed to inspire creative experimentation with beautifully shallow depth of field and expressive low-light imagery. Until now, the super-fast f/1.2 aperture was exclusive to lenses costing much more, with users now able to explore cinematic storytelling, lifestyle shoots and portraits with stunning clarity and mood. Canon’s STM AF technology ensures subjects stay sharp, allowing photographers to focus on their vision. 

Designed for everyday versatility

The RF 45mm F1.2 STM is highly versatile with a constant length with separate focus and control rings making it a strong choice for hybrid storytellers. The RF 45mm F1.2 STM also has a convenient 67mm filter size and a minimum focusing distance of 45cm, giving creatives the freedom to fine-tune their results. This new lens also features a durable metal mount, 9-blade aperture, and compatibility with Canon’s focus breathing correction technology, all working together to deliver lasting performance and stunning results.

Key features of RF 45mm F1.2 STM

• Lightweight at 346g
• 45mm standard focal length
• Super-fast f/1.2 aperture
• STM autofocus motor
• Dedicated control ring
• 9-blade aperture
• Super Spectra coating
• Focus breathing correction compatibility

More power. More creativity.

Launched side by side, these two products expand Canon’s growing EOS R System of high-performance creative tools. The EOS R6 Mark III bridges the gap between the EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R6 Mark II for storytellers that need both resolution and speed, while the RF 45mm F1.2 STM sets a new benchmark for fast-aperture lenses. Together, these launches continue Canon’s mission to empower photographers with tools that are designed to elevate creativity at every level. 

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– on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (http://apo-opa.co/4hLqsdi) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com

Source: APO – Report:

CEM Africa today announces that NiCE, in partnership with iNOVO, has been appointed Lead Sponsor for the CEM Africa Johannesburg Edition, and the 2025 Customer Experience Africa Awards (CXAs), both of which will take place on Thursday, 20 November 2025 at the NH Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.

NiCE’s leadership in AI‑driven customer experience, coupled with iNOVO’s deep contact centre expertise, will power a high‑impact programme in Johannesburg designed to convert CX ambition into measurable business outcomes across South Africa’s economic hub.

A day built for ROI: practical AI, measurable outcomes

Anchored in CEM Africa’s commitment to create enterprise value from CX, the Johannesburg agenda features:

• NiCE: AI Vision to Reality – The Why (09:00–10:00): A strategic session exploring the real business value of AI in customer experience, guided by NiCE and iNOVO CX/AI specialists.
• NiCE: AI Vision to Reality – The How (12:00–13:00): A practical workshop showing how to translate AI strategy into scalable execution with the right tools, workflows and delivery approach, guided by NiCE and iNOVO CX/AI specialists.

“We absolutely love attending CEM Africa and are proud to be the Lead Sponsor for the Johannesburg edition. CEM is such a brilliant place to connect with like-minded people who are thinking differently about how the market works. The level of engagement and the insights you gain from these conversations are incredible, and the team behind CEM always does a fantastic job bringing it all together.” – Keith Jackson, VP Partner Sales, NiCE International

Speakers from NiCE and iNOVO

Delegates will hear from a strong combined bench, including:

• Keith Jackson, VP Partner Sales, NiCE International
• Andre van Eeden, Portfolio Solution Engineer, NiCE
• Kerri Prissman, Head of Client Value Management, iNOVO;
• Parusha Naidoo, Head of Business Solutions, iNOVO
• Michael Ludeke, Regional Head: Business Development, iNOVO.

A day of high impact learning and connecting

The complete programme for the day spans a diverse set of workshops that will give attendees practical insights on measuring CX ROI, driving human‑centric digital transformation, and prioritising employee engagement.

Sessions explore keeping CX human in the age of AI, turning strategy into action with executive buy‑in, and leveraging smarter knowledge for better CX.

Featured contributors include Greg Jarvis (Connect SA), Tatiana Ndlovu (Nedbank Africa Regions), Palesa Nhlapo (FNB South Africa), Khwathelani Tshikovhi (Santam Insurance), and Grace Brown (JSE), to name just a few of the incredible CX leaders who will be sharing their insights in Johannesburg.

“CEM Africa has always been about more than great content, it is about cultivating a strong community of CX leaders who collaborate to raise the bar across the continent. Our partnership with NiCE reflects that spirit of collaboration, uniting innovation and expertise to drive measurable impact and elevate customer experience standards across Africa.” commented Terry Southam, Co-founder of CEM Africa

Event details – CEM Africa Johannesburg Edition

• Date: Thursday, 20 November 2025
• Venue: NH Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg
• Format: One‑day roadshow with expert‑led workshops, networking, and the CXA Awards evening

Why attend

• Turn AI vision into operational reality with proven methods and live demonstrations.
• Benchmark CX ROI metrics and secure executive buy‑in with practical frameworks.
• Build peer connections across banking, retail, healthcare, and telecoms.

