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PAHO and MSD launch project to improve maternal health in Latin America Sep 20, 2024 News Interventions aim to accelerate the reduction of maternal mortality and directly benefit thousands of women in Honduras and Peru, with wider indirect benefits for more than half a million women of childbearing age from both countries Kaieteur News – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and MSD, known as Merck & Co. Inc., in the United States and Canada on Thursday launched a partnership to improve health care and maternal health outcomes for women and mothers in the Americas, one year after signing a letter of intent on a potential collaboration. The project, “Responding to Obstetric Emergencies and Unintended Pregnancies 2024-2027,” addresses the urgent need to reduce preventable maternal mortality in the Americas region, particularly in Honduras and Peru. Despite earlier progress in lowering maternal mortality ratios (MMR), recent setbacks, including those caused by the pandemic, have reversed many gains. PAHO will lead this work, supported by a $1M grant from MSD through its MSD for Mothers initiative. “Multiple factors influence maternal mortality, including socioeconomic, cultural, educational, and environmental aspects,” Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director, said. “I am confident that this project will contribute to improving maternal health care and outcomes for women and mothers in the Americas,” he added, according to a press release from PAHO. Maternal health continues to be one of the biggest public health challenges in the Americas. Around 8,400 women die each year in Latin America and the Caribbean from complications related to pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. Most of these deaths are preventable. In 2020, there were 88 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, below the regional target of 30 deaths per 100,000 live births for 2030. “We’re honored to take part in this unprecedented partnership with PAHO to help strengthen health systems and address the critical health needs of women across Latin America,” said Dr. Allison Goldberg, President, MSD Foundation and Executive Director, Social Business Innovation, MSD. “When we expand access to safe, high-quality care around pregnancy and childbirth, we set the foundation for women to have healthy futures, and for their children, families and communities to thrive for generations to come.” The project will contribute to country efforts towards achieving the SDG target related to the reduction of MMR by focusing on two key areas: (1) preventing and reducing delays in recognizing obstetric emergencies by ensuring timely referrals and providing appropriate treatment; and (2) reducing unintended pregnancies and their health consequences. This work will involve both formal health services and the community, and has the potential to benefit more than 5,500 women in Honduras and more than 15,000 women in Peru, with wider indirect benefits for more than half a million women of childbearing age from both countries. Nearly 500 health professionals will also be trained to expand access to high-quality, equitable maternal health care. MSD for Mothers is MSD’s global initiative to help create a world where no woman has to die while giving life. Applying MSD’s business and scientific resources, MSD for Mothers works with grantees and collaborators to improve the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the months after. MSD for Mothers is an initiative of MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, in the United States and Canada. Related Similar Articles

Rystad: Platform Electrification Could Slash Upstream Emissions by 86% Sep 20, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Oil and gas companies can slash emissions from producing facilities by as much as 86% by electrifying the platforms to run on renewables electricity or natural gas that would be flared otherwise, Rystad Energy said in a new report. Producing assets in the Norwegian Continental Shelf have seen their associated emissions drop by 86% when fully electrified compared to before the electrification, according to the Norway-based energy research company. Rystad Energy’s research showed that the electrified assets offshore Norway emit 1.2 kilograms of carbon dioxide per barrel of oil equivalent produced (kg of CO2 per boe). This is an 86% decline from the 8.4 kg of CO2 per boe emitted by the same assets before electrification, the report states. Norway is an early adopter of the electrification but there are other basins that could benefit from electrifying oil and gas production facilities, Rystad says. “As the world confronts the pressing issue of climate change, the oil and gas industry is under increasing pressure to minimize its carbon footprint and align its practices with global sustainability objectives,” Palzor Shenga, vice president of upstream research with