Kenya first country to launch ‘Novartis Access’, expanding affordable treatment options against chronic diseases

-       Novartis Access is a first-of-its-kind portfolio of products aimed at increasing access to medicines against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses and breast cancer in low- and low-middle-income countries -       Program supports Kenyan government on noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention and control – by 2030, NCDs are expected to cause more than 60% of deaths in the country1 -       Agreements signed with Kenyan government and NGOs include programs to distribute medicines, raise disease awareness and strengthen healthcare system capabilities in key NCDs

Novartis (NVS)  announced the launch of Novartis Access in Kenya, the first country to benefit from a portfolio of 15 affordable medicines to treat cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and breast cancer. The Novartis portfolio is being offered to the Kenyan government, non-governmental organizations and other public-sector healthcare providers for USD 1 per treatment, per month. “Novartis and Kenya have a relationship of more than 40 years, so I am delighted that Kenyan patients will be the first to benefit from Novartis Access,” said Joerg Reinhardt, Chairman of the Board of Novartis. “The successful implementation of the program in Kenya will be essential to guide the expansion of Novartis Access to other countries in the future.” In conjunction with the launch of the access portfolio and to support effective treatment of chronic diseases in Kenya, Novartis will partner with the Kenyan Ministry of Health, the Kenyan Red Cross, the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK), Management Sciences for Health (MSH) and other key stakeholders. These collaborations are intended to support the healthcare system through measures such as reinforcing drug distribution channels and training healthcare workers to diagnose and treat chronic illnesses. Novartis is also collaborating with Boston University in the US to measure the impact on health in Kenya and steer ongoing development of Novartis Access. “I am excited by the proactive steps being taken by our government and Novartis in the fight against cancer and other chronic diseases,” said H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya. “Novartis Access complements the advocacy campaign I have been undertaking together with other African First Ladies to expand access to prevention and treatment for people with chronic diseases.” Some 28 million people die from chronic diseases in low- and middle-income countries each year, representing 75% of such deaths globally.2 In Kenya, NCDs account for 27% of deaths, or almost 100,000 people per year.3 By 2030, NCDs are expected to contribute to more than 60% of the total national mortality.4 In July 2015, the Kenyan government launched a new strategy for the prevention, control and management of NCDs. “The most pressing health problems can only be solved if the public sector, civil society and the private sector work together,” said Dr. Abbas Gullet, Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross. “Novartis is making an important contribution to fighting NCDs, but in order for Novartis Access to make a long-term impact, we need to drive it locally.” The Novartis Access portfolio includes patented and generic Novartis medicines. The products have been selected based on the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines List and are among the most commonly prescribed medicines. Following Kenya, Novartis Access will be launched in Ethiopia and Vietnam. Over the coming years, Novartis plans to roll out Novartis Access to 30 countries, depending on demand.  Novartis expects this new approach to be commercially sustainable over the long term, enabling continuous support in those regions.

UNESCO-Merck Africa Research Summit - MARS: Special focus on Ebola and emergent infectious diseases: Ask your questions LIVE

Up to 100 scientists/researchers from all over Africa, were selected to attend the Summit in Geneva. Merck Living Innovation will announce the five African winners of the awards for Emergent Young Researchers. The first three award winners will have a fellowship program for 6 month in Merck R&D hub in Germany and Switzerland. Journalists interested in participating in this interactive webcast will be able to ASK QUESTIONS LIVE VIA THE INTERNET. The UNESCO-Merck Africa Research Summit - MARS aims to bring together researchers from across Africa (more than 30 countries) to discuss the generation, sharing and dissemination of research data and to prepare for the road ahead in Africa’s development as an international hub for research excellence and scientific innovation. The annual Summit aims to contribute to building research capacity in the African research community, with special focus on Ebola and emergent infectious diseases. The Summit will also showcase innovative research taking place in projects, programs and initiatives across African universities, and by the wider African research community. It also aims to Identify Scientific Research Priorities for Evolving Health Needs, and identify opportunities to Capitalise on HIV Research Capacities for Emerging Infectious Diseases in Africa such as Ebola. UNESCO-MARS will be conducted on a yearly basis which will ensure significant sustainable impact on access to high quality and innovative healthcare solutions, building research capacity and sustaining innovation across Africa.

PINDA: CCM ITASHINDA BILA WASIWASI *Mzindakaya amnadi Aeshi, amkumbatia, asema yameisha

MJUMBE wa Kamati Kuu ya Halmashauri Kuu ya Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM),
Mhe. Mizengo Pinda amesema CCM itashinda kiti cha Urais bila wasiwasi
kwa sababu ina mgombea mzuri ambaye hawezi kulinganishwa na wagombea
kutoka vyama vingine.

“Mgombea urais kwa tiketi ya CCM, Dkt. John Pombe Magufuli ana mvuto
kwa jamii, mtazamo wake wa wapi anataka kuipeleka Tanzania unaeleweka
na uko wazi, katika utumishi wake ana rekodi nzuri, hapendi watu
wavivu sababu yeye ni mchapakazi,” alisema.