– on behalf of VUKA Group.

Registration and media enquiries:
Delegate and sponsorship enquiries: Here (https://apo-opa.co/3Ligu79)

Media contact: 
steven.dennett@wearevuka.com

About CEM Africa:
CEM Africa is a brand built on the power of customer experience to drive meaningful change. Through market news, expert knowledge, and a series of digital offerings and in-person events across the continent, we bring together innovation, collaboration, and action to shape the future of CX. Guided by our commitment to “Excellence in Every Experience,” we are dedicated to advancing customer engagement and empowering organisations to deliver exceptional value to their customers.

CEM Johannesburg Edition Website – https://apo-opa.co/4hLfcO5
CEM Flagship edition website – https://apo-opa.co/47BrchP

About the CXAs:
The Customer Experience Africa Awards is an evening that recognises people, innovation, and transformation across the continent’s CX community – from CX Leader of the Year to Best Use of AI, Best Enterprise Contact Centre Platform, and Best Customer Experience Team. The awards are proudly aligned with the CEM Africa Johannesburg Edition 2025.

CXA website – https://apo-opa.co/4hQBUo8

Source: APO

The multifaceted challenges of water management, governance and infrastructure financing were robustly addressed in a dynamic Turning risk into resilience – Spotlighting C&I Projects tackling SA’s biggest water challenges session at the recent Water Security Africa Johannesburg conference (http://apo-opa.co/4hLpIoh), co-located with C&I Energy+Storage Summit, featuring leaders from mining, engineering and digital innovation sectors. Discussions covered visionary planning, on-the-ground implementation and transformative financing tools, yielding fresh perspectives on water security for both private and public operators.

Harmony Gold’s roadmap: operational vision for water resiliency

Thigesh Vather, Senior Environment Officer-Water (Sustainable Development Department) Harmony Gold, opened the session by outlining the group’s “water ambition roadmap”—a strategic framework designed to drive improved communication, accountability and performance measurement in water management. With operations across South Africa, Australia and Papua New Guinea, Harmony faces the universal mining challenge: water- and energy-intense production with heightened resource risk.

Their approach targets not only operational efficiency but also sustainability, emphasizing reduction in potable water dependency and elevated recycling rates. Critical investments include installing several reverse osmosis (RO) plants, collectively treating over 20 mega litres daily and offsetting considerable reliance on external supplies. A blend of clear metrics, such as tracking potable water dependency as a percent of total use and a focus on asset lifecycle risk (including mine closure and acquisition impacts) underline a forward-thinking strategy. Notably, from 2016 to 2024, Harmony achieved a substantial decrease in potable water dependency—primarily via recycling and sophisticated RO deployment.

Digital water governance: Innovation meets opportunity

Benoit Le Roux, co-founder of the South African Water Chamber, delivered a compelling presentation detailing the transformative potential of digital tools and market instruments for water governance. He highlighted two central threats: widespread water loss (non-revenue water) and persistent pollution—problems compounded by aging infrastructure and governance gaps.

Le Roux emphasized how digital transformation, using IoT sensors, big data analytics and distributed ledger (blockchain) systems, brings real-time transparency to both water systems and financing. Through tokenisation—the conversion of water savings or mitigation actions into secure, blockchain-based “digital assets”—water performance can be audited, traded and used to attract new investment. This model, proven in the US and Australia, holds promise for countries like South Africa where traditional municipal finances are constrained and require “de-risking” to attract pension funds and bond issuers.

The creation of ring-fenced, project-based entities (special purpose vehicles) ensures investments directly support tangible infrastructure, rather than vanishing into broader government coffers. Transparent digital markets and protocols allow for performance tracking, incentivizing both improved compliance and stakeholder trust.

Bridging Public-Private gaps: Stakeholder engagement and PPP models

The session also saw industry experts from mining and academia raise nuances around operational resilience, regulatory shifts and stakeholder engagement. Thiara Ratshibvumo, Environmental Manager, South Deep Gold Mine discussed the build-own-operate funding model for water plants—a contract structure where private operators build, finance and run assets, while the mine pays for actual water processed. This reduces up-front capital demands and operational risk for the mining company, providing flexibility and resilience in a volatile operating landscape.

