Kenya
Kenya
MSF Names Two Spanish Abductees, Crucial Medical Activities Stopped
On 13 October 2011, an Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) team suffered an attack in Dadaab, Kenya. One of the MSF drivers, Mohamed Hassan Borle, 31, was injured during this attack. His medical condition is stable, he is out of danger and remains hospitalised. Two international staff, both Spanish, were taken. As yet, MSF has not been able to establish contact with the two staff taken. A crisis team has been set up to deal with this incident.
The two Spanish colleagues abducted are Montserrat Serra, aged 40, from Girona (Palafrugell) and Blanca Thiebaut, aged 30, from Madrid, both working as logisticians for MSF in the Dadaab Refugee Camp. Their families have been informed. MSF is calling on all media to respect the privacy of the families in this difficult time.
"We are in regular contact with the families of our colleagues involved and relevant authorities since the first moments. We are doing all we can to ensure their safe and swift return. Our thoughts are with them and their families", says José Antonio Bastos, president of MSF in Spain.
Following the attack, MSF has evacuated part of its team working in Dagahaley and Ifo, two of the three refugee camps in Dadaab. As a consequence, crucial medical activities had to be stopped. However, MSF is still maintaining its life-saving activities.
This attack is jeopardising the assistance to thousands of people in urgent need of humanitarian aid and a quick and satisfactory solution is necessary.
These incidents call for prudence and discretion. In order to facilitate the best and swiftest resolution of the incident, MSF will not provide further information for the moment nor will it comment on statements, rumours or public information related to it. MSF is also calling on all actors involved to refrain from commenting publicly about this incident. “The current publicity around the incident is particularly unhelpful, for it can only hurt the families and jeopardise efforts to get our colleagues back”, says Bastos.
MSF started providing medical assistance in Dadaab in 2009.My Life With HIV: A Photographic Project
Charles Sako, Catherine Atieno and Siama Musine live and work in Kibera, a deprived area of Kenya’s capital Nairobi. They are also all HIV positive and receive treatment through Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders' clinic in Kibera.
Six years ago, they were given disposable cameras for a week to document their lives on HIV treatment. From those photos, MSF created a project called ‘My Life with HIV’.
Now, to coincide with a United Nations Summit on HIV/AIDS in New York, we’ve been back to visit them and to hear how their lives have moved on.
The latest scientific research shows that treating people with HIV/AIDS not only saves lives but also can prevent the virus from spreading. The full, busy and vibrant lives you’ll see portrayed here are the living proof of the benefits HIV treatment has brought to individuals, their families and wider communities.
Visit: www.msf.org.za to learn about the MSF's work around the world.
Using online media can boost exposure in traditional media
When I talk to scientists and activists, I often encourage them to think about new media (the internet, social media such as Facebook and Twitter) as well as the traditional media (newspapers, radio, etc) as a means of getting their message out. Though people do get excited, they question the reach of such media, in countries where internet access is very slow, or not widespread.
A campaign I am presently working on illustrates how new and traditional media can be used in combination. In this case, an innovative project on the internet, was used to generate significant publicity for the campaign in the mainstream mass media.
The campaign is aimed at increasing access to medicines by calling for an end to 'stock-outs' -- the problem of medicines regularly being out of stock at government health facilities. The campaign is running in Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and Zambia. It was launched early this year.
As a way of refocusing attention on the issue a few months into the campaign, and also in order to counter government denials that stockouts are a problem, the campaigners held a 'pill check' week. During this week (22-26 June), researchers visited visited public health institutions in around their countries and checked on the availability of a list of 10 essential medicines. These are medicines, that, according to the World Health Organisation, should be readily available in public health facilities.
Using innovative technology, the team then reported the results through short messaging services (SMS) to a common site, and the data has been reflected visually in an online mapping of the country that shows areas where medication is out of stock. The project made use of open-source software developed by Frontline SMS and Ushahidi.
The results can be viewed on the Stop Stockouts website. In Kenya, the campaign team held a press conference on Tuesday 30th June. This resulted in extensive news coverage in the mainstream as well as online media. Here are some examples:
Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition
Build it Kenny, and they Will Come
So, while the majority of Kenyans might not have ready internet access, many journalists do -- and the project was innovative to get their attention.
(this post is also available on my blog, Wingseed)
Techsoup Kenya Launch: Matthew enthusiastically presenting
TechSoup Kenya Launch: Enthusiastic presenting
Cost of ICTs for Kenyan NGOs to be reduced
There are approximately 4 000 non-profit organisations operating in Kenya today. These organisations make a significant contribution in response to the development and service delivery challenges facing the country.