Rystad Energy, said, as carried by Offshore Engineer. “Where it’s possible and economically viable, electrification has great potential to lower the industry’s emissions while maintaining production output,” Shenga added. Many companies in the industry, including the largest multinationals and the national oil companies (NOCs) have pledged to reduce emissions from operations, the so-called Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Electrification using renewable energy from the shore is one way to do so. Norway’s Equinor has been working on electrifying some of its production assets on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Last week, the company announced that the Troll B and C fields became partly powered from shore. This reduces annual emissions from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) by 250,000 tons of CO2. “Troll B and C electrification marks an important milestone in the efforts to halve the emissions from our operations by 2030,” said Geir Tungesvik, executive vice president for Projects, Drilling & Procurement. “The project reduces CO2 emissions by the equivalent of those from 125,000 fossil-fuelled cars.” (OILPRICE.com) Related Similar Articles

Lamaha squatting homes maliciously set on fire, 12 homeless Sep 20, 2024 News Houses gutted by fire Kaieteur News – Twelve persons are now homeless after several houses in the Lamaha Squatting Area, ‘B’ Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, were maliciously destroyed by fire on Wednesday. According to a statement from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the fire originated in a single-storey wooden structure that housed three people and is suspected to have been set by unknown arsonists. “The fire is suspected to have been maliciously set by unknown persons, and investigations are ongoing,” GFS said. As a result of the radiated heat from the initial fire, two nearby buildings caught afire, displacing an additional nine residents. The GFS reported that they were alerted to the fire at around 02:58hrs. Upon receiving the call, Water tenders #95, #105, and #118, along with Water Carrier #18 and a team of 18 fire fighters were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters employed one jet from WT#105’s tank and another from WT#118’s, while also utilising LP#A7, which drew water from an open source to bring the fire under control. Despite their efforts, the houses and all their contents, including the 60 undocumented motorcycles, were destroyed. Fire prevention officials are currently investigating the incident, and the GFS is urging anyone with information to come forward. Related Similar Articles

GYSBI awards technical scholarships to 11 outstanding students Sep 20, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Eleven students—ten from Region Three and one from Region Nine (South Rupununi) are the latest recipients of the Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI) Technical Scholarship Programme. The 2024 cohort includes: Daniel Bisnauth from Canal No. 2 Polder, Daniel Henry from Karaudarnau Village, Region Nine, and Leanna Woolford from Zeelugt, all of whom will pursue Building and Civil Engineering at the Georgetown Technical Institute. Joining them are Jkwon Alfred of De Kinderen, Astel Ramlall of La Grange, and Denzel Fraser of Goed Intent, each studying Electrical Installation; Tristan Petty of Hague Village, who is pursuing Mechanical Engineering; and Tristan Prince from Patentia, focusing on Architectural Drawing. Additionally, Akeia Squires of Crane will study Chemistry, and Feiaaz Ramjag of Belle Village, Canal No. 2, is specializing in Computer Science at the same institution. Aroon Maniram from Parika Villages is enrolled at the Leonora Technical Institute, where he will pursue Welding and Fabrication. In a press release, GYSBI said this year’s scholarships focused on students from the Essequibo Islands–West Demerara region, as part of GYSBI’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. This emphasis reflects the company’s ongoing involvement in the Gas-to-Energy project in Wales, West Bank Demerara, where it has been executing critical works over the past year. As part of its work, GYSBI is responsible for Earth, Soil Remediation, and Surcharge activities at the project site. In keeping with its commitment to give back to the communities in the region, GYSBI expanded the scholarship programme. Initially, ten scholarships were offered, but the company was inspired to award an additional scholarship to Daniel Henry, an Indigenous student from Region Nine, after he shared the financial challenges he faced in pursuing his education at the Georgetown Technical Institute. In a simple ceremony held at GYSBI, General Manager, Robert Albiez extended congratulations to the awardees, who were chosen out of 50 applicants as he noted that the programme has now become something to be proud of.  “I have been with Guyana Shore Base almost 7 years and in almost all my time here, this is the thing that I am most proud of, that we have put in place. I would like to congratulate [you] young men and women for your accomplishment… it is the things that you do now, the work, the time, and the effort and energy that you put into the things that you are doing today that will determine where you are in 10, 15, 20 years, so keep that in mind.  I think you are all well on the path,” he encouraged. Deputy General Manager, Rabin Chandarpal also shared brief remarks in which he urged the students to grab the opportunity that has been presented to them and utilize it to their fullest. “You are not always going to be the brightest, you are not always going to be the most talented, but you certainly can strive to be the hardest working and that is a huge advantage that you will have going forward in life. When you come here to GYSBI, through this scholarship, you have already proven to yourself and to us that you are capable of doing great things but don’t get complacent. Welcome to the GYSBI family, you are now a treasured part of it and once you are here, you will be safe, and you will be taken care of. You will also bring a fresh and different perspective to the way we do things here,” Chandarpal noted. The programme is designed to offer internships to successful applicants during their semester breaks so that they can gain valuable hands-on training and knowledge transfer. At the end of their studies, they can also benefit from the opportunity to be fully employed within the company. Matthew Seepersaud, a 2023 graduate of the GYSBI Scholarship Programme, recently completed his studies in Electrical Installation at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute. During his 7-week internship at GYSBI, his outstanding performance earned him a full-time position in the company’s Maintenance Department. Meanwhile, the other nine awardees from last year’s cohort have returned to school to continue their studies. In addressing the new group of scholarship recipients, Matthew shared his personal journey, encouraging them to give their best effort, as his experience has proven to be both rewarding and transformative. “I was placed in the Maintenance Department, specifically Electrical Maintenance. [When I came on, I was introduced to everyone and taken around and] I stood in amazement of the scale of the warehouses and buildings and the diversity of the people working [at GYSBI]. I thought to myself 4 years ago in High School, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of being here but there I was.  I was an introvert, but this experience contributed to my personal development by improving my self-esteem, confidence and communication skills,” Seepersaud shared. Daniel Bisnauth first applied for the GYSBI scholarship in 2023 but was not selected. Undeterred, he reapplied after learning that this year’s programme was specifically targeting students from his region. Now a successful recipient, Daniel expressed that the scholarship will significantly ease the financial burden on 11 families, including his own. “I would like to thank GYSBI for providing us with this prestigious scholarship and providing us with this life changing opportunity. This scholarship is not just a financial relief but an incredible investment in our future, it empowers us to focus on our studies and personal growth… We are also deeply grateful for the chance to gain firsthand experience through internships and practical learning [which will prepare us for the world of work],” Bisnauth said. Related Similar Articles

Completion of new Demerara River Bridge pushed back to March 2025 Sep 20, 2024 News A section of the bridge that is under construction Kaieteur News – Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill on Thursday disclosed that the completion of the US$260 million New Demerara River Bridge was pushed back to March 31, 2025. The bridge, which is being built by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, was slated to be completed by the end of this year, however, according to the minister, logistical challenges have hampered the completion deadline. To date, the bridge is almost 70 percent completed. The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that Minister Edghill inspected the ongoing construction on the eastern side of the bridge on Thursday. “It must never be lost in terms of our focus. This new Demerara bridge is a signature of the transformative project, because of the benefits that it will bring to thousands of people, and every day we are seeing that it will become a reality,” the minister stated. Substantial work has already been done on the temporary working platforms, along with the placement of drilled shafts, pile caps, piers, and tower legs, among other crucial constructions. The bridge was built with a 300-metre width safety passageway instead of 100-metre, to minimise any possible collision. The foundation structure has also been built with certain materials that