Latest news with #GPEI
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Outbreak of variant type 1 polio in Madagascar declared over
Madagascar has successfully halted the transmission of variant poliovirus type 1, following recommendations from a rigorous, independent Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) to declare the outbreak closed. This achievement marks a major milestone in the country's ongoing efforts towards polio eradication. The outbreak, which started in 2020, posed a serious public health threat, particularly to under 5 children but also to unvaccinated adults. In response, the government – through the Emergencies Operations Centre – in collaboration with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), swiftly launched a series of emergency vaccination campaigns. This effort, backed by strong political commitment from the highest levels, including the President and First Lady of Madagascar, successfully reached over 19 million people with life-saving polio vaccines. As a result, no new detections have been reported since September 2023. Meeting the criteria for outbreak closure is a major achievement. For the certification to be met, a country must ensure high population immunity, strong surveillance performance (evidence that no transmission was missed), and at least 12 consecutive months without poliovirus detection (either in humans or environmental – sewage/wastewater). 'The progress made in recent years in the immunization and eradication of polio is a hopeful sign. Today, polio is finally eradicated. Together, we have proved that it is possible to overcome limits and build lasting change. Let's continue to act, raise awareness and join forces to give every child a healthy future', said H.E. Mrs Mialy Rajoelina, The First Lady of Madagascar and immunization ambassador. At the outbreak's peak in September 2023, a total of 287 cases had been confirmed, including 45 cases of acute flaccid paralysis and 44 community cases, 198 positive environmental surveillance detections in wastewater. Key to halting polio transmission in Madagascar was the country's intensified surveillance system, which enabled swift detection of poliovirus in both human cases and environmental samples. Enhanced case investigation, community engagement, and innovative vaccination strategies, including house-to-house immunization efforts, were instrumental in stopping the spread. Cases were spread across 30 districts in the country's 13 regions and two paralytic cases were reported in adults in January 2023, which placed the country in a unique position that required innovative responses. Four large-scale vaccination campaigns were carried out in 2023, enabling Madagascar to reach 95% vaccination coverage which was pivotal in stopping the transmission and closing the polio outbreak. 'This success demonstrates that with political will, strong partnerships, and community involvement, polio outbreaks can be swiftly controlled. We must now sustain these efforts to prevent any future resurgence,' said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa. Health authorities, supported by GAVI, Rotary, UNICEF, WHO and the Gates Foundation, continue to strengthen routine immunization, enhance surveillance, and maintain high-quality outbreak preparedness measures to mitigate the risk of future polio re-emergence, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. 'This achievement is due to strong collaboration of the government, partners and the health workers who worked tirelessly in the frontlines,' said Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. 'Madagascar offers a beacon of hope for polio eradication efforts across Africa, but we must remain vigilant to ensure no further outbreaks occur. Immunization is a child's fundamental right, no matter where they are.' GPEI partners have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Madagascar in sustaining polio-free status and boosting overall immunization coverage. 'The end of this outbreak is a testament to what's possible when we strengthen routine immunization and expand vaccination coverage" said Thabani Maphosa, Gavi's Chief Country Deliver Officer. "By reaching even the most marginalized communities, we ensure no child is left behind. Continued collaboration across all sectors—government, civil society, and international partners—is essential to maintain this progress and close the immunization gap for zero-dose and under-vaccinated children." The dedication of Rotarians on the ground was also critical: "This is a proud moment for Madagascar. The closure of the outbreak represents the hard work of thousands of frontline workers, volunteers, and our national health teams who never gave up on protecting our children" said Haingo Ranoharisoa, Rotary National PolioPlus Committee Chair for Madagascar. The successful closure of this outbreak serves as a testament to the power of collective action in protecting children from preventable diseases. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Madagascar.