The strengthening of NGOs’ capacity for service delivery increasingly requires that attention be given to their ability to manage, implement and integrate information communication technologies (ICTs) into their work. However, the issue of affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to increased investment by NGOs in their technology infrastructure and capacity.
In response to this situation, the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT), in conjunction with the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) in Kenya, has launched TechSoup Kenya, an online technology donation portal aimed at the Kenya NGO sector.
TechSoup Kenya aims to assist NGOs by providing software and hardware for very low or discounted fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners, as well as by supporting NGOs to maximise their ICT purchases and infrastructure. It will present Kenya NGOs with an opportunity to access software and other ICT solutions at discounts of up to 95% of the retail value.
David Barnard, SANGONeT’s Executive Director says, “The introduction of this programme in South Africa and Botswana has already made an important contribution to the local NGO sector, and we are very excited about its potential impact in Kenya.”
To read the full press release entitled "Reducing the Cost of ICTs for Kenyan NGOs", click here.Source:<br /> NGO PulseReducing the Cost of ICTs for Kenyan NGOs
There are approximately 4 000 non-profit organisations operating in Kenya today. These organisations make a significant contribution in response to the development and service delivery challenges facing the country.
The strengthening of NGOs’ capacity for service delivery increasingly requires that attention be given to their ability to manage, implement and integrate information communication technologies (ICTs) into their work. However, the issue of affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to increased investment by NGOs in their technology infrastructure and capacity. In an environment where the challenge of long-term financial sustainability continues to dominate internal NGO decision-making, the cost associated with technology investment impacts on the importance attached to building NGOs’ technology infrastructure and strengthening their work accordingly.
In response to this situation, the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT), in conjunction with the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) in Kenya, is very pleased to announce the launch of TechSoup Kenya, an online technology donation portal aimed at the Kenya NGO sector.
TechSoup Kenya aims to assist NGOs by providing software and hardware for very low or discounted fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners, as well as by supporting NGOs to maximise their ICT purchases and infrastructure. It will present Kenya NGOs with an opportunity to access software and other ICT solutions at discounts of up to 95% of the retail value.
According to David Barnard, SANGONeT’s Executive Director, “The introduction of this programme in South Africa and Botswana has already made an important contribution to the local NGO sector, and we are very excited about its potential impact in Kenya.”
TechSoup Kenya is a partnership between SANGONeT and TechSoup Global, a San Francisco-based non-profit technology capacity building organisation. TechSoup Global started in 2002 in the United States and currently operates its product donation programmes in 23 countries across the world with a network of local partner NGOs. With 35 donor partners currently, TechSoup Global has provided approximately 4.7 million donated technology products since programme inception to NGOs around the world. The retail price of these donations is roughly equivalent to $1.4 billion.
“We’ve grown the TechSoup Global Network by partnering with organisations that share our commitment to providing NGOs with critical technology resources,” said Rebecca Masisak, Co-CEO of TechSoup Global. “Both ALIN and SANGONeT have a track record of outstanding service to the NGO community. Their collaboration to bring technology donations and education to Kenya is a shining example of the power of our network.”
ALIN will be responsible for the implementation of TechSoup Kenya. According to James Nguo, ALIN’s Regional Director, “With a wide network among grassroots NGOs and focus on ICT4D, we hope to avail affordable technology to the people who deserve them most”.
The first TechSoup Kenya donation partner is Microsoft. Most of the Microsoft range of software will be available to Kenya NGOs at approximately 4% of the retail value. The products include operating system software, productivity software such as Microsoft Office, publishing software and server products.
For more information about TechSoup Kenya, please contact:
James Nguo, Regional Director, Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN)
Tel: (+254) (20) 273-1557 / Cell: (+254) (73) 388-8164 / E-mail: james@alin.or.ke
David Barnard, Executive Director, SANGONeT
Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4935 / Cell: (+27) (82) 870 8968 / E-mail: info@sangonet.org.zaDate published:17/06/2009Organisation:TechSoupKenyaIssued by:Additional images:
Printer-friendly version
Vacancies
-
09/02/2012
-
09/02/2012
-
09/02/2012
-
10/02/2012
Events
-
Monday, February 13, 2012
-
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
-
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Opportunities
-
10/02/2012
-
10/02/2012
-
13/02/2012
-
14/02/2012
-
15/02/2012
