THE National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) is moving with speed to construct more warehouses across the country as part of government’s drive to improve health service delivery.
Government is targeting to have Natpharm warehouses in all the country’s provinces as part of its decentralisation programme.
One such facility has been completed in Mutare, with Natpharm Board Chairperson, Ms Ruth Kaseke, who toured the warehouse this Saturday, outlining the roadmap towards government’s target.
“The Manicaland warehouse is almost complete as they are just doing finishing touches and we are looking forward to commissioning the one in Masvingo which is already complete. We are hoping to start construction of the Mashonaland East warehouse before the end of the year as resources have been put aside. As we go into 2024 we will start construction of the Mashonaland central warehouse. The construction of provincial hospital in Mat North is at an advanced stage with a warehouse construction being part of the process,” she said.
The broader objective is to turn the country into a regional medicines distribution hub in the SADC region.
“We are also have relationships with international organisations and manufacturing companies. We recently signed an MOU with Iran and we have a working arrangement with Egypt. We also have a working arrangement in the offing with Indonesia so that we also become their distribution centre not only in Zimbabwe but in the SADC region. We are planning and hoping that we can be the hub of distribution within the SADC region and that will mean more resources to save the people of Zimbabwe,” she added.
Government is also satisfied with increasing compliance by public entities to the Corporate Governance Act which has reached 75 percent from 60 percent.
“Our public entities have made significant strides in terms of compliance with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act. We did a survey in 2020 which shows overall compliance at 54 percent to 60 percent. This was followed by another compliance survey for 2022 the results are due to be published,” said Permanent Secretary Responsible for Corporate Governance in the office of the President and Cabinet, Mr Allan Choruma.
He added, “This survey is also showing an improvement in the level of compliance to about 75 percent. It means we have gained a lot of traction in terms of compliance. Natpharm is doing well. In terms of production of audited financial statements, they have just finalised the 2022 financial year.”
Apart from construction of the giant warehouse in Mutare, government has also spearheaded construction of health facilities across the province as well as upgrading of the existing ones to improve health delivery.
A fashion show was held in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo aimed at inspiring peace and creativity in conflict-ridden region.
Longing for peace, Goma workshop owner, Flore Mfuanani Nsukula, put the finishing touches on her newest collection to recognize the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo. In her words, “We want peace to be restored in our country, especially in North Kivu.”
“Through art, all colors that we will express, through our clothes, it will be full of emotions, trying to explain what we are going through in our country.”
For decades, more than 100 armed groups in eastern Congo have been fighting for control of important natural resources. There are frequent mass killings, and the bloodshed has caused a refugee exodus.
In lieu of violence, the Liputa fashion show on Saturday night promoted peace and creativity within the region.
According to organizers, it is an opportunity to send a message of peace and peaceful cooperation during a time of heightened tensions.
Creative stylists, models and designers from Cameroon, Senegal, Burundi, France and the U.S. took to the catwalk in hopes of spreading joy and beauty in the wake of a tumultuous chapter in the Congo’s history.
Cameroonian fashion designer Délia Ndougou stated, “Africans must be one, be united. It is true we have a very wide cultural diversity, but this diversity must bring us together.” She presented a collection inspired by her national flag.
“We really wanted to convey joy in the clothes, peace in the clothes, very cheerful styles, a question of making the world smile,” Chadrac Lumumba, a creative stylist from Kinshasa added.
Flore’s collection sought to recommit to the quest for peace in the area, while also showcasing the fashion industry’s continuous potential in the Congo.
Organizer David Ngulu knew the show was, not only to sell these images of creators, but to show that in Africa and in the DRC, peace is possible.
“We presented these collections, not only to sell the images of these creators, but to show that in Africa, in the DRC, the areas that are considered ‘red,’ we can do things there that we see in other countries that have peace,” says David Ngulu.
“I think that each creator contributed to love, peace and living together.”
Award-winning African Afrobeats singer, Davido, has remained in the news for different reasons lately.
African News, especially the entertainment beat, is still agog with news about Davido’s Timeless Album.
While that buzz is still on, the Nigerian Musician went online to celebrate his 12th year since he started music professionally.
