The African continent accounts for almost 95% of the world’s malaria cases – one quarter of these are in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria, September 24, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Vestergaard Sàrl (https://Vestergaard.com/) announced today that the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, acting through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the company, as an initial step to establish the country as the first West African manufacturing hub for insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to combat malaria – and the first on the continent to produce dual active-ingredient nets to help combat insecticide resistance.

Nearly every minute (https://apo-opa.co/4eqUoIY), a child under 5 years old dies from malaria. The African continent accounts for almost 95% (https://apo-opa.co/4ecJ8jD) of the world’s malaria cases – one quarter of these are in Nigeria. New approaches are needed to boost access to tried-and-tested, cost-effective tools to combat the disease, and local manufacturing of nets, medicines and vaccines is a priority for the continent (https://apo-opa.co/47HfNLM).

The MoU announced today lays the foundation for Vestergaard to establish a joint venture with a local manufacturing partner in Nigeria, potentially supported by MedAccess, a social investor founded by British International Investment, the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. Selection of an appropriate partner is currently underway and will be subject to the satisfactory conclusion of a due diligence process. Vestergaard is also discussing opportunities for financing with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

If successful, the joint venture will result in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that is expected to function as a flagship on ITN quality and bioefficacy performance, as well as industrial health, safety and sustainability practices. At scale, the planned facility would produce 10 million PermaNet® Dual long-lasting insecticidal nets every year, for both domestic use in Nigeria and international export. It would create around 600 jobs in Nigeria.

We cannot afford to underestimate the power of prevention in our fight against malaria

Dr Muhammad Ali Pate, Hon. Minister of Health for Nigeria, said: “Increasing access to long-lasting insecticide-treated nets is crucial. We cannot afford to underestimate the power of prevention in our fight against malaria. Collaborative efforts, such as this, are essential to mobilizing the resources and expertise needed to combat malaria effectively.”

Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of PVAC, said: “High standards in local production are non-negotiable. By investing in local bed net production, we are not only improving health outcomes but also paving the way for a self-sufficient healthcare system that can withstand global challenges. This partnership with Vestergaard is a significant step towards attaining this for Nigerians and the broader West African population. ”

Michael Anderson, CEO of MedAccess, said: “Next generation mosquito nets are powerful tools to save lives and prevent debilitating disease. Regional manufacturing is in turn a critical tool to ensure that the nets are available quickly, reliably, and sustainably. This agreement between the Government of Nigeria and Vestergaard underlines an important commitment to protecting people from malaria while strengthening supply chain resilience in the region. MedAccess is looking forward to working in partnership to explore how innovative finance can support this initiative.”

Jim Polan, Vice President, Office of Health & Agribusiness at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), said: “DFC’s investments in regional manufacturing, particularly in Africa, aim to strengthen health system resilience and diversify supply chains. We are exploring a variety of opportunities to expand access to critical health products, including bed nets, to ensure the region is better prepared to respond to malaria and other vector-borne transmission due to changing climate patterns.”

Amar Ali, CEO of Vestergaard, said: “This partnership exemplifies the leadership and commitment of the Nigerian government in the fight against malaria. We are very grateful for their engagement and support as we work together with partners to create a cutting-edge facility that will set a global benchmark in the manufacturing of dual-insecticide nets.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vestergaard Sàrl.

By joining this program, partners will gain access to Azentio’s comprehensive suite of ERP solutions, equipping them with the tools and resources needed to deliver exceptional value to their clients

SINGAPORE, Singapore, September 24, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Azentio Software (“Azentio”) (www.Azentio.com), a leading provider of enterprise software solutions, today announced the launch of the REACH partner program, an initiative designed to transform the organisations ERP ecosystem by offering firms unprecedented opportunities to become go-to-market partners within Azentio’s robust network.

The REACH partner program embodies Azentio’s commitment to fostering strong, collaborative relationships with industry leaders and driving innovation in the ERP landscape. By joining this program, partners will gain access to Azentio’s comprehensive suite of ERP solutions, equipping them with the tools and resources needed to deliver exceptional value to their clients.

We believe that by empowering our partners with our technology and support, we can collectively drive greater success and innovation in the ERP space

Key features of the REACH program include:

• Demand generation collaboration: REACH partners will benefit from co-branded marketing materials, lead generation campaigns, and joint sales initiatives, enabling them to create and capture demand effectively.
• Access to advanced technology: The program provides partners with the opportunity to offer their clients the full suite of Azentio’s SaaS powered ONEERP solutions, including financials, supply chain management, manufacturing, and distribution cloud verticals. This robust platform is engineered for scalability and flexibility, making it ideal for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Dedicated support and training: The REACH program includes ongoing partner enablement from a dedicated team of partner success managers (PSMs), ensuring partners are equipped to sell, onboard, and support Azentio ONEERP solutions effectively.
• Collaborative Innovation: Partners will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with Azentio’s team, contributing to the ongoing evolution of ERP software and shaping the future of the industry.

Amit Pant, ONEERP Channel Leader at Azentio, commented, “We are excited to launch the REACH partner program, a transformative initiative that represents a significant milestone for Azentio and our partners. Our vision with REACH is to create a dynamic ecosystem where consulting and implementation firms can seamlessly integrate our world-class ERP solutions into their offerings, enhancing their capabilities and expanding their market reach. This program will see Azentio building and empowering a vibrant network of partners who are as passionate about delivering exceptional ERP solutions as we are. We believe that by empowering our partners with our technology and support, we can collectively drive greater success and innovation in the ERP space.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Azentio Software Private Limited.

The loan from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional financing window, includes funding from the Transition Support Facility

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, September 23, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) approved a loan of $67.3 million to Madagascar on 20 September 2024 to implement the first phase of its economic growth-inducing Financial Management and Resilience Support Programme for 2024-2025.

The loan from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional financing window, includes funding from the Transition Support Facility.

It is supporting the Malagasy authorities in implementing the priority reforms of Madagascar’s General State Policy (PGE) 2024-2028 and New Energy Policy for 2015-2030

“The programme aims to contribute to the creation of favourable conditions for strong and inclusive economic growth by strengthening economic and financial governance, and improving economic resilience,” said Adam Amoumoun, manager of the African Development Bank’s Country Office in Madagascar.

“It is supporting the Malagasy authorities in implementing the priority reforms of Madagascar’s General State Policy (PGE) 2024-2028 and New Energy Policy for 2015-2030. It will help remedy the investment deficit by increasing the budget, through releasing additional resources for economic recovery, while improving governance in the energy sector,” he explained.

The programme plans to support the roll-out of the Integrated Tax Administration System (SAFI) to modernize tax management, computerize tax operations, facilitate local revenue collection and taxpayer management, and combat tax fraud. It will also support the creation of a national register of beneficial owners of legal entities and legal structures, to identify people controlling businesses and facilitate investigations in case of corruption.

In terms of improving governance in the energy sector, the programme plans to support the action plan established by the JIRAMA (Madagascar’s public corporation for electricity and water services) and improve its short-term technical and financial performance to reduce the need for state support.

As a priority, the programme will support the people of Madagascar, by creating a better regulatory framework for promoting investments and the development of public-private partnership (PPP) projects and better sectoral governance, specifically in energy. This will help improve the business environment and attract investments to sectors that create jobs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).