Qatar Tribune
15-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar advances in 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index
The Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities (RACA) announced on Thursday that the State of Qatar has made significant progress in the 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI). According to Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy revealed in its 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI) reportQatar has made significant progress in developing its philanthropic achieved a notable leap in the overall index, reflecting the substantial transformations in philanthropic over the past seven years, surpassing the global average of 3.49 and ranking among the highest in the Arab world. According to the report, Qatar's overall philanthropic environment index rose from 2.07 in 2018 to 2.58 in 2022, reaching 3.61 in 2025, which is considered one of the highest growth rates among the evaluated countries. In a press statement, Director General of the RACA Ibrahim Al Dahimi said: 'This achievement reflects Qatar's steadfast commitment to enhancing institutional philanthropy, entrenching a culture of giving, and developing the non-profit sector as a pillar of community and national development.' (QNA)
Entrepreneur
06-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How Ecosystem Partnerships Shape MENA's Future in AI
You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. "The opportunity the UAE and Saudi Arabia have is that they now can set the terms of the global conversation on artificial intelligence (AI)," says Vikas Aggarwal, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Academic Director of INSEAD's Global Private Equity Initiative (GPEI), on the sidelines of the AI Forum: Middle East organized by INSEAD in partnership with French Tech. Prof. Aggarwal is rightly highlighting that the UAE is developing one of the most cohesive and advanced AI ecosystems in the MENA region, and perhaps around the world as well. Over the last few years, the UAE has introduced several national AI initiatives, including appointing the world's first Minister of State for AI in 2017 and launching the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031. Recently, the country was ranked among the top 10 countries with the most AI companies per million people, according to the Global AI Competitiveness Index, a collaborative effort between the International Finance Forum and Deep Knowledge Group that analyzed over 55,000 AI companies worldwide. Plus, the country's Ministry of Education has just announced the integration of AI as an official subject in the public-school curriculum for kindergarten to Grade 12, starting from the 2025-2026 academic year. "In the Middle East, we now have a very unique confluence of government vision, public investment, and an ecosystem of AI players. For AI entrepreneurs to survive, you need this broader ecosystem not only locally, but also internationally," says Prof. Aggarwal. "Corporate partnerships, like what G42 has with Microsoft, are very good examples of how developing a broader partnership ecosystem can create a framework within which entrepreneurs can flourish." "I think the UAE is in a very unique position because, in contrast with many parts of the world where there is less clarity on regulatory frameworks, here you have a very favorable structure for innovation. That is why I think the UAE's AI entrepreneurs will play a central role in driving the adoption of AI worldwide. When it comes to AI, there is not going to be one player, but an ecosystem of players." Prof. Aggarwal is no stranger to witnessing (and taking part in) the emergence of startup ecosystems. Following his Silicon Valley startup experience, where he worked with the founding team of to grow the company through multiple rounds of venture financing, he also worked as an independent consultant to a range of tech firms. Today, he focuses on venture capital-backed startups, as well as larger firms experiencing significant environmental change. "A lot of the businesses we saw in the Middle East from 2010/2012 until this current AI boom were very much local/regional solutions to problems that exist globally, and for which other firms created local solutions [in other parts of the world]; but the big question for me now is to what degree the local and regional AI firms of today will have a global impact." he says. Prof. Aggarwal led a panel entitled "AI Startups in MENA: Fueling Innovation, Competing Globally", held as part of INSEAD Global AI Forum Series. The session explored the opportunities and challenges that AI startups face across the region, with a special focus on the UAE and Saudi Arabia as rising global hubs for innovation. His first piece of advice for AI startups is to be open to partnerships. "They need to recognize that they are operating in an environment where ecosystem relationships are key. Following government regulations and frameworks, finding corporate partners, and thoughtfully structuring relationships, are all important and very interdependent imperatives that AI entrepreneurs cannot pursue in isolation." A panel entitled "AI Startups in MENA: Fueling Innovation, Competing Globally", held as part of INSEAD Global AI Forum Series in Dubai. Source: INSEAD The INSEAD event in Dubai also coincided with the launch of INSEAD's Human and Machine Intelligence Institute (HUMII), whose mission is to understand and shape the evolving partnership between humans and machines in business and leadership. Prof. Aggarwal expands his support to ecosystem partnerships by pointing to the need for academic research and partnerships, via initiatives such as HUMII, to play an crucial role in the AI ecosystem. "The institute is tasked with bringing together participants from across our portfolio of programs to better understand how we can put humans at the center of future developments," he explains. "Academic institutions are a great opportunity to serve as a hub to bring people together. Given the importance of ecosystems, particularly in AI, entrepreneurs should focus on developing closer relationships with universities because they can play a catalyzing role in driving the success of their entrepreneurial ventures." The UAE recently expanded its Golden Visa regime, a long-term residence for foreign talents, to tech and AI specialists and founders, inviting them to live and build their solutions in the UAE. "One of the great things is that the UAE and Saudi Arabia have the ability to attract the best talent, from Europe to Southeast Asia to other parts of the world. That was happening even before the AI boom, and I think that was quite necessary for this AI boom in MENA to really take off," Prof. Aggarwal says. Investors have been increasingly supporting the AI vision of regional governments, such as Saudi Arabia aiming to derive about 12% of its GDP from the AI industry by 2030, or the UAE aiming to increase digital economy-related contributions to its GDP to over 20% by 2031. To AI startups looking to raise funds, Prof. Aggarwal advises finding a way to revenue and scalability "very quickly." He adds, "Startups need to figure out how they can quickly get to the point where the business model is clear and where there is a clear path to scaling. I don't think there is a shortage of capital; rather there is a need for entrepreneurs who bring together their vision with a scalable business model and execution capability, as well as the ability and willingness to work in the context of partnerships. If you as an entrepreneur have that magic combination, the capital will come." "The track to revenue is critical, particularly with AI. Who are you partnering with? What is the vision? I think one of the things that VCs always want to understand is whether you are someone who is very tied to their vision or somebody who can pivot and move and is willing to say, 'ok, let's evolve.' As an entrepreneur, you have to be open to the process of learning, and that's what VCs are looking for. It's not just about the idea, but about the way in which you approach feedback from the market," Prof. Aggarwal concludes.
