Day: May 28, 2024

Tunis: Health Minister Ali Mrabet attended on Monday in Geneva the launch ceremony of the Group of Friends of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Academy, on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly.

The ceremony was attended by health ministers and delegations from 17 countries and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reads a Health Ministry press release.

Mrabet commended the WHO Academy’s role in training healthcare workers, voicing Tunisia’s support for its programme and goals as they meet the needs of healthcare training in different countries based on new IT.

Mrabet also met with Co-chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response Precious Matsoso.

The talk helped discuss the progress made in talks on this convention and options submitted to the World Health Assembly to move ahead with the process.

Mrabet reiterated Tunisia’s firm position in
favour of the adoption of this convention, which comes in response to the appeal launched on March 30, 2021 by President Kais Saied with a number of international leaders.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Forum of African Women Educators (FAWE Burkina), in collaboration with the Youth Network for Peace and Development of the Eastern Region (RJPD), organized, on May 17, 2024, a meeting to monitor the commitments of political decision-makers for the well-being of adolescents and young people in the Eastern region.

On July 28, 2023, the Eastern Youth Advocacy Group, an initiative of the Forum of African Women Educationalists (FAWE Burkina), in collaboration with the Youth Network for Peace and Development of the Eastern Region (RJPD ), had pleaded with political decision- makers, during a regional meeting organized as part of the activities of the ‘Break Free’ program, so that they facilitate the creation of modern toilets for the benefit of young girls. This is for good management of their menstrual hygiene.

Also, the young people had ‘strongly’ wanted the organization of screening campaigns for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS in particular, as well as the holding of awareness sessions on
sexual and reproductive health (SRH) at Lycée Diaba Lompo and at Hampali High School.

Finally, young people were keen that an effective mechanism for access to information on sexual and reproductive health would be put in place. Responding favorably to these requests, the authorities made a commitment, during this regional meeting, to use all their weight to satisfy the grievances expressed. Ten months after the event, decision-makers and young people met on May 17, 2024, to assess the state of implementation of these commitments. It was during a regional meeting called monitoring the 2023 commitments.

According to Job Oscar Thiombiano, coordinator of the RJPD, the relay structure of FAWE Burkina, most of the commitments have been kept. As proof, he indicated, toilets have been rehabilitated for the benefit of young girls and several awareness campaigns on SRH have been organized in schools. Better, he continued, educators were appointed in each high school.

Their role is to supervise young girls and provi
de them with all information on SRH. Listening to the principal of Hampali high school, Clémence Diabouga, all these actions have contributed to the well-being of adolescents. ‘Our high school has benefited from several training sessions. At the end of these sessions, we noticed a change in behavior among the young girls.

They are diligent and participate more in running the classes,’ she declared. Former beneficiary of FAWE Burkina, the 1st vice-president of the special delegation of the commune of Fada N’Gourma, Ernest Natama welcomed the forum’s commitment to this vulnerable segment of the population.

‘Act more’

However, noted Job Oscar Thiombiano, the construction of modern toilets adapted to the menstrual hygiene of young girls is a challenge to be taken up. In fact, he explained that the insufficiency of financial resources limits the scope of action of decision-makers, especially since the priority today remains the security issue. However, he proposed, the group of young people can initiate advocac
y actions with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a view to mobilizing funds for the construction of these health infrastructures.

For the coordinator of FAWE Burkina, Camille Badini, despite the difficulties, the ‘Break Free’ program is doing well in the Eastern region. ‘We have performed well and the lessor is satisfied,’ he said.

To achieve more results, the advocacy group’s spokesperson, Yempani Lompo called on policymakers to take more action. ‘Dear decision-makers, the difficulties linked to menstrual management and access to quality information and services on SRH in our schools truly constitute obstacles to the academic success of girls. The time to act is now,’ she said.

A message received ‘5 out of 5’ by the high commissioner of the province of Gourma, Silas Nacanabo. Indeed, the provincial authority reiterated its commitment to supporting FAWE Burkina and its partners in the implementation of the ‘Break Free’ program.

In all cases, a local committee to monitor commitments was set up imm
ediately.

As a reminder, the ‘Break Free’ program was launched in 2021 by a consortium made up of Plan international Burkina Faso, FAWE and the SRHR Africa Trust, represented in Burkina by AFRIYAN. It is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

60 learners including 50 girls from the Rural Promotion Center (CPR) of Bonam, a village in the commune of Boulsa, received their installation kits in the field of agricultural entrepreneurship on May 22, 2024. The ceremony was chaired by the high commissioner of Namentenga province, Adama Conseiga, in the presence of the regional authority.

