7 things you Need To know About The #Ebola Virus

Stay Healthy people! 

The West Africa Ebola outbreak is now the largest in history. 

Symptoms of Ebola is similar to that of malaria typhoid fever or cholera but in the last stage of the disease, victims starts begin internally and externally, often through the nose .

The Ebola virus is not airborne. It spreads through body fluid.

The deadly disease has killed at least 672 in several African countries since the outbreak of the disease in February.

A total of 1,201 cases had been reported as of last week in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

While the death rate of Ebola is as high as 90 percent, health officials in the three countries say people have recovered from the virus and the current death rate is about 70 percent.

Yes! some people have survived Ebola. Those who fared best sought immediate medical attention and got supportive care to prevent dehydration even though there is no specific treatment for Ebola itself.

JUMIA Expands Operations In Uganda, Enters Ghana And Cameroon

 Africa e-retail giant, Jumia is expanding its reach into three new markets - Uganda, Ghana and Cameroon- after successfully launching in 5 key African markets in the past two years.

5 months ago, Jumia had set up a local office in Kampala, Uganda that relied on deliveries from Kenya. The move to launch in Uganda will now see it revamp the office to a full fledge subsidiary with its own warehouse like other businesses across the continent.

Its Ghana and Cameroon offices will be open in the coming weeks.

When successfully launched, Jumia’s business will be live in 8 African nations.

Jumia co-founder Sacha Poignonnec told Reuters in an interview that although these markets are not altogether internet savvy compared to other African nations; he says there is a huge appetite for the service.

According to global consulting firm McKinsey, 16 percent of sub-Saharan Africans (about 160 million people) are connected to the Internet, compared with nearly 75 percent in Europe and 32 percent in Asia.

However it says an increase in the use of Smartphone which rides on the surge of mobile Internet access would help African e-commerce sales grow to about $75 billion by 2025.

In Nigeria for example, more than 50 million of its 170 million people are connected to the internet with majority of this number have more than one mobile phones.

Jumia will ride on the popularity of its two largest investors –MTN and Millicom (owner of Tigo) which are leading telecommunication service providers in the new markets. Together, the telecommunications operators have more than 250 million subscribers in Africa.

The online retailer which has more than 1,500 employees at it reach intends to create a team of about 30 people in each country that will be responsible for customer service, packing, dispatch and delivery.

Jumia is Africa's leading online e-retailer that offers variety of goods including electronics, home appliances, mobile devices and beauty products from its local warehouses. It is owned by the Africa Internet Holding (AIH) which owns seven other online businesses in Africa including Hellofood, Javago and EasyTaxi.

What Does It Take To Do Business Successfully In #Africa? ,Expert Speaks

Ahead of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) set to hold in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on 29th Sept – 1st Oct this year; the AHIF organiser, Bench Events conducted a research to find out the principle for doing business successfully in Africa.

The main findings were that African markets are progressively being seen as open for business and regardless of perceptions of eminent risk, the continent is not considerably different from others. Yet the continent's complexity and rich diversity point to the need for flexibility when it comes to business strategy.

Three main factors considered most likely to distinguish success from failure when doing business in Africa are:

 1) Appreciation that every country in Africa is unique: Several executives agreed that it is vital to remember that every country in Africa is unique, and in order to do business successfully, every single country needs to be understood in its entirety.

Kofi Adomakoh, Head of Project Finance and Export Development, African Export Import Bank, recently said: "The time has come for everyone doing business in Africa to take time to understand all of Africa and not just view it as one block".

Michael Cooper, Vice President Development Sub Saharan Africa, Hilton Worldwide agreed and commented that investors should "remember that Africa is not one country." On the major issues, it is necessary for the industry as a whole to talk to each government. "Collectively we must continue to put pressure on all African governments for open skies and visa free travel," he added.

2) The importance of receiving support from local experts: There was a strong consensus that appreciating local players, receiving support from local experts and building strong local partnerships are critical for business success in Africa.

Kevin Underwood, Global Leader of Leisure and Culture, Aecom, stated: "Any development project must have a local sequence and one must understand the culture of the African countries. There are no shortcuts."

Filippo Sona, Director, Head of Hotels (MENA Region), Colliers International, agreed and advised "Contact local companies and get local expertise to develop in Africa. Use local resources."

Al-Karim Hamir, Chairman & Managing Director, Prime Assets also concurred: "You definitely have to have a local partner to learn and climb the ladder." To be successful, it is also necessary to identify, nurture and retain talented and committed local staff.

 Andrew McLachlan, Vice President, Business Development, Africa & Indian Ocean Islands, The Rezidor Hotel Group, commented: "Having local feet on the ground is essential and creating teams of excellence is important - the stronger your professional team is the better. Like a strong football team – you need to pick the best in every role".

3) Placing a high value on relationships: This has to do with the importance of collaborating with various organisations.

Lourie Kruger, VP M&A and Treasury, Kingdom Hotel Investments said: "The only way to grow your business effectively is to have really strong relationships. When you don't have the infrastructure like you do in other markets, those relationships make everything much more efficient."

 Klaus Lengefeld, Sector Leader Tourism, GIZ, agreed and said: "Sit together. Many organisations are investing a lot into sustainable development but do not work together with the hotel investment world".

Other general success factors that emerged from the study included: invest in people, focus on positives, be patient and persistent, have realistic expectations and be prepared for any hidden costs or surprises. Also, experienced foreign investors repeatedly note that nowhere else is there such a direct correlation between careful planning (and flexibility about plans once formed) and a successful outcome.

HAPPYNigeria Calls For Speedy Resolution To Industrial Disputes In Nigerian Health Sector

    

Health Advocacy Promotion and Partnership by Youths in Nigeria (HAPPYNigeria), a national youth-led, not-for–profit NGO has called for a speedy resolution of industrial disputes by various professional unions in the Nigerian public health sector.

It described the present problem in the Nigerian health sector as a serious concern for well meaning Nigerians and an ugly situation that must have led to the loss of numerous innocent lives.

According to media reports, doctors under the aegis of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) downed tools following an alleged inability of government to accede to various demands contained in their 24-request protest letter.

As a result of this, health facilities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are deserted with only skeletal services being rendered by few consultants and other health workers.

“The effects of the ongoing nationwide strike action by the doctors, commenced 1st July 2014, are monumental and devastating. Many sick children and pregnant women who require urgent attention by the doctors are being denied. All over the country, thousands of surgical cases that require surgical operation have been put on hold with dire consequences,” HAPPYNigeria said in a public statement signed by its Executive Director, DR. Femi Akinwumi.

While calling on the NMA to sheathe its sword in the overall interest of their patients and the downtrodden, HAPPYNigeria urged relevant government agencies to intervene with a view to finding lasting solution to the impasse.

It implored government at all levels to be proactive in addressing industrial disharmony in heath and allied sectors in order to avert these incessant strike actions being embarked upon by doctors and other health workers and its attendant loss of human lives and economic misfortune.

The youth-led initiative also enjoined government to, as a matter of national top priority, convoke a National Health Stakeholders’Summit (or any other name government may choose to call it) to discuss and come up with workable solutions to the lingering inter-professional conflicts and poor funding facing the country’s health system.

This, it says will go a long way to restore dignity and confidence of Nigerians in the country’s health system.

Established in 2006, HAPPYNigeria inspires the Nigerian youth to continuously challenge and expand the role of both the individual and institutions in addressing Nigeria’s Health and developmental needs in order to foster public health care quality improvement.