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Ethiopia reaches 15.3 million children with novel oral polio vaccine, surpassing target
For Meseret Gelaw, a mother in Furustale village of Jimma town in Oromia region, ensuring that her 8-month-old son receives every necessary vaccine is a matter of life and health. 'I want my child to grow up healthy, free from diseases like polio. When I heard about the vaccination campaign, I made sure he was among the first to receive the polio vaccine,' Meseret shared, holding her son tightly after the procedure. Meseret is one of millions of parents in Ethiopia who participated in the recent polio vaccination campaign which took place from 22 to 25 February 2025 in ten regions of the country. Over 15.3 million children aged under 5 years were vaccinated with the WHO-prequalified type 2 novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2). The campaign surpassed the initial target of 14.8 million, with an impressive coverage of 103%. Around 104 000 zero-dose children (those who have never received any vaccination) were identified, and almost 62 000 (around 60%) were vaccinated. The campaign kicked off with a high-level launch in Ethiopia's Somali region, attended by Dr Dereje Duguma, the State Minister of Health. During the launch, Dr Duguma emphasized the importance of vaccinating all children, regardless of their vaccination history. "This integrated polio vaccination will create an opportunity to reach under-vaccinated or unvaccinated children who missed their routine vaccinations," he said, urging caregivers and parents to seize this vital opportunity. The launch also graced by the presence of the Somali Regional President, Mr. Mustefa Mohamed. 'This campaign will play a pivotal role in the polio eradication effort. Strengthening integration is key to achieving positive health outcomes. Our region will work hard to make the campaign successful, including raising awareness and mobilizing the community.', said Mr Mustefa. The campaign employed a house-to-house approach, which not only reached children with polio vaccine but also helped identify zero-dose and under-vaccinated children for immunization. Additionally, the campaign was integrated with other health interventions and consequently 1491 children with clubfoot were identified and referred for corrective interventions. Dr Fadinding Manneh, Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Coordinator for Ethiopia speaking on behalf of GPEI partners, highlighted the crucial role of integrated interventions during the campaign. 'We remain committed, together with all global immunization partners, to support the regions, zones and woredas to achieve high coverage in all integrated interventions and to boost population immunity and to prevent vaccine preventable diseases and clubfoot,' he said. Throughout the campaign, WHO, working closely with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and UNICEF, played a pivotal role in ensuring the campaign success. From pre-campaign preparations, such as resource mobilization and the Ttraining of Trainers (ToT) for more than 90health workers, to real-time monitoring using tools like the Open Data Kit (ODK) - an open-source suite of tools designed for data collection in resource-constrained environment, contributing significantly to the campaign's logistical and operational effectiveness. Independent monitors and quality assurance surveyors were deployed in nearly half of the selected regions to assess the quality of the campaign, while feedback from the field was used to correct any issues immediately, ensuring higher coverage rates. Additionally, WHO Field Officers and Stop Transmission of Polio (STOP) team consultants supported the assessment of preparedness levels and involved in the micro planning process, cold chain inventory and the facilitation and training of the deployed team supervisors. In the post-campaign phase, targeted mop-up activities were conducted in areas with poor coverage, and children who were missed due to absence or other reasons were revisited and vaccinated. Ethiopia introduced the nOPV2 vaccine in October 2021 to address the outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV). cVDPV occurs when the weakened virus from the oral polio vaccine (OPV) sheds in a vaccinated child's feces and circulates among unvaccinated children, potentially mutating into a more dangerous form that can cause paralysis. This variant virus typically spreads in areas with low vaccination coverage, where many children remain unvaccinated. With financial support from the Gates Foundation and Rotary International, through WHO and UNICEF, the campaign aimed not only to vaccinate children but also to provide critical support for the global fight against polio. For Meseret, like many other mothers, the vaccination campaign represents a powerful step toward ensuring a healthier, polio-free future for her child. 'It's a relief to know that my son is now protected,' she said. This simple act, she believes, could safeguard her child's future from the devastation that polio once caused. Ethiopia is one of the 24 countries in Africa implementing the Big Catch-up campaign, an initiative which aims to vaccinate millions of children who missed routine immunizations. The Big Catch-Up campaign is vital for ensuring that no child is left behind in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly polio, and for reaching those in hard-to-reach areas or those who have missed vaccinations due to various barriers. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Ethiopia.