A total of 60 learners including 50 girls and 10 boys were trained by the engineering of the skills-based approach in Boulsa, capital of the province of Namentenga (Central-North). They obtained their Basic Qualification Certificate (CQB) or Professional Qualification Certificate (CQP).

The latter received minimum installation kits in accordance with the agriculture or livestock sector and depending on their qualification.

‘These kits are partial, due to public procurement procedures,’ said the director of Burkina’s training centers, Ousmane Ouédraogo. He also reassured the learners that each will receive the remaining funds, once they have received the material.

Awar
e that the Bonam center is operating at a minimum, Mr. Ouédraogo stressed that initiatives are being considered by the Ministry in charge of Agriculture, with a view to meeting certain challenges it faces.

The director of the Bonam CPR, Nana Boureima, for his part, reported that 112 learners have already been trained in the Center.

‘Agricultural entrepreneurship is an undeniable alternative to our true sovereignty,’ argued the promoter of the Bonam CPR, Laurent Sédogo and Minister in charge of Agriculture.

The regional director of Agriculture, Animal and Fishery Resources of the Center-North, Ragnimsom Serge Igor Birba, noted that the CPR are closely participating in the agrosylvopastoral offensive in Burkina.

The High Commissioner of Namentenga province, Adama Conseiga congratulated the technical and financial partners, the new agricultural entrepreneurs and the CPR team for the results obtained.

Mr. Conseiga thanked the population of Bonam for their hospitality and invited young people to put the knowl
edge acquired to useful use.

As a reminder, CPR de Bonam was created in 201 on the initiative of the former Minister in charge of Agriculture, Laurent Sédogo and friends of the Hankuna Natata Foundation of Holland and the support of local associations and the ‘State

Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The director of the Renewable Thermal Energies Laboratory (LETRE), Professor Sié Kam, invited academics to propose innovative and high-quality projects on Monday in Ouagadougou, which could help the growth of country, in the search for financing, noted the AIB on site.

‘All members of the laboratory must know how to write scientific research projects but also propose innovative projects that can help the growth of our country,’ said the director of the Renewable Thermal Energy Laboratory (LETRE), Professor Sié. Kam.

Professor Kam, spoke on Monday at the Joseph KI-Zerbo University of Ouagadougou during a training session on project writing for the benefit of members of the said laboratory.

For him, this training aims to enable young people and members of the laboratory not only to succeed in developing projects but also to seek funding to carry out these projects.

‘The search for financing requires the drafting of high-quality projects,’ he insisted.

In his opinion, it is necessary to be comp
rehensive with the best projects to qualify for funding.

He insisted on the need to direct ‘scarce’ resources towards projects that take into account the real needs of the country by putting ‘a finished product on the market’.

‘Knowing how to initiate research to obtain convincing results’ must be ‘the purpose of our work,’ he added.

‘So, knowing how to write projects to track down funding is one thing, but knowing how to propose scientific research activities that can allow the country to move forward is another,’ said the first head of the Laboratory. renewable thermal energies (LETRE).

‘Research is expensive,’ noted the deputy director of the doctoral school, Professor Bale Bayala.

For Professor Bayala, the only way to be financed ‘is to equip oneself in the search for financing’.

For him, project writing is therefore essential for young doctors, assistants and doctoral students.

‘This is extremely important because research that is not funded does not produce finished results,’ he concluded.

This
training is provided by Professor Imaël Henri Nestor Bassolé.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

The Pawelg-Buudu Association officially inaugurated on Thursday, May 23, 2024 in Yako, its professional weaving and dyeing training center located in the undeveloped area of sector 2.

After 44 years, in the profession of weaving traditional loincloths, the promoter, Marguerite Marie Juliette Tapsoba/Ouédraogo officially inaugurated on Thursday May 23, 2024 in Yako, in the Northern region, her professional training center for weaving traditional loincloths and dye.

This inauguration took place in the presence of religious and customary administrative authorities, parents, friends and acquaintances of the center’s promoter, Ms. Tapsoba.

The infrastructure is composed, among other things, of a classroom, a counseling room and a mini-shop for storing woven loincloths. The new jewel also has several equipment for learning weaving trades.

In her testimony message, the promoter of the center suggested that from its informal state to the present day, her structure has employed at least a hundred girls and women.

