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Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

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English language clubs help Malagasy students and professionals master American English, opening a wide range of local and global opportunities.  Well-trained club moderators are key to helping students achieve proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  The U.S. government, in collaboration with nonprofit association Ndeha Hianatra Izahay, launched a two-day workshop June 16 to train 30 of Mahajanga’s English club moderators in the use of innovative teaching methods and resources to both and grow and sustain English clubs in the region.

U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Officer Laseanta Stafford officially launched the English Club Moderator Training (ECMT) at the American Corner of Mahajanga.  Dr. Kathleen F. Malu, Professor of Literacy, Language, Research and ESL/Bilingual Education at William Paterson University of New Jersey will train English club leaders to create, run, and moderate English clubs using American English teaching and learning materials developed by the U.S. government and available at americanenglish.state.gov  .

Building upon the success of five ECMT workshops held in Antananarivo and Taolagnaro since 2021, the Mahajanga program expands the network of expert English Club leaders equipped with the skills and resources to lead English Clubs in local schools and communities.

Since 2017, the U.S. government has worked like “mpirahalahy mianala” with the Government of Madagascar and Malagasy educators to improve the teaching and learning of English.  This collaboration has led to revisions of the national high school English curriculum, professional training for 2,750 English educators, and the strengthening of American English methods and resources in high schools, universities, and English clubs across the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Madagascar.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

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The Prime Minister, Mr. Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane promoted 294 Police Recruits to Police Constables during a pass-out parade held at Police Training College (PTC) in Maseru on Friday.

Mr. Matekane reminded the police that they are entrusted to maintain peace and stability as well as to prevent crime in the country.

He said stability leads to the country’s economic development as investors will be attracted to invest in a country that has stability.

He said the government is concerned about the high rate of crime in the country, which include among other killings and stock theft.

He urged the newly appointed Police Constables to bear in mind the police mandate and to respect the rights of all people.

He, therefore, wished them success and strength in the job they have been called for, urging them to respect themselves so that they can be respected by other people.

The Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Mr. Lebona Lephema congratulated the newly promoted Police Constables on completing their training and wished them success.

Mr. Lephema said it is the mandate of the government to fight crime in the country, noting that the government will ensure that they provide the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) with the resources they need for their work.

He strongly urged them to respect their job and other people so that they can be respected as they are trusted to protect Basotho.

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, Compol Holomo Molibeli congratulated the Police Constables and strongly condemned the behaviour of accepting bribes, saying whoever does will be dismissed.

Compol Molibeli noted that the recruits took 13 months in training, saying they have moved from six months to ensure that the recruits are well equipped with the skill to do their jobs.

Compol Molibeli reminded new Police Constables that they have been sworn to serve Basotho selflessly and with respect, urging them to fulfil the mandate of LMPS, which is to provide safety and security to all as well as to prevent crime in partnership with the community and other stakeholders.

He encouraged them to implement what they have learned during the training for the betterment of Basotho and the LMPS, urging them to avoid activities that go against the rules and regulations of the LMPS.

The training commenced on 1st May 2022 and the recruits were equipped with skills like drill walking, self-defence, physical training, patriotism and discipline.

As part of the ceremony, the Prime Minister presented awards to those who performed well in drill walk, discipline, academic performance, fitness, leadership, horse riding, enthusiasm, marksman and physical training.

At the pass-out ceremony, Cabinet Ministers, senior government officials and the public were present.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

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Music lovers will know that star drummers, and drumming in general, tend to divide opinions and, in some cultures, become symbols of teenage love, longing and angst.

It is, however, less known that peace, in some cases, may very well begin with drums.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, is currently supporting a community-led initiative to restore harmonious relations between the two villages of Omoruo and Lohilai, with percussions hoped to play a key role.

In December last year, members of the two communities, who used to coexist without frictions, were rocked by outbursts of violence as a result of both sides accusing each other of targeted killings and road ambushes.

In a particularly memorable – for all the wrong reasons – attack, no less than 23 exquisitely handmade wooden drums belonging to Omoruo musicians were burnt to ashes.

Now, following joint efforts to mend relations, the tide seems to have turned, in part thanks to a music-producing peace offering made by the UN Peacekeeping mission’s Civil Affairs Division.

“We are experiencing real peace between our villages again, with women and men travelling to both areas without any problems or security issues. Last week they invited us for a traditional ceremony in Lohilai. This shows that we have finally achieved reconciliation,” said Ikeye Ihiju, a women’s representative living in Omoruo.

During a recent peace dialogue facilitated by civil society organizations, the church, local authorities and other influencers, it was agreed that damages caused during the conflict should be compensated, drums included. UNMISS peacekeepers resolved to step in, by making a first installment.

“We have handed over eleven drums to the Omorou village, with the rest to be delivered once we see those imaginary white flags of peace flap permanently in the wind. More peace, more music, you could say,” explained Civil Affairs Officer Hercules Ayahu Abalu, serving with UNMISS.