Ametoa kauli hiyo jana (Jumapili, Oktoba 11, 2015) wakati akizungumza
kwa nyakati tofauti na wakazi wa jimbo la Sumbawanga Mjini kwenye
mikutano miwili ya hadhara iliyofanyika katika kijiji cha Mawenzusi,
kata ya Molo na Uwanja wa Stendi ya Chanji uliopo Sumbawanga Mjini.

“Mgombea wetu ni safi sana na hata hao wapinzani wanajua lakini kazi
yao ni kuonyesha kuwa Serikali ya awamu ya nne haijafanya kitu na
kutoa ahadi za uongo kuwa katika siku 100 za mwanzo wataigeuza nchi
iwe kama mbingu. Inawezekana hiyo?” alihoji na kujibiwa na wananchi
kuwa haiwezekani.

Alisema CCM kupitia Ilani yake imetekeleza mambo mengi lakini akakiri
kwamba kazi ya kuleta maendeleo ina changamoto nyingi lakini hazina
budi kupitiwa hatua kwa hatua ili kukabiliana nazo.

Alitumia fursa hiyo kumuombea kura mgombea urais kwa tiketi ya CCM,
Dk. John Pombe Magufuli pamoja na mgombea ubunge wa jimbo hilo, Bw.
Khalfan Aeshi Hilaly. Pia aliwanadi wagombea udiwani wa kata 19 za
jimbo hilo wakiwemo madiwani wa viti maalum ambao walihudhuria
mikutano hiyo.

Katika hatua nyingine, Mbunge wa zamani wa Jimbo la Kwela, Dkt.
Chrissant Mzindakaya ametangaza rasmi kuwa amemsamehe Bw. Khalfan
Aeshi Hilaly ambaye anagombea ubunge jimbo la Sumbawanga Mjini na
kuahidi kufanya naye kazi kuleta maendeleo kwa wananchi wa Manispaa ya
Sumbawanga na vitongoji vyake.

“Tarehe 21 Agosti mwaka huu nilifanya ibada ya kuadhimisha miaka 75 ya
kuzaliwa kwangu. Nilimwita Bwana Aeshi na kutangaza rasmi kwamba
nimemsamehe na yamekwisha, hakuna haja ya baraza kwani kinachotoa
msamaha ni roho ya mtu binafsi,” alisema.

“Nilitamka Zaburi ya 133 ambayo inasema: Tazama, jinsi ilivyo vema
ndugu wakae pamoja na kwa umoja…. Na hapa namuombea kura kwenu
wana-Sumbawanga na wala msamaha wangu kwa Aeshi usiwe ajenda ya
kisiasa. Mbona Sumaye na Mbowe wanamuombea kura Edward Lowassa wakati
wao walikuwa wanamnanga kila siku?” alisema huku akishangiliwa.

Mei 25, 2014 kwenye ibada ya kumuweka wakfu Askofu Mteule Conrad
Nguvumali wa Kanisa la Moravian Tanzania Jimbo la Rukwa iliyofanyika
kwenye Uwanja wa Nelson Mandela, mjini Sumbawanga, Dkt. Mzindakaya
alikataa kumsamehe hadharani Bw. Aeshi Hilaly baada ya kupewa fursa ya
kushikana mikono jukwaani na kusameheana.

Mzee Mzindakaya alikataa kufanya hivyo akisema yeye ni mkristu lakini
hakuwa ameandaliwa kiroho kwa ajili ya tukio hilo. “Hapa ni shughuli
ya kanisa na si mkutano wa Chama. Lazima niwe mkweli leo sijajiandaa
kwa jambo hili… Mimi ni mtu mzima, nafsi ya msamaha inahitaji
maandalizi, nahitaji maandalizi ya kiroho,” alisema.

Dkt Mzindakaya ambaye alikumbatiana jukwaani na Bw. Aeshi na kusema
atashirikiana naye kwa lolote kwa sababu ni kijana wake, alitumia
fursa hiyo pia kumuombea kura Dk. Magufuli kwa sababu ni mtu safi na
ni mchapakazi mwenye nia ya kuibadilisha Tanzania kiuchumi kupitia
sekta ya viwanda.

“Miaka 10 ijayo Tanzania itakuwa inaongoza kwa wingi wa viwanda. Wiki
ijayo Rais Kikwete anaweka jiwe la msingi kwenye kiwanda cha chuma...
hiki kitakuwa kiwanda cha nne kwa ukubwa barani Afrika,” alisema.

Aliwataka Watanzania wawapime wanaowania urais kwa vitendo kwani
baadhi yao miezi kadhaa iliyopita walikuwa wakimsifu Rais Kikwete na
Serikali yake lakini sasa hivi wanamkebehi.

“Rais ni mteule wa Mungu na Ikulu ni mahali patakatifu. Lazima
tupeleke mtu aliye safi, aliyetakata na mwenye mikono safi, na huyo si
mwingine bali ni Dkt. Magufuli,” alisema.