On the 7th of May 2023, fans, friends, and family of Nigerian Award-winning Afrobeats singer, David Adeleke, popular as Davido, celebrated his first 12 years of making music professionally. The commemoration took the world back to when his debut song, ‘Back When’, which features the rave of that era – Naeto C, was released as the prime single heralding his first album. ‘Back When’, a song from his 2012 debut album ‘Omo Baba Olowo’, was produced in London by Davido himself while popular African music video director, Clarence Peters, shot and directed the video that was first uploaded online on the 9th of May 2011. The song rose to become one of the biggest hit songs from Africa at that time, marking his full induction into the entertainment industry.
Davido and a vixen; shot from his music video. Credit: Youtube.
Through a post shared on his Twitter handle, Davido expressed his appreciation to God for the 12-year ride, he described himself as God’s child. “12 years ago, today I dropped my first single. God’s child”, he wrote, stating how happy he is that people still accepted the album Timeless, which has been breaking records since its release, even after 12 years of putting out music.
While on tour recently, to sell his new Album, a brief chat he had with someone showed up online where the singer showed how happy he is to see people the world over accepting his new work of art, according to him, when compared to the previous Albums, Timeless got a good reception. He also mentioned that he has always felt people’s indifference to his earlier albums but Timeless rose to a different level. He said: “I’m happy that people accepted Timeless and I feel they always doubted my album. It’s a different feel for me because people have never accepted my album, so this is a fresh one for me…I haven’t felt this before”. The singer, and father, who had stayed away from social media for a while, just after the loss of his son, expressed satisfaction and optimism about his music and social media comeback.
London, United Kingdom. January 27, 2019. Davido performs live on stage at The O2 Arena. Credit: Michael Tubi / Alamy Live News
He mentioned that the responses and positive reactions he has been receiving since TIMELESS dropped have been quite encouraging. Davido disclosed that he is just getting started, even though he admits that the journey has, so far, been heavy with breath-taking adventures. “This journey has been crazy, but we’re just getting started”: he says. He rose to prominence and popularity after he released ‘Dami Duro’, the second single from his debut studio album. With global prominence, an avalanche of awards, honorary mentions across different quarters, and worldwide recognition of his art, the singer has earned respect and recognition as one of the iconic names in the African music landscape.
Davido has remained a key source of entertainment news globally. He won the popular ‘next rated’ award category at The Headies In 2012. The 30-year-old father, in the last decade, has released hundreds of chart-topping songs like ‘Skelewu’, ‘Gobe’, ‘Aye’, ‘One of a Kind’, ‘Owo Ni Koko’, ‘Fall’,‘If’, ‘Fia’ ‘Assurance’ and several other African hits. In 2019 he dropped ‘A Good Time’, an Album that preceded ‘A Better Time’ which he released in 2020. ‘Timeless’, his 17-track fourth album was released on the 31st of March 2023, and it has continued to garner millions of streams across music platforms.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 24: Davido accepts The Best International Act Award onstage at the 2018 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 24, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Leon Bennett/Getty Images/AFP
The album also set a new record for the first-day streaming for an African album on Apple Music in the same month of March. Davido stands out as one of the most-followed African artists on social media. His frequent global tours are almost always sold-out events. A lot of fans believe that these first 12 years are only the beginning, just like the artist has emphasized. Considering his antecedents, do you feel Davido can comfortably remain on top of the African Music space for the next 12 years? Kindly share your thoughts in the comment section.
Again, Kenya’s Emmanuel Naibet has won a marathon in Nigeria. His first was in Lagos, and the Abuja International Marathon is his second.
Ruth Jebet, a Bahrain runner of Kenyan ancestry, defied previous career challenges to win her first international full marathon.
Other elite runners and fun seekers from other African cities and the rest of the world converged to take part in the inaugural and historic Abuja International Marathon; they left with prizes and happiness.
On the 29th of April 2023, Kenya’s Emmanuel Naibet and Bahrain runner Ruth Jebet emerged inaugural winners of the men’s and women’s respective categories of the first international full marathon in the FCT, the historic Abuja International Marathon, backed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, with routes calculated and calibrated by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, AIMS, and approved by World Athletics, with the theme ‘Celebrating the Best of FCT’.
