Increase domestic consumption of milk and other dairy products

AU HAILS 'AFRICAN JEWEL' AS CONTINENTAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES PLATFORM LAUNCHED

JOHANNESBURG - member states to access medheld a media briefing, giving The AU chair said the site million people have been inwould operate. He said the African leaders have ical supplies in response to the an update on the platform. would be able to resolve issues fected across the globe. website would "unashamedly" lauded the launch of Covid-19 pandemic. The platform was develaround supply shortages, seZimbabwean businessman put products manufactured the continent's first On Thursday, African oped in partnership with curity, price competitiveness, Strive Masiyiwa, who was apon the continent first, and medical supplies platform Union (AU) chairperson Afreximbank. procurement and logistical depointed as the AU special enthat the allocation of supplies as the "jewel in the crown of President Cyril Ramaphosa, "Out of the ashes of Covid-19 lays, while also simplifying the voy leading global mobilisation differed between countries Pan-African cooperation." AU Commission chairperson the continent is going to be payment process. of medical test kits and protecdepending on population size

The initiative, described Moussa Faki and the director of able to trade together in a More than 7, 200 people tive equipment for the contiand disease burden in line with as groundbreaking innovathe Africa Centres for Disease much more forthright manner have died from the pandemic nent this month, gave a brief a formula developed in agreetion, will serve as a one-stop Control and Prevention (Africa and even more transparently in Africa, with 267, 818 conpresentation of how the Africa ment with the World Health shop for the continent's 55 CDC) Dr John Nkengasong as well," Ramaphosa said. firmed cases. Around eight medical supplies platform Organisation. – FIN24.

DAIRY ASSOCIATION OF ZAMBIA

JOB OPPORTUNITY – Dairy Development Officer

The Dairy Association of Zambia (DAZ) is a membership based industry Association largely comprising dairy producers and dairy processors, with membership being open to industry allied players as well and included here are dairy input/equipment suppliers and financial service providers. The Association is an affiliated member of the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU).

In its strategic plan for the period 2016 to 2021, DAZ seeks to:

Improve production and productivity of raw milk for the formal market by smallholder dairy producers; Increase domestic consumption of milk and other dairy products; Improve competitiveness of Zambian raw milk and other dairy products in the region; Enhance collaboration with ZNFU, MFL, MCTI and other critical industry stakeholders for enhanced lobby and advocacy for the development of the dairy sector in Zambia; and Enduringly improve its financial status.

DAZ has continued to receive organisational and developmental support from its collaborating partners for implementation of its strategic plan and enhancement of its effectiveness in undertaking its core mandate of promoting and protecting the interests of the Zambian dairy industry and help develop it for both domestic and export markets.

In its quest to promote and protect its members (and the dairy industry at large), DAZ needs to be effective in: Data/Information Collection; Supporting the Conduct and Development of the Dairy Industry; Assisting Members of the Association with Extension Support Services and Advice; Supporting Association Members with Production, Marketing and Promoting their Dairy Businesses as well as Products; and Improving Consumer Awareness and Education of Communities about Benefits of Dairy Products, among others, thereby ensuring development and growth of the dairy industry in Zambia.

Dairy Development Officer

In view of the above, DAZ requires services of a suitably qualified person to fill up the position of Dairy Development Officer to be based in Lusaka at the DAZ Secretariat.

Duties

- Keeping and maintaining direct contact and intercommunication between the DAZ Secretariat and the entire membership base (Individual members,

Dairy Cooperatives, Dairy Processors and Allied Industries); - Keeping and maintaining direct contact, liaison and intercommunication between the DAZ Secretariat, collaborating partners and other stakeholders; - Spearheading and coordinating all DAZ support services provision to the entire membership base, collaborating partners and other stakeholders; - Maintaining functional, effective and efficient DAZ organisational structures among members, Collaborating Partners and other stakeholders; and - To perform any other outreach, member services and administrative duties as shall be determined by management.

Qualification

- A degree in dairy sciences or an equivalent from a reputable university; - A degree in agriculture sciences or an equivalent from a reputable university; - Experience in dairy management, extension services and organisational developmental work; and - Experience in business development services provision will be an added advantage. The Dairy Development Officer will be engaged on a 2 year contract, subject to renewal depending on performance. If interested and qualified, kindly send applications to the undersigned by 24 th June, 2020;

The Executive Manager,

Dairy Association of Zambia, Plot J7, Bata Boulevard, BDO Building, Showgrounds, P.O. Box 30395, LUSAKA.

WHO eyes hundreds of millions of Covid-19 vaccine doses before 2021

GENEVA - The World Health Organisation said on Thursday that a few hundred million Covid-19 vaccine doses could be produced by the end of the year - and be targeted at those most vulnerable to the virus.

The UN health agency said it was working on that assumption, with a view to two billion doses by the end of 2021, as pharmaceutical firms rush to find a vaccine.

WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said researchers were working on more than 200 vaccine candidates around the world, including 10 that are in human testing.

“If we’re very lucky, there will be one or two successful

candidates before the end of this year,” she told a virtual press conference.

She identified three groups most in need of the first wave of vaccine doses.

They are front-line workers with high exposure, such as medics and police officers; those most vulnerable to the disease, such as the elderly and diabetics; and people in high-transmission settings, such as urban slums and care homes.

“You have to start with the most vulnerable and then progressively vaccinate more people,” Swaminathan said.

“We are working on the assumption that we may have a couple of hundred million doses at the end of this year, very optimistically,” she said.

“We’re hoping that in 2021 we will have two billion doses of one, two or three effective vaccines to be distributed around the world. But there’s a big ‘if’ there, because we don’t yet have any vaccine that’s proven.

“But because of all the investments going into this, let’s say we have two billion doses by the end of 2021 - we should be able to vaccinate at least these priority populations.” – AFP.

Rise in teenage pregnancies after Kenyan schools shut

NAIROBI - Officials in Kenya say that there has been a significant rise in teenage pregnancies, especially since the start of Covid-19 restrictions in March.

Data released by the Health ministry show that in just one county about 4, 000 teenage girls have become pregnant since the start of the year.

Schools were closed nationwide in mid-March as part of safety measures announced by government. The authorities are concerned that in many cases it is relatives of the underage girls who are involved. Officials also fear that the real numbers could be much higher as teenage pregnancies are often under-reported.

Political leaders in several of Kenya’s 47 counties have asked the government to investigate the rise in numbers.

Kenya has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the world, making up 82 out of 1, 000 births. – BBC.