Posts in category: Uncategorized

Northern Territory mothers living in remote or rural areas often make decisions about the need for antibiotics for their children out of fear or based on the advice of their personal network a new study by Charles Darwin University (CDU) researchers has found.

Early one morning, while checking on a slumbering patient at the Center for Sleep Medicine, Erik St. Louis, M.D., noticed something peculiar. The patient, a woman in her early 60’s, had started running beneath her bedsheets. As her eyelids fluttered, her legs kicked into gear, slowly at first but then rapidly picking up the pace, propelling herself along a road only she could see. After sprinting for about 30 seconds, she abruptly stopped and opened her eyes. It wasn’t the way Dr. St. Louis had expected someone with sleep apnea to behave.

A study from City University of New York SPH researchers found that Colombian immigrants in New York City had nearly 50% more obesity prevalence than Colombians in their home country.

A study by CUNY SPH researchers suggests that federal measures supporting free testing and treatment for COVID-19 may have lessened the health care impact of the pandemic and prevented an increase in racial/ethnic health disparities.

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

A K193.2 million five-year bond to support the development of the country’s domestic capital markets has been issued by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The amortising “Zambezi” bond which is equivalent to approximately US$10 million is also meant to increase access to local currency finance.

This is IFC’s second Kwacha-denominated bond after it placed the first bond issued by a non-resident issuer in Zambia’s domestic capital markets in 2013.

The issuance is the corporation’s first floating rate note in Zambian Kwacha and forms part of IFC’s registered Medium Term Note programme in Zambia as well as IFC’s Pan-African Domestic Medium-Term Note Programme.

IFC Vice President and Treasurer, Treasury & Mobilisation John Gandolfo, in his comment on the development said the institution was happy to be back in the Zambian market.

“Deep and liquid domestic capital markets are essential to expanding access to much-needed local currency finance for key sectors in the economy.

 “Scaling up local currency financing is a key priority for IFC and we’re delighted to be back in the Zambian market,” Mr Gandolfo said.

Absa Bank Zambia was the lead arranger and First National Bank Limited the co-arranger for this issuance.

Jason Quinn, Absa Group Chief Financial Officer on his comment said the bank took pride in its commitment to continue to play a role in promoting and developing access to capital markets for our clients in Zambia and across the African continent.

 “The successful bond issuance is a testament to the credit quality of the issuing entity, IFC. This transaction also demonstrates the critical role that the private sector plays in helping the country’s capital markets and driving economic growth,” Mr Quinn said.

IFC’s work in Zambia is focused on promoting sustainable private sector development by improving the investment climate, supporting small businesses and proactively engaging in the development of key sectors such as infrastructure, agribusiness and financial services.

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With the Food and Drug Administration’s Aug. 21, 2023, approval of the first vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, for use during late pregnancy, the U.S. will soon have a major new tool at its disposal to protect infants against the highly contagious virus.

A research group has found that novel autoantibodies that had been found to cause thrombosis and other conditions in joint research conducted by Kobe and Osaka universities in 2015, are also implicated in pregnancy disorders, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and fetal growth restriction.

For centuries, we have known that tuberculosis is a social disease. It thrives on poverty and social factors such as malnutrition, poor housing, overcrowding, unsafe work environments and stigma.

By NATION REPORTER 

UNDERGROUND water in Chongwe District is rapidly being depleted as the consequence of climate change and government is deeply concerned about the environment degradation and is calling for effective mitigation measure to save the district from completely drying up.

Government is however happy that the Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) has launched a project dubbed “Strengthening Civil Society Voices for Climate Advocacy in Zambia” in a bid to mitigate the effect of climate change on communities such as Chongwe.

Chongwe District Commissioner, Evans Lupiya is pledging support for CEJ project which is being funded by United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), covering five districts including Lusaka, Chirundu, Luangwa, Chongwe and Rufunsa. 

“CEJ is very much welcome in Chongwe District. I am particularly interested as District Commissioner because I oversee the whole District in terms of what is happening. When you talk about a District, you are talking about human beings. There are a lot of communities that are affected by environmental issues. We have so many challenges that are related to the environment in Chongwe District like erratic water,” Dr Lupiya said. 

 Mr. Habeenzu said there was need for proper planning to utilize the water that runs into the Kafue River up to the Indian Ocean. 

Mr. Habeenzu said Chongwe has continued to face erratic water supply because of the effects of Climate Change. 

“We have a huge problem in Chongwe. From August to September, we completely run out of water in Chongwe. In the meantime, the population of Chongwe is increasing. Every day, all of you want to have a piece of land in Chongwe. The pressure on resources is ever increasing. As a District, we need to a proper sustainable plan. Going into the future, people must say yes Chongwe grew but there were measures that were put in place,” Mr Habeenzu said. 

Meanwhile, CEJ executive director Maggie Mapalo Mwape said the transformative initiative was aiming to empower Civil Society Organizations in Zambia to play a pivotal role in advocating for climate action and environmental sustainability. 

Ms Mwape said CEJ would continue engaging with stakeholders in executing the project up to 2025.

“Now that the project has been launched in Luangwa, Rufunsa and Chongwe, we shall proceed to launch the project in Chirundu and Lusaka respectively. I am accompanied by Acting Head of Programmes Mr. Haggai Nyambe and Head of Logistics Mr. Patrick Kashanga to ensure a smooth Programme,” she said. 

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By LUCY PHIRI

A CONVICT at Mwembeshi Air Prison in Chilanga has been arrested for breaking into Westwood Police Station exhibit room stealing a transformer Valued at over K50, 000.

The incident happened between Friday July 28 and Monday July 31 at 08:00hrs during the course of his assignment as a labourer.

This is a case in which Fredrick Yoba aged 36, is charged with Breaking into a building and committing a felony therein Contrary to Section 303 (a) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Yoba, on unknown date but between July 28, 2023 and July, 31 2023 in Lusaka did break and enter into Westwood police station exhibit room and did steal therein Transformer Components exhibits comprising of Copper and Aluminium wires altogether valued at K60, 000-00 the property of the republic of Zambia.

It is also alleged that police at Westwood under the Criminal Investigations department was allocated a docket of breaking into a building and committing a felony, in which Yoba during the course of his assignment as a labourer broke into the police and stole a transformer Components exhibits comprising of Copper and Aluminium wires weighing approximately 25 kilograms.

Facts read that Investigations led to the recovery of the items from where Yoba sold the item, he was then told to accompany the officers to the police and was arrested and charged with the offence of breaking into the building and committing a felony therein.

Yoba appeared at the Lusaka Magistrate court before Lusaka chief resident magistrate, Davies Chibwili and is expected to take a plea this week.

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