Ruth Jebet, winner of the women’s full marathon. Source: www.eurosport.com
According to the Race Director, Olukayode Thomas, “About 50 foreign elite runners and 120 local elites registered to participate in the race’’. They were joined by thousands of Nigerian runners that registered to participate in the three categories. The race, a first of its kind in Abuja, was earlier slated for the 17th of December 2022 but was later rescheduled to hold on the 29th of April 2023, with the weather showing kindness to the notable event. The lovely city of Abuja typically experiences torrential rainfall in April but on the 29th, the city offered the ideal weather making it more convenient for Kenya’s Naibet as well as Jebet, Kenyan-born long-distance runner and steeplechase specialist who competes internationally for the Asian country Bahrain, to win the two categories respectively.
Emmanuel Naibet, winner of the men’s full marathon. Source: www.naijanews.com.
Naibet won with a time of 2:13:45, a winning time considered the best ever documented in any first edition of Marathon races in Nigeria. This is his second marathon win in Nigeria having also won the 2021 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon. “It was a great race for me though a bit challenging with some hilly parts on the routes, but overall, I am happy to win this race and add it to my achievements,” the animated titleholder said in a chat with journalists. Benard Sang finished in second position with a time of 2:13:49 while Ezekiel Koech secured his third place to seal up the win for Kenyans in the men’s category with a time of 2:13:51.
Athletes from around the world gather in Abuja for the maiden Abuja International Marathon. Photo by Light Oriye. Source: www.premiumtimes.ng
In the women’s category, though her first attempt at the full marathon after dominating in other long-distance races, Ruth Jebet from Bahrain dwarfed other runners to grab the number one spot with a time of 2.36.08, Mercy Kwambai from Kenya finished second with a time of 2:38:17, while Ethiopia’s Dida Negasa held on to the third place with a time of 2:40: 16. An excited Jebet says, “I can never forget the Abuja International Marathon, it is my first full marathon and I won it, I hope to be back next year to defend my title”.
Three different races took place in Abuja. Apart from the elite runners who took part in the full marathon that spanned about 42.195 kilometres, students from across the Abuja metropolis as well as fun contenders also keenly competed for prizes in the 5-kilometre and 10-kilometre races. Thomas, the race director, pointed out that one of the big ideas behind the racing event is the establishment of an elite athletes’ development program to groom exceptional local athletes. “What makes the race unique is that it is the first race that will give local athletes recognition not just in terms of appearance fee or bonuses, but we are trying to set up elite athletes development program because we believe that Nigerians have what it takes to do what the Kenyans and Ethiopians are doing,” he said. All finishers of the Abuja International Marathon got medals and certificates signed by the FCT Minister of State.
Cross section of runners at the Abuja International Marathon. Source: www.gazettengr.com
Also, the Managing Director of Abuja International Marathon, Mrs. Zsuzsanna Ogunmiloyo mentioned the available incentives for young participants. She said “We also want to encourage the culture of running because the youths have to be encouraged. Sports bring the community together. It is something we want embedded in the youths to know that hard work and determination count.”
Activities that led to the Saturday Marathon began on Friday with an expo at The Pavillion, beside the International Conference Centre, opposite Radio House, Abuja. According to Race Director, Olukayode Thomas, the Marathon Expo, with the theme ‘Showcasing the best of FCT,’ prepped the participants for the event. There was refreshment, entertainment from the FCT Arts and Culture Department, and prizes for participants. Visitors were also treated to a city-wide tour. “For those interested in FCT landmarks and tourist attraction centres, officials of the FCT Tourism Department will be on ground to take them around the FCT with tour guides that will answer their questions.”
Route Calibration by Norrie Williamson of the World Athletics/AIMS A Grade South Africa, together with his team. Source: www.abujainternationalmarathon.com
Thomas highlighted the gains of the Abuja Marathon pointing out that they outweigh the few road closures and other inconveniences that came with the event. He said, just before the event, that: “We need to start telling our stories with activities like Abuja International Marathon. Abuja is a beautiful city, no doubt, but how many times have we showcased the city to the world? This is probably the first time that Abuja will be beamed to the world for four hours. This race will show the best part of Abuja and its landmarks to the world for hours so let us all work with the FCTA to make the epoch event a huge success.’’
A week-long Marathon Expo preceded the race with numerous lead-up activities, including the unveiling of the Marathon Logo, the High School that won in the production of the theme song for the Abuja International Marathon, and the presentation of race ambassadors. The event attracted stakeholders in the industry including fun runners, FCTA officials, sponsors, and elite runners abroad and at home. Abuja International Marathon seeks to be the first race in the world to win the prestigious World Athletics Label after its first edition. The majority of elite runners officially invited for the race are Gold Label Runners.