Panellists underscored the importance of aligning water management with catchment requirements, climate resilience and community impact—factors that are drawing increasing investor scrutiny. The incorporation of digital performance measurement, contractual guarantees and transparent reporting is equipping the private sector and PPPs to better attract and manage blended infrastructure funding.

Towards a new water investment paradigm

The session’s robust exchange distilled key lessons for water sector leaders: marry technology with transparent governance; build creative, risk-minimized funding models; and prioritize measurable outcomes over rhetoric. As digital tools proliferate, the potential to unlock both local and international capital for resilient water infrastructure is increasingly within reach. Public sector actors, industrial water users and financiers alike were called upon to harness these innovations to meet the evolving challenges of water security and sustainability.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

About the C&I Energy+Storage Summit:
In its second year, the C&I Summit is a platform to unlock investment and speed up localisation, helping South Africa’s energy-intensive sectors build resilience through innovation and resource security. Water Security Africa is co-located with C&I Energy+ Storage Summit. https://Energy-StorageSummit.com/

About ESI Africa:
Africa’s leading power and energy journal is positioned as an impartial industry mouthpiece, delivering the latest technical developments, breaking news and analysis in both print and digital formats, on the web portal http://www.ESI-Africa.com as well as YouTube channel @ ESIAfricaTV (https://apo-opa.co/47pS2cu). ESI Africa is the proud Host Media Partner of the C&I Energy+Storage Summit.

About the event organisers:
VUKA Group connects people and organisations to information and each other across Africa’s energy, mining, infrastructure, mobility, green economy and technology sectors via events, content and networking. Venture partners to The Global Trust Project, founders of WomenIN empowerment platform and leaders of NPO Go Green Africa. Discover more at www.WeAreVUKA.com

Source: APO

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Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Mr.Ahmed Attaf, held talks on Wednesday at the ministry’s headquarters with his Tunisian counterpart, Mr.Mohamed Ali Nafti.

For his part, Tunisia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad is visiting Algeria ahead of Thursday’s tripartite meeting of neighboring countries on Libya.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss progress in various areas of fraternal relations and cooperation, which enjoy special attention from the two countries’ leaders, President of the Republic Mr.Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his brother, President Mr.Kais Saied.

Both FMs emphasized the need to prepare for the 23rd Algeria-Tunisia Joint High Commission to achieve further progress and secure new gains in bilateral relations, partnership, and integration.

They also discussed several issues of common interest, particularly developments in their shared regional neighborhood.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.

Source: APO

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HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met on Wednesday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore; HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia Sara Beysolow Nyanti; HE Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Nigeriens Abroad of the Republic of Niger Bakary Yaou Sangare; HE Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad of the Republic of The Gambia Sering Modou Njie; HE Minister of Health and Social Development of the Republic of Mali Assa Badiallo Toure; and HE Special Representative of the African Union Commission for Mali and the Sahel and Head of the African Union Mission in Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL) Mamadou Tangara, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, taking place in Doha.

The meeting discussed the State of Qatar’s constructive cooperation relations with each of the five countries and the African Union, and ways to support and strengthen these relations.

The meeting explored the latest developments in the Sahel region, efforts to promote security and stability there, and means for regional cooperation to help achieve peace and prosperity for the peoples of the region.

The meeting also stressed the importance of coordinating regional and international efforts to support development and address the humanitarian and security challenges facing the countries of the region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.

Source: APO

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HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met Wednesday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the the Republic of Zambia Mulambo Haimbe, on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, currently held in Doha.

Discussion during the meeting focused on cooperation relations and ways to support and strengthen them, in addition to several issues of mutual interest. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.

Source: APO

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Mr. Mihreteab Abraha from the Ministry of Health has called for coordinated efforts to enhance public understanding of tropical diseases.

Citing a study conducted in 2007, Mr. Mihreteab noted that over one million people worldwide suffer from tropical diseases. He further stated that, with a view to controlling the prevalence of such diseases, the Ministry of Health has been organizing training programs for health professionals and ensuring the supply of medicines to health facilities.

Mr. Mihreteab also said that in 2014 and 2015, the Ministry conducted research at 345 elementary and junior schools across the country on the prevalence of bilharzia and intestinal worms, finding cases of bilharzia in 28 of the 58 sub-zones surveyed.

Accordingly, Mr. Mihreteab indicated that medicines for bilharzia and intestinal worms have been distributed to over 1.8 million and 688 thousand people, respectively.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.