Zawya
01-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
High-level delegation visits Nigeria, urges commitments from government
As Nigeria intensifies efforts to halt the transmission of type 2 variant poliovirus, a high-level delegation from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), visited Abuja, Nigeria, 27-28 February 2025. During the visit, government, traditional leaders, and partners renewed their commitment to overcome remaining challenges to end polio in Nigeria. The visit, conducted by the Polio Oversight Board (POB), which is the highest decision-making body of GPEI, focused on reviewing progress, addressing challenges such as insecurity and vaccine misinformation, and mobilizing increased domestic and international support for polio eradication. Led by Dr Chris Elias, Chair of the POB, the delegation engaged in conversations with Nigeria's government and the highest traditional leader, the Sultan of Sokoto, to emphasize the need for renewed country leadership and ownership at all levels of government in the effort to stop the ongoing transmission of type 2 variant poliovirus. Other members of the delegation included Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mr Gilles Fagninou, UNICEF's Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Mr Mike McGovern, Chair of Rotary International PolioPlus Committee, Mr Derrick Sim, Interim Chief Vaccine Programmes&Markets Officer, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; Mr. Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS and GPEI Donor Representative. In Abuja, the delegation met with Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, who emphasized the country's longstanding commitment to polio eradication and underscored that further dedication across the country is necessary to implement corrective measures and stop transmission for good. The POB delegation also met His Royale Highness Abubakar, Umar Suleiman, Mai Bade, representing the Sultan of Sokoto, who reaffirmed Nigeria's steadfast commitment to polio eradication and routine immunization strengthening. Additionally, the delegation met with Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director and CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and leadership from the National Emergency Operations Center. They assessed the current epidemiology of the virus and discussed the recommendations from the 42nd Expert Review Committee (ERC) on Polio Eradication and Routine Immunization in Nigeria. The ERC, a technical body composed of experts who regularly assess the progress of a country's polio eradication programme, met in Abuja on 29-30 January 2025 and gave a series of recommendations. To close immunity gaps and end polio transmission, the ERC urged greater political leadership, calling for active engagement of government officials and stronger accountability measures. The ERC recommended surveillance efforts and campaign quality must be improved through proven strategies to ensure targeted vaccine coverage. To enhance operations, the ERC recommended digitalizing vaccine tracking, strengthening cold chain logistics and ensuring timely fund disbursements. Additionally, the ERC recommended routine immunization must be strengthened through integration with polio campaigns and by deploying effective social mobilization strategies to counter misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. Throughout 2023-2024, type 2 variant poliovirus transmission levels were static despite tremendous efforts at all levels to reach every under-5 child with polio vaccines in the states that are affected by variant poliovirus. As of 15 February 2025, there were 94 confirmed polio affected children across 15 States during 2024. No type 2 variant poliovirus cases have been detected in Nigeria so far in 2025. The POB delegation underscored that renewed commitment from stakeholders at all levels of the country's robust polio eradication programme is critical to stopping the type 2 variant poliovirus from spreading within Nigeria and across neighbouring countries. Delegates further emphasized the need to accelerate the strengthening of routine immunization systems, given that optimal routine immunization coverage is key to breaking the ongoing transmission of type 2 variant poliovirus. Together with the government, the delegation agreed that rapid progress can be possible with significant efforts coordinating across states and federal ministries. Nigerian leaders reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering polio outbreak response activities and routine immunization to protect all children against polio. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Nigeria.