Participants at the maiden Abuja International Marathon. Source: www.gazettengr.com
Abuja, a stunning city with an excellent network of roads, while playing host to the international marathon, did a good job showcasing her beauty to the world. Another big idea behind the Abuja International Marathon (AIM) is to make the FCT more beautiful and tourist-friendly, even as it presents new and thrilling experiences to both fun and elite runners, in and outside Nigeria. Abuja International Marathon (AIM) aims to become a qualifier for the Olympics Games, World Athletics Championships, and the Abbott World Marathon Majors (Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago Tokyo and New York City), within three years. The National Hospital Abuja and other prominent hospitals partnered as reference centers for the race. African News media have kept up with updates before, during, and after the event. It would seem like Kenyans are built for races seeing that they sweep key prizes anywhere races are organized in the continent, and indeed around the word. What do you think? Share with us in the comment section.
Mr Eazi has established his influence in both music, tech, and business, in Africa and globally.
Oluwatosin Ajibade, famously known as Mr Eazi, has recently stirred African News media and the rest of the world, with the recent sale of Vydia, the portfolio company in partnership with his venture capital fund, Zagadat Capital, for an astonishing $1 billion. The digital video and audio distribution company was acquired by American firm, Gamma, in an unprecedented transaction regarded by many as the biggest in Afrobeats, so far.
Gamma is a music and technology firm owned by former Apple Music Executive, Larry Jackson, who believes that Gamma’s vision is in seamless harmony with Vydia’s potential and capabilities, he is enthusiastic about the acquisition. He says “Vydia epitomizes the vision of Gamma as an ideas company.” Entertainment brands that have worked with Vydia include artists like Kanye West, Akon, Mr Eazi, and Anuel.
Source: www.nydjlive.com
Jackson said about the acquisition: “Gamma is built with the flexibility and aptitude that creators need to connect with fans on all formats and across all channels – with transparency and no restriction. We are a progressive media company powered by the best-in-class content distribution and analytics software by way of our Vydia acquisition.”
Beyond a rewarding career in Music, Mr Eazi’s influence in the business world has continued to grow. He set up and runs the music distribution platform emPawa, to promote Afro-music. The platform has worked with several artists including Namenj, Fave, Joeboy, Bella Alubo, and Mr. Eazi himself.
Source: www.nydjlive.com
Zagadat Capital, established in 2021, has speedily built a reputation for its strategic investments in different tech companies. The companies include home services provider Eden Life, remittance-based loaning firm Paisa, African fintech company Pawapay, and, newly, the South African basketball team, CapeTown Tigers. Zagadat Capital’s portfolio shows that Mr Eazi is committed to the promotion of innovation and advancement in the African tech network. Zagadat Capital’s early investments centred on music tech companies. The companies include ticketing platform SHOOBS, Mr Eazi’s enterprise emPawa, and American music distribution service Vydia.
Remarkably, emPawa used the services of Vydia before Mr Eazi made any financial investments into the platform, indicating that, from the onset, he was quite confident in Vydia’s potential. The success of this notable deal reinforces Mr Eazi’s status as a dominant figure in music, tech, and the business world. His impact on the global entertainment scene, as a many-sided entrepreneur, is undisputed. The acquisition of Vydia by Gamma will reform the music distribution scene, giving artists quality platforms and gears to reach new markets as they enlarge their careers.
Mr Eazi and his girlfriend, Temi Otedola. Source: www.gltrends.com.ng
As the digital age continues to alter the music creation, distribution, and consumption processes, Gamma’s vision mixed finely with Vydia’s infrastructure could be a possible harbinger of a new era of innovation in music. Mr Eazi’s accomplishments with Zagadat Capital and emPawa point to the tremendous potential for growth in the African tech and entertainment sectors. As more investors look towards the continent, we are likely to see more ground-breaking collaborations, offers, and deals that will all add up to push economic growth and enhance a flourishing creative network.
Mr Eazi, who recently made history by becoming the first Nigerian artiste to win a Latin Grammy Award, is set to become an in-law to one of Africa’s leading businesspersons, Femi Otedola.