A
mong these, others were trained and set up on their own.

Testimonies from learners, performances by artists, sketches and dance

traditional punctuated the ceremony.

According to Ms. Ouédraogo, the infrastructure will contribute to the creation of remunerative jobs for these weaving learners.

The owner of the center noted that although it is predestined for women and young girls who have dropped out of school, the center will also welcome boys from the Passoré province.

She says she goes further by also allowing rural women from the 9 communes of the locality to have an occupation in the post-winter period.

‘I noticed that after the rainy seasons, women no longer had activities to carry out. Some of them were engaged in gold panning,’ she noted.

The promoter of the center, Marguerite Marie Juliette Tapsoba/Ouédraogo, expressed grievances against the dima of Yako. This involves the acquisition of land, with a view to expanding its center.

The forty-year-old in the weaving profession invited the young le
arners not to regret their choice, because he explains that weaving is a profession that nourishes his man.

‘You must never stop training, in order to bring innovations to the practice of your profession. ‘, she advised.

The godmother of the ceremony, Célestine Soubeibiga, for her part, said she agreed to associate her image with the activity, with regard to the courage and determination of the promoter and especially her participation in the socio-professional integration of young girls, in a situation of vulnerability.

As for the presenter of the High Commissioner of Passoré, Augustin Ouédraogo, he thanked the customary authorities for having facilitated the acquisition of a site for the center.

Mr. Ouédraogo estimated that the center will allow these young learners to have not only training but also skills in the weaving profession.

Anything that will allow them, he added, to self-employ and become financially independent.

The ceremony continued with a visit to the weaving equipment, the learning roo
ms as well as the presentation of certificates to girls at the end of their training.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The President of the Republic of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, is expected on Thursday, May 30, 2024 in the Burkinabe capital, as part of a friendship and working visit, we learned. AIB from several sources.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, will discuss the strengthening of bilateral cooperation and on subjects of common interest, continues AIB sources.

President Faye was elected at the end of March as head of Senegal. He has already made official visits notably to Gambia, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, Cape Verde and the Republic of Guinea.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

Bobo-Dioulasso: The general directorate of communication and media is organizing, on May 23 and 24, 2024 in Bobo-Dioulasso, a public conference around the theme ‘Fight against violent extremism in Burkina Faso: roles and responsibilities media and religious leaders in the promotion of peace and social cohesion’. This initiative aims to provide communications solutions to combat violent extremism and promote peace in Burkina Faso.

The public conference brought together several media people and religious leaders from several regions in the western zone of Burkina Faso.

Its theme was ‘Fight against violent extremism in Burkina Faso: roles and responsibilities of the media and religious leaders in promoting peace and social cohesion’.

Several communications related to this theme were delivered to them. These include, among other things, ‘the fight against terrorism and violent extremism: state of play, challenges and prospects for the fight against GAT operating in Burkina Faso’, or ‘fight against terrorism: w
hat contributions do journalists make to a real rebuilding in Burkina Faso? “.

At the opening of the conference on May 23, 2024, the representative of the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Boukary Nitiema, specified that the conference aims to mobilize information professionals and communication around actions to reconquer the integrity of the national territory .

Through this objective, it will be a question of deconstructing subversive messages of hatred and stigmatization, and of raising awareness of the values of living together, solidarity and social cohesion between communities.

This conference, he added, is a framework for exchange and sharing with journalists and communicators with the aim of proposing communication solutions capable of effectively combating terrorism and violent extremism.

He invited information and communication professionals to make the media “the solution and not the problem in our quest for remedies to the difficulties we are experiencing”, and to work to
guarantee the media their privileged place as a channel of mass education and promotion of morale and cultural values.

‘In this context of security crisis, we need to exist before thinking about anything. We need to reconquer our territory to freely go about our business and contribute to the development of our dear homeland. We need to carry out a profound transformation of our society to count in the concert of nations,’ recalled Bourkary Nitiema of this message from the Head of State to the participants.

It is at the price of these individual and collective sacrifices, he continued, that we can achieve this.

The regional director of Communication for Hauts-Bassins, Marguerite Blegna, expressed the hope that participants would propose solutions in terms of communication to effectively fight against violent extremism so that Burkina Faso becomes a haven of peace again.

