Africa

2022 - 3 - 30

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Image courtesy of "Nature.com"

Africa's struggle with hepatitis B (Nature.com)

Liver cancer is common in West Africa. But knowledge about hepatitis B — the viral illness estimated to cause 80% of primary liver cancers globally — is rare.

The prevalence of hepatitis B is estimated to be 4–6% of the population, but the exact figure is unknown. “It will be a document that people can show to policymakers and say, this is what’s necessary to have a successful hepatitis B diagnostic and treatment programme,” Lau says. And, unlike its hepatitis C screening, which is universal, that for hepatitis B covers only pregnant women and the five million people being treated for hepatitis C. “So we’re still missing some hepatitis B cases,” says Manal El-Sayed, a paediatric haematologist and oncologist at Ain Shams University in Cairo and a member of Egypt’s national committee for viral-hepatitis control. El-Sayed says that an effective awareness campaign included giving hepatitis B vaccinations to university students studying medicine, dentistry and nursing — careers in which needle-stick injuries might be associated with increased risk of contracting the disease. A study by scientists in the United Kingdom, Gambia and Senegal, run between 2011 and 2014, was able to enrol around 2,000 people with hepatitis B in the two African countries, and gave those requiring treatment antiviral drugs. Gavi, a global public–private alliance that funds vaccination programmes in low-income countries, had looked into including hepatitis B birth-dose vaccines in 2018 under the range of jabs it supports. For such action to reach the people who need it, however, the widespread ignorance surrounding hepatitis B must be tackled head-on. Hepatitis B is also a complex disease to diagnose and treat. By comparison, in Europe and the Americas, the corresponding figures are 18–19% and 2–3%. The continent also lags behind the rest of the world in preventing hepatitis B through vaccination. In fact, low- and middle-income countries could even see more people dying of viral hepatitis by that year because of the countries’ ageing populations and lack of testing. Liver cancer is common in West Africa. But knowledge about hepatitis B — the viral illness estimated to cause 80% of primary liver cancers globally — is rare. And the number of people living with chronic hepatitis B outnumbered those receiving treatment for the condition by around 10,000 to 1.

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Image courtesy of "swissinfo.ch"

Switzerland to fund new projects along migration route in Africa (swissinfo.ch)

The government has announced some CHF22 million in funding for projects to protect youth migrants in north and west Africa, and to deter them from making ...

Swiss migration policy includes close cooperation with the European border and coastguard agency Frontex, which polices the external boundaries of the Schengen area. The project, to be jointly run by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), aims to “safeguard the rights of underage migrants, protect them from abuse, and provide access to basic education”. The CHF21.8 million ($23.5 million) is to be spent over the next four years in an effort to “create better prospects for children and adolescents” in West and North Africa, the government said on Wednesday.

Liquid lands Equiano subsea cable capacity in Nigeria, SA - IT-Online (IT-Online)

Mar 30, 2022. Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a business of Cassava Technologies, a pan-African technology group, has announced it has acquired a fibre ...

Liquid’s investment in Equiano will help provide seamless connectivity for its clients across Africa, complementing its own existing national and metro fibre networks and offering increased resilience thanks to its connection to other subsea and satellite networks. The Equiano subsea cable has landings planned in Sesimbra (Portugal), Lomé (Togo), Lagos (Nigeria), Swakopmund (Namibia), Rupert’s Bay (Saint Helena) and Melkbosstrand (South Africa), with more landing stations planned in the future. The move extends Liquid’s One Africa Digital Network’s reach into Africa, providing connectivity to large data centres on the continent while granting access to major commercial hubs.

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Image courtesy of "ComputerWeekly.com"

Undersea cable market steams ahead in Africa and Middle East (ComputerWeekly.com)

Twofold capacity increase supports East Africa's digital transformation as work continues on Equiano subsea cable linking Africa to Europe.

PCCW Global said that by using Infinera’s ICE technology it can now offer network operators the ability to significantly increase capacity per fibre pair on what are described as critical Middle East and Mediterranean fibre routes. By using the GX Series Compact Modular Platform, PCCW Global is confident that it can reach individual wavelength speeds of 650Gbs, resulting in more capacity, with less hardware, and providing up to 25 terabits per fibre pair. The continent needs companies like Liquid who not only land Terabit per seconds of capacity with subsea cables but also distribute that capacity inland, enabling these countries to see the same benefits as those where the cable lands.” This places EASSy in a better position to expedite the closing of the digital divide for Africans who are increasingly dependent on cloud-based services.” By adopting a software-driven, automated approach, EASSy is said to be able to gain maximum operational proficiency and service agility while reducing OPEX. By using its latest coherent technology, Ciena said EASSy is adding intelligence and efficiency to its cable system, maximising fibre capacity and substantially reducing the transported cost per bit.

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Image courtesy of "African Business Magazine"

Switzerland to help protect children and adolescents on the West ... (African Business Magazine)

Intra-African migration is a major issue in West and North Africa. Poverty, lack of economic prospects, armed conflicts, climate change and, especially for ...

Around 26% of the funding will be used in Morocco and Tunisia – key departure points for irregular underage migrants hoping to reach Europe. The project will support efforts to safeguard the rights of underage migrants, protect them from abuse, and provide access to basic education. In the longer term, it also aims to address the multiple root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement.

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Image courtesy of "TechCrunch"

Why Nigeria leads the way in YC's participation in Africa – TechCrunch (TechCrunch)

Nigerian startups are a huge part of the current Y Combinator cohort. Looking at the data, that should not be a surprise.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

South Africa v England: Women's Cricket World Cup semi-final 2022 ... (The Guardian)

Over-by-over report: Who will win through to face Australia in the World Cup final? Join our writers.