Roadside traders and other informal economy workers around the world are to converge in Kigali, Rwanda, to address peculiar issues.
The congress advocates for recognition and inclusion of street businesses in Africa especially.
AfriSQuare’s African News focuses briefly on the varied expectations from the Conference.
StreetNet International, a global coalition of street vendors and informal traders, holds its 7th International Congress in May 2023. This event features over 150 workers from the informal economy, activists, street vendors, and invited visitors from several other trade unions drawn from more than 50 countries, from about four continents, who will all converge in Kigali, Rwanda, from the first day of May to the sixth, to deliberate on tactics on how to defend these workers’ right to decent work, recognition, and social protection as well as pertinent matters such as climate change. It also delivers to the participants an opportunity to be a part of the May 1st International Workers’ Day celebrations.
Oksana Abboud, International Coordinator, says “StreetNet International Congress is the biggest event for StreetNet family, as it is exactly the most crucial space to get together for all StreetNet members from around the globe, listen to them, collect their views and suggestions, share experience and knowledge, analyze and criticize as well as to adopt new policies and strategies on continuous institutional growth in building collective actions towards empowerment and strengthening StreetNet at different levels, especially to amplify the voice and influence of informal street and market vendors in their own countries and cities while advocating for their rights and all types of protection.”
For more than twenty years, StreetNet has built solidarity among workers in the informal economy around the world, creating a bond and uniting them behind a joint front recognized by multilateral establishments such as the United Nations’ Agency, International Labour Organization. StreetNet has been promoting basic labour rights of street vendors in Africa; it is also pushing for an expansion in its scope and coverage such that it can also cater for members across different nations of the world. Most informal traders, and several other informal economy workers, typically do not have enough access to social protection and are ignored or neglected during social dialogues and collective negotiations even though informal economy workers are vital contributors to all countries’ economies.
Street vendors in Zimbabwe, the country with the 2nd largest vendor population in the world. Source: www.zimbabwesituation.com
The President of StreetNet, Lorraine Sibanda, says “recognition for the workers in the informal economy is critical for the growth of any country. This will also facilitate the access to decent work for informal economy workers, a condition that is not met in many countries. There needs to be access to social dialogue, so that workers in the informal economy are at the table of negotiations, being in the position to articulate their own issues, as well as guide the national strategies on formalization processes and the extension of social protection. Workers in the informal economy are as legitimate as their counterparts in the formal economy”.
A vegetable vendor and his customer, in Kigali. Source www.jacarandafm.com
The 7th Congress is expected to set the agenda for, and pace of, continued development of global alliances in the next four years. The Congress is bent on continuing the fight for acknowledgement and demand for necessary rights. The Universal Congress will also have the stakeholders elect a new four-year term leadership, even as they debate, propose, and adopt fresh policies and resolves. The Congress is built to be the utmost governing body of StreetNet, saddled with the principal responsibility of making key decisions.
Can this development be sustained? How wide and far can it spread? Kindly share your thoughts in the comment section below. Also, do share with your friends.
The April 2023 Edition of the Photogenic Stride Contest by AfriSQuare commences as the first edition for the year 2023. The contest which runs every month with a cash prize of $150 to be won, is an online beauty contest that showcases the true beauty of African women across Africa
However, the photogenic Stride contest has proven to be a starting point for ladies who aspire to become models in Africa. The last edition for 2022 was held in November. The April edition 2023 is up and running, and currently, ladies from across Africa are getting ready to take the crown as the winner of the April edition, because there can be but only one winner.
Ladies who have won previous editions have either benefitted as winners, runners up or via consolatory prizes. In order for you to be among these categories (winner, 1st and 2nd runners ups), this is how you register.
Also, the Photogenic Stride contest is purely based on merit with transparency in operations. The more you share your link with your friends, the higher your chances of winning. If you are an African lady, why not hit the link below, you might be the lucky winner.
Stars headlining nominations for the highly awaited 9th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, AMVCA, 2023 include Chidi Mokeme, Tobi Bakare, Bimbo Ademoye, and others. MultiChoice, the organizers of the awards, on the evening of Sunday, April 16, 2023, released a comprehensive list detailing the various categories and the nominees ahead of the significant event, and different African news platforms have since been stirred.
