A Lifesaving Vaccine To Reach Africa And 37 Additional Countries

by Kyle Gainey

        Rota virus and pneumonia are the top two killers in Africa. Both the Rota Virus and pneumonia kill over 500,000 children a year. In response to this epidemic, vaccines has been created to help fight against these diseases. The GAVI Alliance announced in Geneva that the vaccine has recently been approved. 16 countries have introduced the Rota Virus vaccine, and 18 countries have received the pneumonia vaccine. Sudan was the first country to introduce the vaccine in July as a part of their national immunization program- becoming the very first African country to do so. By the year 2015, the GAVI alliance and its partners plan to send funding to over 40 developing countries. That can immunize 50 million children against the Rota Virus. They also  plan to immunize 90 million children with pneumonia. But they plan to distribute the vaccine to the children who are in greater need of the vaccine first. The new vaccine will prevent millions of deaths; most importantly children will have a better chance of living a full life.

CB: Geneva Schlottman

Health Crisis in Somalia

by Luke Garcia     

   There happens to already be so many problems in Somalia. Especially with there disastrous drought and their conflicts with Somalia's political structure. In addition, they now must face a destructive health crisis. A key organization by the name of The World Health Organization has stated that their office in the Eastern Mediterranean has had a reported 6000 cases of diarrhea and cholera in just one hospital since January just this year. Even, Somalia's largest hospital Banadir Hospital has been flooded with recent cases with the same symptoms and signs. The drought has caused many people to get the infection by drinking unclean and unsafe water. This in effect, causes malnutrition and fatal cases of dehydration. Hospital workers have tried to emphasize the importance of hydration. However, even with intensive medical care and hydration most will still not survive. Children are feeling the health crisis the most as over 190 children have been hospitalized in a small timetable.  Adults have also felt the crisis as 100 adults have become ill as well within the same timetable. To make it worse, over 45 percent of AWD related deaths have been among children under 2. The organization is striving and have been building up their supplies while also working on the conflict near Mogadishu, Somalia's capital. They have stated that the number of AWD cases will rise even more between  now and October.

CB: Kyle Gainey
and Geneva Schlottman


http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/world/africa/somalia-health-crisis/index.html

World Mourns passing of Wangari Maathai

              People world over mourn Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. Wangari was an environmentalist leader, particularly for the forests of the Africa. She spent her entire life protecting and planting trees. "Nature sustains us; the food we eat comes from the soil. If we do not protect the environment, we are violating our own rights. For that matter, anybody destroying the environment, they are destroying your environmental rights."
             
               Archbishop Desmond Tutu named her "A leading voice on the continent" and "A true African Heroine"
             
               Former U.S. President Al Gore stated "[She] Overcame incredible obstacles to devote her life to service- service to her children, to her constituents, to the women, and indeed, all the people of Kenya-- and to the world as a whole."


-Paul Ford, your news corespondent for the Latest and Greatest News in Africa

Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/26/world/africa/wangari-maathai-tribute/index.html?hpt=wo_t2

CB: Alex Nunez

Google Maps Has a New Country on Them

By Alex Nunez

    After South Sudan separated from Sudan, Google has finally updated the separation between the two on their maps.  Sadly, other map websites such as Yahoo!, Microsoft, and National Geographic have yet to update their maps. The two countries separated in July following decades of conflict where over two million people died. Six weeks after the countries split up a petition was launched on Change.org. It said that it wanted online mapping services to update the maps with the new country. The person who started the petition said that the inclusion of the new country would give its people a sense of belonging and pride. He also hopes that after Google, the other map websites will follow and change their maps as well. He also said that the people of South Sudan fought long and hard for their independence and they want the maps to catch up and reflect the suffering and hard work of the citizens of South Sudan.  

Source:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15023217


CB: Geneva Schlottman

Protests Revived in Morocco

By Geneva Maniwong-Schlottman

          On September 18^th, it was reported that 3,000 people marched throughout the streets of Casablanca, one the country’s largest cities. In the port city of Tangier, 2,000 people protested against the king and the government’s actions. The protestors were fighting for the completion of the democratic movement. Earlier in the summer, protests had moved King Mohammed VI to sign a constitutional reform that gave over half his power to the prime minister and the Parliament.

          After the signing of the Constitution, nation-wide protests dropped from over 100,000 to 10,000. But the protestors, called the February 20^th Movement, say that little has been changed since the signing of the Constitution. It has also been said that the king still has power over the army and the country’s religious affiliation. Although the king promised reform, protestors speculate that it was just a front to prevent future rebellion.

        Up until this point, the king has been able to choose his prime minister. In November however, that decision will be governed by the ruling political party. All hopes rest on the parliamentary elections as the majority will be able to choose the prime minister and will govern the country’s future actions. 

CB: Paul Ford

Sources: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/world/africa/thousands-revive-protests-in-morocco.html?ref=morocco

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/opinion/12Charai.html?ref=morocco

Israeli Embassy Attacked in Mauritania

By Geneva Maniwong-Schlottman

On Friday morning at 2 a.m., several men were reported to of opened fire on the Israeli Embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritania.     As well as the embassy, a nearby nightclub was also gunned down as well. The armed men fled after a brief gun battle with the Embassy’s guards. Although no one was killed, five people were harmed in the shooting. Witnesses report that before shooting, the assailants shouted “God is great” in Arabic. This has led the Israeli, Mauritanian, and American forces investigating the shooting to believe this to be the acts of Muslim terrorists.

          No reason has been found as to why the terrorists tried to gun down the Israeli Embassy and nightclub. Government officials in Mauritania have tried to persuade the public that the gunmen were targeting the nightclub because of the prohibited use of alcohol and numerous prostitutes.  Mauritanian analysts and researchers suggest otherwise- they suspect that the attack was directed at the Israeli Embassy. They have reason to believe that the shooting was a part of the renewed hatred for Israel many Muslims felt. Israel’s actions with Gaza and Mauritania’s actions concerning peace with the Jewish nation have caused much grief and resentment among its people. 

CB: Paul Ford

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/world/middleeast/02mauritania.html?ref=mauritania

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/world/africa/01embassy.html?ref=mauritania

Somali Pirates Release Captives

Somali pirates released seven Danes, five of which were a family.  They were kidnapped from a Yacht on February 24th in the Indian ocean. They were seized while on a two-year-world-round trip. Officials would not reveal their whereabouts, nor if they would be returning to Denmark.

The foreign ministry stated "They have now been brought to safety" and added that they were recovering after their six-month-plus captivity.

It's still known that there are another six people within the pirates clutches.





-Paul Ford- Your News correspondent for the latest in Africa
Corrected By: Alex Nunez