So far, so good, according to Osman Anthony, a Lohilai community representative.

“We have returned to our usual state of peaceful relations. What happened between us is history; now we need to focus on rebuilding and develop our area,” he said.

An indication of prevailing goodwill between the two villages is the fact that some 1,500 people, mostly women and children, who once fled intense violence, have returned to their homes.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

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World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed today, 16 June, at the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to the Public Relations office of the Ministry of Agriculture, the day has been focused on the rights of women on the use of land.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Semere Amlesom, Director General of Agricultural Extension at the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the objective of the Day was to promote the awareness of the public on combating desertification and drought, encourage public participation, promote the participation of women in the Sustainable Development Goals in particular and in land management in particular as well as role of leadership, and decision making of women.

Mr. Semere also presented a report focusing on the strong participation of women after Independence in the water and soil conservation activities, construction of dams and micro-dams, developing and expanding smokeless oven as well in the forestation and reserve lands.

At the event, messages were presented by the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Control Desertification, a statement of the National Union of Eritrean Women focusing on the practical contribution of women in combating desertification and land degradation, as well as a briefing on the role and objective of the World Convention to Combat Desertification.

The participants on their part conducted extensive discussion on the report presented and adopted various recommendations including strengthening integrated national strategic plan to combat desertification and drought, strengthening the participation and rights of women in land usage among others.

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

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

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Aubrey Timoti is not willing to take chances when it comes to sanitation issues in his community after witnessing his neighbours lose two children to cholera.

Timoti (28) from Kulima village in Malawi’s Chikwawa District in the Southern Region is an advocate for the setting up of Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) in the community to curb the cholera outbreak that has wreaked havoc in the country for the past two years.

 “I lost two neighbours to cholera. My two children are victims of cholera too. I understand the severity of cholera. I have lived it,” he said.

“It was important to set up an ORP for our community at a central point so everyone could access the services.”

Since the beginning of the year, the World Health Organization (WHO) with funding from Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) has been conducting community sensitization programmes countrywide to identify the drivers of cholera and mitigate its spread.

This has enabled Timoti and his community access to services that are helping to fight the cholera outbreak. 

He spoke at one of the meetings organized by WHO’’s Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) teams, which highlighted the importance of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the fight against cholera and the central role that ORPs can play.

The meetings were attended by chiefs, community residents, faith leaders, health centre management committees, and ward councilors.

“What is unique is that during the community leader’s engagement meetings, we employed a bottom-up approach where the local leaders convened and discussed context specific community cholera drivers, issues around ORPs functionality focusing on stigma, myths and misconceptions and came up with local solutions including ideal locations to install ORPs in the communities. By so doing, the community became active stakeholders to address cholera in their communities,” says Denford Chuma , WHO RCCE Team Lead for cholera outbreak response in Malawi.

He added. “Some of the found drivers and key issues mentioned by the local leaders includes that most cholera deaths were as a result of delayed health seeking behavior where most communities’ members visited the hospital when they are heavily dehydrated. To this effect, local leaders came up with bylaws to address these issues. Consequently, there has been a significant reduction in number of community deaths in Malawi since this intervention kicked off. Faith leaders began to take active roles to sensitize church members about cholera and supporting cholera patients with transport to go to hospital. ”

ORPs are community level sites that provide rapid access to oral rehydration salts (ORS) solution in communities, and assessment before patients are referred to Cholera Treatment Units.

Kulima is a rural settlement which is situated about 100 kilometres from Blantyre’s business district under the Traditional Authority (TA) Ngabu.

This is one among many villages that were hit hard by Cyclone Freddy earlier this year in the Southern Region, which worsened the cholera outbreak.

Before the disaster, cholera was already a public health concern countrywide, but the cyclone, with the enormous amounts of water it brought, worsened the situation.

Cholera is endemic in Malawi. It is highly contagious and occurs in places without safe water and proper sanitation.Cholera causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting, and without treatment can quickly lead to severe dehydration followed by death.

Thokozani Nyirenda, the Health Surveillance Assistant for Ngabu Health Centre which serves Kulima Village, said the WHO interventions such as the ORPs were bearing fruit as cholera cases were on the decline.

“I come here almost every day, and no one has shown signs of diarrhea or cholera, which is a sign of good progress,” Nyirenda said.

“I always advise the community, to comply with advice related to hygiene and sanitation. “They need to stay safe. They have to be free from all those kinds of diseases.”

She added: “We are provided with chlorine, which has gone a long way to help us (fight cholera).

“WHO provided us with buckets in which we store chlorinated water, which is safe for people to drink.

“The ORP is open to serve the community. Anyone passing through can wash their hands.”

In the past weeks, Ngabu Health Centre has only recorded four new cases coming from other surrounding villages and none from Kulima.

Ending cholera in Malawi would require a concerted effort from all partners, but the engagement of local leaders has brought hope to the community of Kulima.

Through continued community engagement, the spread of the disease could be halted, and the community will move towards a healthier and more sustainable future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Malawi.