AfriSQuare gathered that digital content creators in Nollywood, and in Africa generally, have also earned recognition; this shows an expansion in the annual event’s scope, which traditionally recognizes outstanding performances in film, television, and entertainment. The nominees are spread across more than 30 award categories, some of the categories, about ten of them, are open to the public; voters from the general public can choose their preferred nominees, while some other categories are to be decided by a panel of judges set up by the organizers. The event itself is scheduled to hold from the 18th to the 20th of May 2023, in Lagos State, Nigeria, and will be broadcast live on Africa Magic channels.
The AMVCA has grown into a premium event that acknowledges outstanding accomplishments in African television and film. This year, numerous talented actors and actresses across Africa, all contending for awards in different categories, will feature. The list of nominees contains talented film makers as well as prominent actors and actresses such as Nkem Owoh, Mercy Johnson, Chinedu Ikedieze, Chidi Mokeme, Richard Mofe Damijo, and several others. A number of movies and television series have also been nominated for awards, including ‘Brotherhood’ directed by Jade Osiberu, ‘Ile Owo’ directed by Kayode Kasum, among others.
According to the organizers, talented Big Brother Naija alumnus, Bisola Aiyeola and Ghanaian actor, Adjetey Anang, will be the main hosts for this year’s award show. There are several ways to vote for nominees of different categories. Members of the public are encouraged to cast their votes for their favorites as this could make them big winners of any of the public voting categories on awards night. To vote, one must register first before they can get behind their favorite nominees for the ninth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Adjetey Anang and Bisola Aiyeola, the event’s hosts. Source: AMVCA (dstv.com)
To see the full list of nominees, as well as to register and vote for your favorites, the AMVCA site AMVCA (dstv.com) will come in handy. Feel free to visit. Also, share with us, here in the comment section under this post, who you think should win what awards. Is anyone on the nominees list who should not be there? Is there someone who should have been on the list? What do you think of the nominees and the categories? What do you think about the inclusion of online content makers in the mix? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section, even as you share the post with your friends.
While Diabetes keeps raging in most parts of the world, the Department of Health in South Africa as well as private health establishments are working assiduously to better the lives of people living with the ailment in the country.
Technology has proven invaluable in Diabetes management in the country.
While the ailment may be chronic, with sustained technological efforts it can be handled effectively.
Diabetes has long been classified as a chronic disease; it is a known source of challenges for patients and, if poorly managed, a known cause of blindness, renal failure, heart attack, and even death. According to the International Diabetes Federation, IDF, cited in www.africa.com, 24 million adults in Africa are currently living and dealing with diabetes, and by 2045, the number is likely to swell up to 55 million. In South Africa, healthcare is administered by the Department of Health. However, South Africa does not have a system of universal healthcare; a private healthcare system runs together with a public healthcare system and the systems have faced Diabetes headlong.
The International Diabetes Federation also recently revealed in a report that roughly 4.5 million people live with diabetes in South Africa. The good news is that the 2020 Global Healthcare Index, puts South Africa’s healthcare system at number 49 out of 89 countries; also, the treatment range for managing the ailment has advanced speedily in recent times, with new and expanded technological inventions adding up to the development of new methods of dealing with diabetes, including the development of pills and other medications that lower glucose, as well as a broad list of insulin provisions that manage both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes more efficiently.
With this expansive list of effective glucose-lowering agents, remarkable progress has been made in diabetes technology. Diabetes technologies help people with diabetes manage blood glucose levels, avoid complications, improve patients’ quality of life, as well as lighten the load of living with diabetes. People living with diabetes used injectable animal-based insulin for years, but advancement in treatment have been made recently. Diabetes technology has come a long way. Devices are easier, from blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitoring, CGM, to state-of-the-art insulin pumps.
Wearable technology has been introduced to ease the tracking of blood glucose levels over time and they are considered the most effective options for diabetes management. The CGM system is made up of a sensor, which is a small wire catheter inserted under the skin on the patient’s arm or abdomen, and a handheld receiver or smartphone that displays your glucose data in real-time. Real-time CGM has become reliable and has demonstrated effectiveness in diabetes management, and daily monitoring of glucose levels.