This is also the wish of the Director General of Communication and Media, Yirmalé Frédéric Somé for whom, the conference was initiated to
convey the message and the concern of the Ministry of Communication which is to change language and have new elements language with the population to defeat terrorism.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: the focal point of the Northern region of the Agency for the Promotion of Community Entrepreneurship (APEC) organized on Saturday May 25 in Ouahigouya, an awareness day on popular shareholding in benefiting the populations, noted an AIB journalist.

According to the APEC focal point in Ouahigouya Abdoul Gaïbarou Ouédraogo, ‘this awareness session aims to provide all the necessary information and put all stakeholders on the same level to further encourage great mobilization on the financing of our companies by our own funds’.

During the awareness session for local stakeholders, participants were informed that APEC is an endogenous means of financing businesses with the aim of initiating real development without the help of any partner.

The initiators of this session asked all the sons and daughters of the Northern region to massively subscribe to this presidential initiative which will make it possible to achieve food self-sufficiency in a few years. Participants were informed that the minimum s
hare is 10,000 FCFA plus the membership fee of 5,000 FCFA which gives the right to a membership card.

To facilitate subscriptions, the Northern regional focal point and municipalities have been set up to facilitate registrations. While welcoming the mobilization of the day, the High Commissioner of the province of Yatenga, Tasséré Nacoulma invited at the end of the exchanges, everyone to subscribe massively and to be relays of subscription in the province.

This activity was placed under the chairmanship of the High Commissioner of the Yatenga province, Tasséré Nacoulma.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

Bobo-Dioulasso: The youth club for the promotion of Sino-Burkinabè cooperation (CJPC-BF) organized an exchange workshop on Wednesday May 22, 2024 in Bobo-Dioulasso, as part of the 4th edition of the Sino-Burkinabè Cooperation Week. This week aims to promote and evaluate cooperation between China and Burkina Faso.

Initiative of the youth club for the promotion of Sino-Burkinabe cooperation (CJPC-BF), the exchange workshop, held on Wednesday May 22, 2024 in Bobo-Dioulasso, aimed to discuss the opportunities and challenges of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

It brought together young Burkinabè people, Chinese diplomats and officials from the Burkinabè Fund for Economic and Social Development (FBDES).

Two communications were the highlights of these exchanges. The first communication allowed the first political advisor of the Chinese embassy in Burkina Faso, Wang Wen Zhang, to present the history of China, its strategy and its diplomatic vision.

Wang Wen Zhang, in his presentation, emphasized t
he importance of Burkinabe youth in strengthening bilateral relations.

For him, cooperation with Burkina Faso must produce tangible results for young people.

‘We discussed how to ensure that our cooperation can have more results for these young Burkinabè people,’ he declared after leaving the workshop.

According to him, Chinese diplomacy is based on third world countries.

‘We have two visions. The first vision is that of an equal and ordered multipolar world. The second is economic globalization that is inclusive and beneficial for all,’ underlined the first political advisor to the Chinese ambassador to Burkina Faso.

In the second communication, the Director General of FBDES, Ahmadé Nour Guenda recalled the historical contexts of the creation of the fund, initially intended to integrate the Voltaics into economic structures dominated by foreigners in the 1970s.

For him, the FBDES is today a ‘key’ tool to support structuring projects carried out by the Burkinabè.

‘We make equity investments and we give
investment loans through ordinary loans. We have physical counters for business creation or expansion projects,’ he explained.

Mr. Guenda stressed the importance of self-employment and wealth creation by young people.

He aligned this vision with that of current authorities. The national coordinator of the CJPC-BF, Abdoul Razahagou Dené, expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the workshop.

He indicated that the Sino-Burkinabe cooperation week aims to promote and evaluate cooperation between the two countries.

‘For this 4thedition of the week, we wanted to organize this special workshop to allow young people to understand China’s foreign policy and the financing opportunities available through the FBDES,’ he said.

Abdoul Razahagou Dené praised the productive interaction between young people and communicators.

He therefore underlined the importance of these exchanges for the development of youth initiatives.

This exchange workshop, he said, also highlighted the joint efforts of China and Burkina
Faso to strengthen their cooperation with particular attention to the needs and aspirations of young people.

Participants expressed their enthusiasm about the prospects offered by this collaboration and the authorities’ desire to support entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: The 360° communications agency, Sigma Corporation Africa, recognized, on May 25, 2024, the merit and patriotic commitment of several personalities including the journalist Baba Hama, the man of the theater Professor Prosper Kompaoré and director Aminata Diallo Glez of 3 men, 1 village.