PINDA APOKEA 205 WALIOREJESHA KADI CCM *Wamo wenyeviti nane wa vitongoji

MJUMBE wa Kamati Kuu ya Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ambaye pia ni mjumbe
wa Halmashauri Kuu ya CCM (NEC), Mhe. Mizengo Pinda amepokea kadi tisa
kati ya 205 zilizorejeshwa na wanachama wa CHADEMA katika kata ya
Mamba, wilaya ya Mlele kwenye jimbo la uchaguzi la Kavuu.

Ametoa kauli hiyo jana (Jumatano, Oktoba 7, 2015) wakati akizungumza
kwa nyakati tofauti na wakazi wa jimbo la Kavuu kwenye mikutano mitatu
ya hadhara iliyofanyika katika kata za Mamba, Mwamapuli na Usevya.

Mhe. Pinda alikuwa  mbunge kwenye jimbo hilo ambalo limegawanywa na
kupata majimbo matatu ya Nsimbo, Katavi na Kavuu. Wakati huo lilikuwa
likijulikana kama Jimbo moja la Katavi.

Alisema katika kipindi hiki cha kampeni, uongozi wa wilaya umepokea
wanachama 126 kutoka kata ya Chamalendi, 15 kutoka Kasansa ambao
wanane kati yao ni wenyeviti wa vitongoji, tisa kutoka Mamba na 62
kutoka Majimoto. Wanahama hao wametoka vyama vya HADEMA na ADT
WAZALENDO.

Alisema anastaafu akiwa na amani moyoni mwake kutokana na juhudi
ambazo Serikali ya awamu ya nne imezifanya kwenye mkoa wa Katavi.
“Niliamua kuacha kugombea ubunge kwa sababu ninatambua kuwa kuna watu
wengine wenye uwezo wa kuongoza,” alisema.

“Ninaondoka nikiwa nimefarijika kwa sababu Serikali imetupatia mkoa
mpya wa Katavi, tumepata wilaya tatu, halmashauri tatno na majimbo
matano ya uchaguzi. Hii itawapa fursa ya kupanga mipango yenu kupitia
madiwani wenu tofauti na zamani tulipokuwa tukisubiri kila kitu kitoke
Rukwa,” alisema.

Akizungumzia mafanikio ya serikali ya awamu ya nne, Mhe. Pinda alisema
Serikali ya CCM imekamilisha suala la mawasiliano ya simu na sasa hivi
inakamilisha suala la umeme ambao alisema hivi punde utaanza
kupatikana kwenye bonde la Rukwa.

“mwanzoni tulitaka umeme utoke Chala hadi huku bondeni lakini
kitaalamu ikabainika kwamba kadri unavyosafirishwa ndivyo unavyozidi
kupungua nguvu. Kwa hiyo. Wataalamu wameamua kuchukua umeme kutoka
Muze kuja Kasansa hadi Majimoto,” alisema huku akishangiliwa.

Alitumia fursa hiyo kumuombea kura mgombea urais kwa tiketi ya CCM,
Dk. John Pombe Magufuli pamoja na mgombea ubunge wa jimbo la Kavuu,
Dk. Pudensiana Kikwembe. Pia aliwanadi wagombea udiwani wa kata tisa
za jimbo hilo wakiwemo madiwani wa  kata za Mamba, Majimoto,
Mwamapuli, Ikuba, Mbede, na Kibaoni ambao walihudhuria mikutano hiyo.

KAMPENI ZA CCM SUMBAWANGA

Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya CCM na Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda  akizungumza na wanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari ya Ilembe wialya ya Sumbawnga Vijijini baada ya kuhutubia mkutano wa Kapeni za CCM katika kijiji cha Ilemba.

 Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya CCM na Waziri Mkuu, Mizengo Pinda akipokea kadi ya chama cha ACT kutoka kwa aliyekuwa mgombea Udiwani wa Chama hicho katika kata ya Ilemba, Bw. Sospeter Magese aliyekihama chaa hicho na kurejea  CCM katika mkutano wa Kampeni za CCM uliohutubiwa na Mheshimiwa Pinda  katika kijiji cha Ilembea.

MKUTANO WA KAMPENI WA UMOJA WA UKAWA

 Kada mkongwe wa Chama cha Mapinduzi,aliyejiengua hivi karibuni ,Kingunge Ngombalemwiru akisalimia wakati wa mkutano wa kampeni za kumnadi mgombea Urais kupitia Chadema na Vyama vinavyounda Umoja wa katiba ya wananchi UKAWA uliofanyika katika viwanja vya mashujaa mjini Moshi.

Kada mkongwe wa Chama cha Mapinduzi,aliyejiengua hivi karibuni ,Kingunge Ngombalemwiru akimkaribisha mgombea Urais kupitia Chadema na Vyama vinavyounda Umoja wa katiba ya wananchi UKAWA ,Edward Lowasa kuzungumza na wakazi wa mji wa Moshi katika viwanja vya Mashujaa mjini Moshi.