Source www.hopkinsmedicine.org
The improvement in CGM system technology is evident in the Dexcom G7, recently launched in South Africa for diabetic two-year olds. This product’s launch signifies another milestone in the revolutionary diabetes management technology in South Africa. The Dexcom G7 is Dexcom’s most accurate CGM system ever developed. It has the fastest CGM in the market, a 30-minute sensor warm-up, and an improved alert settings for enhanced discretion, among several other features. The availability of Healthtech innovations like the Dexcom G7 will allow people with diabetes to live better lives despite their health conditions.
Source www.weforum.org
Law student and a diabetes activist Thapi Semenya, has lived with the disease for more than 17 years, she is one of the benefitiaries of this technology in diabetes management. Her journey battling diabetes has been quite bumpy, like it has been for many. She has endured severe pains from needles. She sporadically experiences very high and low glucose levels without knowing. But now, with the availability of CGM, Thapi is living her life normally because she can monitor her glucose levels better. Indeed, an improvement in CGM, is still an integral part of diabetes management, in a world where the number of people with diabetes is rising.
There is little worry that South Africa may not surmount the possible health crises posed by diabetes. The country has seen substantive health sector reforms, and, yes South Africa boasts of the highest standard of healthcare in Africa with more than 200 private hospitals across the country. It is also a hugely famous destination for tourists and expats too, hence, South Africa’s healthcare system is regularly tested.
Davido’s ‘Timeless’ album lends credence to his talent and mastery of the art.
After several losses, he has stamped his feet solidly on the path to recovery with this new body of work.
Teeming fans hope that the Album’s name will speak; they hope to see it stand the test of time.
On the 31st of March 2023, Nigerian ace afrobeats musician, Davido, stirred global and African news platforms with the release of his keenly expected fourth album, titled ‘Timeless’. In the week of release, the album achieved ground-breaking triumph; it broke several records within the continent and internationally. ‘Timeless’ recently debuted on United States’ Album chart, Billboard 200. Different reactions have since trailed the Album’s progress so far.
After early commercial profits, ‘Timeless’ got tipped for a debut in the upper part of the chart, and, in the latest episode of the Billboard Chart dated April 15, 2023, Davido’s ‘Timeless’ unveiled itself at number 37 making it the second topmost Nigerian album to ever debut on the chart next to Burna Boy’s ‘Love, Damini’ which made an entrance at number 14. ‘Timeless’, so far, has crushed multiple records, in Nigeria, Africa, and globally, across major streaming platforms. On Spotify, ‘Timeless’ set a fresh all-time record for the biggest entrance of any album in Spotify Nigeria history; the Album tallied 14.5 million streams during its release week, March 31st — April 6th, exceeding the preceding record of 4.89M streams by Burna Boy’s ‘Love, Damini’.
Source www.bellanaija.com
On Apple Music Nigeria, Davido’s ‘Timeless’ broke the previously existing record of the biggest debut week for any album on Apple Music Nigeria, and while breaking one record, it equally, set a new record for the most streams on a debut day for an African album on Apple Music globally. Davido’s ‘Timeless’, on Audiomack, had more than 12 million streams in its first 24 hours, more than any other album in Audiomack’s history. Also, its release week is the biggest release week on record for any African album in the history of Audiomack. Similarly, the album also set a new record on Boomplay Nigeria, it created the biggest debut week ever on Boomplay Nigeria, four days after release ‘Timeless’ amassed more than 22 million streams on the platform surpassing the previously existing highest record of 18.8 million streams by ‘Love, Damini’, from July 8th to July 14th, 2022.
Source www.bellanaija.com
Even on YouTube, ‘Timeless’ carved a new record; with 4.10 million streams, it created the biggest debut week for any album on YouTube Nigeria. The Album waxed powerful in its release week, reinforcing Davido’s place as one of Africa’s contemporary music greats. The album showed off an impressive performance as well as Davido’s commercial dexterity which are both evident in the way it is being received and consumed by teeming lovers of Afro Music. In addition to making a significant entry into the respected Billboard 200, ‘Timeless’ also made a resounding statement on major streaming platforms, continentally and globally.
The buzz from the Album has got people asking: ‘how can an African album make such a global impact on streaming platforms in such a short while? Clearly, the album’s US success is not accidental as it has also ranked 1st in the UK Apple music top albums chart; it has ranked 14th in Germany, 12th in Italy, 17th in France, and 24th in Switzerland. ‘Timeless’ sits comfortably on each of the mentioned country’s lists of top 200 albums.