In total, around ten physical and moral personalities were distinguished, on Saturday May 25, 2024, by the Pan-African Observatory for Unity, Integration and Sovereignty (OPUIS AWARDS 2024).

Supported by the 360° communications agency, Sigma Corporation Africa, this distinction, according to the organizers of the event, aimed to demonstrate the country’s gratitude to those who, through their exceptional commitment, have contributed to its development.

According to the jury, led by Me Issouf SAVADOGO, the Joseph Ki-Zerbo prize for education was awarded to Professor Prosper Kompaoré and that of Jacqueline Ki-Zerbo for the progress and promotion of women went to the Association of women lawyers from Burkina Faso.

Filmmaker and producer Aminata Diallo Glez, according to Me Sawadogo, was the winner of the Guimbi Ouattara prize for artistic and cultural excellence for the promotion of Faso.

The Norbert Zongo prize for integrity, peace, social justice and freedom of the press was awarded to two personalities, argued the president of the jury, before specifying that it is Chrysogone Zougmoré, president of the MBDHP and Baba Hama, journalist and former minister of communications.

The jury, according to its president, awarded the Yacouba Sawadogo prize for environmental protection to farmer Salifou Ouédraogo and a posthumous prize to Idrissa Ouédraogo.

Furthermore, the jury awarded two special prizes to the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) and the Norbert Zongo national press center.

The nominated personalities were selected, in the opinion of the president of the jury, following a rigorous selection process, including identification by the organizing committee and the candidates’ peers.

The general comm
issioner of the OPUIS AWARDS, Donis Ayivi, also indicated that these awards concern not only the personalities who lay the foundations of the framework of the history of Burkina Faso, but also those who, out of civic duty, will pass on the torch to the future generation.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

Bobo-Dioulasso: The Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications organized, on Friday May 24, 2024 in Bobo-Dioulasso, the 2nd edition of ‘Safer Internet day’ under the sign of the need to protect personal identity on the internet.

After Ouagadougou in 2023, it is the turn of Bobo-Dioulasso to host the day called ‘Safer Internet day’.

The 2nd edition of the said day, initiated by the Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications, was held on Friday May 24, 2024 in the city of Sya under the theme: ‘Protecting your personal identity on Internet: a necessity.

The day’s program included panels led by experts and awareness-raising activities.

According to the Minister in charge of the Digital Transition, Dr Aminata Zerbo, the role and advantages of digital technology no longer need to be demonstrated both at the professional and social levels.

‘Its ability to connect people, interests, ideas seems limitless,’ she said.

But beyond its innumerable advantages, the min
ister underlined, the internet is today a place where the dangers and risks of real life are transposed with ‘tenfold’ harmful effects.

For her, this day is an opportunity to inform, raise awareness, and remind, especially young people, how to behave online in order to get the most out of it while protecting themselves from threats and disadvantages.

In the current context of Burkina Faso, the theme of this edition is relevant in more than one way in the eyes of Dr Aminata Zerbo.

‘Security and privacy of personal information must be at the forefront of our concerns in this connected world,’ she said.

And he continued that the government, through its ministry, is determined to collaborate with all stakeholders concerned to develop effective strategies to guarantee a safe and secure digital environment for all Burkinabè people.

She called on the participants, mainly schoolchildren, to take advantage of this forum for discussion offered throughout this day to learn more about how to be responsible on the in
ternet, and especially how to preserve one’s identity there.

This edition was placed under the sponsorship of the Minister of National Education, Literacy and the Promotion of National Languages, Jacques Sosthène Dingara.

He congratulated the Ministry in charge of the Digital Transition for organizing this ‘important’ event in favor of school youth.

An event which, according to him, is not simply a day of awareness, but also a call to action, an invitation to reflect collectively on the challenges and opportunities offered by digital technology.

‘We live in an era where the internet has become omnipresent in our daily lives, influencing our social interactions, our economic activities and our ways of learning,’ said Jacques Sosthène Dingara.

He also made it clear that protecting one’s identity online is a vital necessity today and that education plays a central role in this process.

‘Every day, we leave digital traces of our activities, our communications and our transactions,’ said Mr. Dingara.

The he
ad of the department of the Ministry in charge of National Education is firmly convinced that awareness of good practices on the internet must start from a young age.

‘We must prepare our young people to navigate safely in the digital ocean, to recognize the dangers and to adopt responsible and informed behaviors,’ he said.

The minister also invited schools to put into practice the advice and recommendations that were shared throughout the day.

Source: Burkina Information Agency