are strong enough to facilitate impacts. Minister Edghill explained that technical engineers of the contracting company have since travelled to China, to test other components and materials that are needed to advance the project. The last shipment of these materials is expected to be in the country by October. Additionally, in the contract, the company has to do 5o metres of road on both the eastern and western sides of the bridge. “They have already created 50 metres of road…We can tell you that we are at an advanced procurement stage on the road. It is already at the place of signing the contract,” the minister revealed. He further added that there are also connector roads that have been built to facilitate the flow of traffic on the Heroes Highway and the East Bank of Demerara. Related Similar Articles

Yuh can’t judge a thief by he clothes Sep 20, 2024 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists, News Kaieteur News – Long ago, things was easy. You could spot a suspected shoplifter from far. All yuh had to do was look for de man wid de tear-up pants or de woman wid de slipper hanging off she foot. Dem was de suspects. Raggedy clothes could mean yuh broke. And broke mean yuh could try a thing. But times change. Nowadays, yuh use dat same measure, and yuh gon end up embarrass yuhself. You gon end up calling security pon de wrong people. Worse yet, people gon start holla yuh stereotyping dem. And deh gan be right fuh so accuse yuh. Yuh can’t judge a thief by de clothes dem gat on. Dese days, de people who shoplifting ain’t necessarily de ones who look like dey want a $20 to catch a bus. Nah man! Dese days, is all kind of people shoplifting—de man in de three-piece suit, de lady wid de fancy handbag, and de youthman wid de designer shoes. Dem shoplifters come in all shapes, sizes and appearances. Supermarkets and stores fed up. Dey don’t know who to trust. De same man who telling de cashier “Keep the change” at de counter, is de same man stuffing chocolate bars in he pocket when nobody watching. Is a new type of thief on de loose. De solution? Store owners gan soon gat to employ specialized people to sniff out shoplifters. Yes, yuh hear right. Security guards ain’t enough anymore. Now dey got trained professionals. Some of dem got degrees. Yuh ain’t know, shoplifting is now a science. Dese experts don’t watch clothes no more. Nah man, dey looking fuh body language. If yuh start scratching yuh neck too much or look at de ceiling too long, dem people on to you. If yuh picking up and putting back de same item five times, dey know yuh planning something. De science of shoplifting detection getting serious. One supermarket even got a man who study psychology to read people mind! And de funny thing is, people still getting away wid it. Dem experts catching some, but de rest walking out like dey own de store. De stores tightening up. But yuh know how Guyanese stay. Dey gon find a way. Talk half. Leff half! Related Similar Articles

Banks DIH on board for President’s Cup Sep 20, 2024 Sports Justin Stoby (Diageo Spirits & Classic Beer Manager), Dwain Bristol (GT Beer Brand Manager) in the company of the Banks DIH Special Events Manager, Mortimer George. The trio presented the sponsorship to a representative of the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee. Kaieteur Sports – Beverage giants Banks DIH continues to support horseracing in Guyana. The latest support came this week ahead of the President’s Cup which is set for Sunday September 22 at Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice. This year’s President’s Cup will perhaps be the most exciting event, with a star-studded roster of quality horses set to ignite the Rising Sun Turf Club. More than G$15 million will be up for grabs and nine races are on the card for the day. In addition to Banks DIH, the President’s Cup, which is on the calendar of Cricket Carnival Events, is sponsored by Jumbo Jet Events, Js Supermarket, XCMG, and SinoTruk. The organizers and promoters of the President’s Cup expressed gratitude to Banks DIH for the consistency over the years in supporting horse racing. Banks DIH were also major sponsors at last month’s Guyana Cup which attracted fans, and horsemen from around the globe. The beverage giants are thrilled to play a role in the development of horse racing, and they are pleased with the continuous growth. Some of the top horses have already confirmed entry to the President’s Cup. Slingerz Racing stables will have the defending President’s Cup champion, John Bull out to defend, while the Guyana Cup champion Olympic Kremlin will be out to attack and reign supreme. Js Racing stables have recently imported two horses from Brazil, and one that will be eyeing to beat Olympic Kremlin at the President’s Cup feature event is Mapa Do Brazil. In addition to Js Racing Stables, Jumbo Jet Racing Stables, Jagdeo’s Racing Stables, and Simply Royal Racing Stables will be out to shine at President’s Cup. Related Similar Articles