There’s a couple of singles, Wyatt gets of the mark with a tickle to third man. 5th over: England 15-1 (Wyatt 4, Knight 1)Wyatt scythes a cut shot away in the air but into the gap, just a single. We’ve been here before of course, England wobbled their way past South Africa in the semi-final at Bristol in 2017 on their way to lifting the trophy. 1st over: England 6-0 (Beaumont 5, Wyatt 1)Tammy Beaumont drives the first ball of the match for four! Wyatt then cuts away for a single and Beaumont gets away with a weird looking poke that goes wide of point. Ismail bowls a tight and fast over, she pins Beaumont on the pad and there’s a big appeal but the umpire says no dice. The sun is out and shining on Danni Wyatt at the moment. Wyatt pokes at a length ball from new bowler Masabata Klaas but the chance goes begging. DROP! Wow. Wyatt plinks a pull high on the bat and into the breeze, Marizanne Kapp diving but the ball goes through her. The game on a knife-edge. Remember the ball looping off the back of her bat and hip? Wyatt joins in with a nudge off her pads for a couple.

Cricket live updates: South Africa vs England, Women's World Cup ... (ABC News)

Defending Women's World Cup champions England take on South Africa at Hagley Oval in Christchurch for a spot in the final. Check out the live scores and ...

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Image courtesy of "NDTVSports.com"

South Africa vs England, Women's World Cup, Live Score Updates (NDTVSports.com)

SA-W vs ENG-W, Women's World Cup, Live Updates: South Africa face England in the second semifinal of the ongoing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, ...

During the league stage, England bagged eight points in seven games and defeated Bangladesh by 100 runs in their last league game. In their previous fixture, South Africa defeated India by three wickets. SA-W vs ENG-W, Women's World Cup, Live Updates: South Africa face England in the second semi-final of the ongoing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday. The Sune Luus-led side wrapped up their league stage with a second-placed finish.

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Image courtesy of "Sky Sports"

Women's Cricket World Cup: 'Transformed' England will beat South ... (Sky Sports)

Just like in 2017, England are facing South Africa in the World Cup semi-finals. Sky Sports blogger Phoebe Graham expects a repeat result, backing Heather ...

England are the reigning champions and you feel they believe they can win this. It's hard to turn around a losing streak but credit to them, they have changed the energy within the group and look a completely different team. But England being England (at the time) dropped her early doors! Cricket news Sky Sports blogger Phoebe Graham expects a repeat result, backing Heather Knight’s “transformed” team to reach Sunday’s showpiece in Christchurch… Cricket videos

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Image courtesy of "International Cricket Council"

South Africa's semi-final hoodoo: Will CWC22 see a disastrous ... (International Cricket Council)

South African cricket's relationship with World Cup semi-finals is a painful one. The nation's record of heartbreak at the penultimate hurdle straddles the ...

Two years ago it was another heartbreaking loss that denied South Africa in the T20 World Cup semi-final. Beginning of dialog window. End of dialog window. Beginning of dialog window. End of dialog window. Beginning of dialog window.

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Image courtesy of "Scroll.in"

World Cup semi-final 2, South Africa v England live: Wyatt, Dunkley ... (Scroll.in)

Follow live coverage of the ICC Women's ODI Cricket World Cup semifinal between defending champions England and South Africa at the Hagley Oval in ...

England 9/0 after 2 overs: Kapp starts off with a nervy wide but is on the money for the rest of the over. England 6/0 after 1 over: Oh what a way to get us going. England 50/1 after 12 overs: Another life for Wyatt! This time Kapp seemed to misjudge the flight of this one at midwicket. England 52/2 after 13 overs: A huge phase of this match, SA need to get Sciver early and they can have a crack at the middle order. Sune Luus wants to see what her bowlers can do first up on this pitch and opts to bowl first after the toss goes her way. A sign of the pitch holding up a little bit in that over as Beaumont gets one to loop over the slip region. England 35/1 after 9 overs: Wide to Wyatt from Khaka and back-to-back cut shots for four! England 104/3 after 22 overs: The 100 has come up... England 121/3 after 25 overs: A big over that, no boundaries but England are looking to shift gears. Du Preez with a stunning stop to prevent a boundary at the end of that Klaas over. England 171/4 after 34 overs: Discussion on air about Trisha Chetty not wearing helmet while standing up to stumps even to pacers. South Africa 5/1 after 2 overs: LAURA WOLVAARDT OUT! For zero, no less.

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Image courtesy of "International Cricket Council"

Defending champions England rout South Africa to storm into the final (International Cricket Council)

Danni Wyatt's century and Sophie Eccletone's sensational six-wicket haul helped England book a place in the final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022, ...

Chloe Tryon tried to heave her way out of trouble but was caught at mid-wicket by Nat Sciver. Du Preez tried a cheeky shuffle but played around it, thus all but ending any hopes South Africa had left. Since then, England have played each game as a virtual knockout and now find themselves defending the title they won in 2017. She missed the ball completely, with Dean knocking over her timber for 29. Danni Wyatt's 129 off 125 set the tone for England after they were put in to bat first. Anya Shrubsole took an incredible return catch as England celebrated a massive scalp. It was a fortuitous knock at times, with Wyatt dropped on a total of five occasions - including twice in one Ayabonga Khaka over - as she took the attack to South Africa's bowlers and put their usually reliable fielders under pressure.

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