The gambiense form of the disease accounts for 92% of all cases, and the majority of people exposed to the disease live in rural areas

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, January 30, 2025/APO Group/ — 

Vestergaard Sàrl (www.Vestergaard.com) announced today, World Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Day, that it has signed the Kigali Declaration on NTDs (http://apo-opa.co/4gfeq9G), formalizing the company’s commitment to support sleeping sickness elimination efforts through the ongoing donation of “Tiny Targets” for vector control of the disease. The Kigali Declaration, launched in Kigali, Rwanda in June 2022, is a high-level, political declaration that is mobilizing political will, communities, resources and action, and securing commitments needed to end suffering caused by NTDs. By signing, Vestergaard joins the 83 existing governments and organizations that have already endorsed the Declaration.

Sleeping sickness, known scientifically as human African trypanosomiasis, is an NTD endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. It is caused by protozoan parasites transmitted by infected tsetse flies (http://apo-opa.co/3Ei3Q4n), and without treatment the disease is generally fatal. The gambiense form of the disease accounts for 92% of all cases, and the majority of people exposed to the disease live in rural areas.

Yesterday, Guinea was announced as the eighth country to achieve elimination (http://apo-opa.co/42AHd5l) of gambiense sleeping sickness a public health problem. In 2023 just 675 cases were reported, down from 27,862 in 1999 – a drop of 98% (http://apo-opa.co/4h75zIl). The World Health Organization (WHO) road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021−2030 (http://apo-opa.co/4hj6YvE) now targets this disease for elimination of transmission in 15 countries by 2030.

Disease elimination can feel like a lofty aim, but for some NTDs like sleeping sickness, we’re really close

The TrypaNO! and TrypElim partnerships were established to integrate control of the tsetse flies that carry the sleeping sickness parasite with a “screen, diagnose and treat” strategy, with the aim of driving cases to zero (http://apo-opa.co/4hcAyTp). With partners including the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (http://apo-opa.co/4jynwB7), IRD (http://apo-opa.co/4jzK30t), FIND (http://apo-opa.co/4jDJhj1), and the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) (http://apo-opa.co/4jNGOmm), Vestergaard contributes to TrypaNO! and TrypElim by manufacturing Tiny Targets that attract and kill the tsetse flies to prevent infections being passed along to humans. Tsetse flies are particularly attracted to a specific shade of blue, so Tiny Targets use this colour to attract them, and they then fly onto Vestergaard’s innovative insecticide-treated fabric.

Since 2020, Vestergaard has donated Tiny Targets. In signing the Kigali Declaration on NTDs, the company is formalizing this commitment to donate up to 150,000 Tiny Targets every year to help achieve the 2030 elimination target for sleeping sickness as set out in the WHO road map for NTDs. This commitment is publicly available in the Kigali Declaration commitment tracker (http://apo-opa.co/4hexm9D), an online accountability mechanism that publicly tracks and manages commitments made against NTDs that is managed by Uniting to Combat NTDs.

Amar Ali, CEO of Vestergaard, said: “Disease elimination can feel like a lofty aim, but for some NTDs like sleeping sickness, we’re really close. This success is due to strong partnerships, with multiple stakeholders working together to establish a fully integrated strategy of effective vector control, diagnosis and treatment – as well as essential cross-border support from countries for the implementation of these tools. It is a great demonstration of what can be achieved when the necessary interventions are made available and accessible when and where they are needed. We thank our TrypaNO! partners for their ongoing support, and Uniting to Combat NTDs for the opportunity to formalize our commitment to continue donating Tiny Targets as we work together to achieve the WHO elimination goals.”

Dr Andrew Hope, Senior Programme Manager at LSTM, said: “Vestergaard has been a partner in the Tiny Targets programme since its inception.  In the early stages, they made major technical contributions to the materials and design of Tiny Targets and then followed this up with annual donations of Tiny Targets.  They are essential partners in the effort to eliminate sleeping sickness.”

Dr Isatou Touray, Executive Director of Uniting to Combat NTDs, said: “Vestergaard’s signing of the Kigali Declaration and ongoing donation of Tiny Targets for sleeping sickness control is a powerful demonstration of how innovation and partnerships can accelerate progress toward the WHO 2030 NTD goals. As we navigate an increasingly challenging global financing landscape, commitments like Vestergaard’s are more important than ever to protect the gains we’ve made and continue driving down transmission. Achieving the WHO targets requires coordinated efforts and novel tools like Tiny Targets that are tailored to the unique challenges of diseases such as sleeping sickness. We celebrate partners like Vestergaard who remain steadfast in their commitment to improving the lives of millions of people worldwide and ensuring that NTD elimination becomes a reality.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vestergaard Sàrl.

Last year S-RM and Invest Africa jointly hosted multiple events, notably the Mining Series 2024 in Cape Town, and several panels in London and Nairobi focused on sustainable African investment

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 30, 2025/APO Group/ — 

Global corporate intelligence and cyber security consultancy S-RM (www.S-RMinform.com) has announced the continuation of its strategic partnership with Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com), a leading business platform promoting trade and investment in Africa, for a second year.

S-RM and Invest Africa joined forces in January 2024 with the goal of supporting business leaders and investors with critical decision making and providing them with the confidence to navigate risk and build resilient companies on the continent.

Last year S-RM and Invest Africa jointly hosted multiple events, notably the Mining Series 2024 in Cape Town, and several panels in London and Nairobi focused on sustainable African investment.

Our partnership with S-RM has proven to be a tremendous asset to our network, providing critical insights and solutions in a rapidly evolving business landscape

These events brought together key global stakeholders with vested interests in Africa and promoted robust and collaborative solutions to investment on the continent. Throughout the year, S-RM continued to engage with Invest Africa’s members and wider network, supporting them on a range of integrity and ESG due diligence remits.

Building on this success, S-RM and Invest Africa aim to further empower businesses and investors in 2025. Key goals include expanding the delivery of actionable intelligence tailored to the evolving geopolitical and regulatory landscape through strategic events and co-curated thought leadership. Additionally, S-RM will headline three Invest Africa events this year: Mining Series (February), Africa Debate UK (July), and Africa Debate UAE (September). 

With a nearly two-decade-long presence in Africa and over 50 practitioners currently based on the continent, S-RM is uniquely positioned to continue providing Invest Africa’s member network with industry-leading intelligence, resilience, and response solutions.

Chantelé Carrington, CEO, Invest Africa, said: “Our partnership with S-RM has proven to be a tremendous asset to our network, providing critical insights and solutions in a rapidly evolving business landscape. As we embark on the next phase of this collaboration, we remain committed to enabling confident decision-making and resilience-building for businesses across Africa. Together with S-RM, we look forward to unlocking further opportunities for trade and investment across the continent in 2025.”

Ian Massey, Head of Corporate Intelligence, EMEA, S-RM, said: “We are delighted the partnership with Invest Africa is not just rolling into a second year but that we are building on our success in 2024. I am excited for the year ahead and in particular our greater involvement in Invest Africa’s event calendar, starting with the Mining Series next month.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.

The collective efforts of these esteemed partners underscore SAIS25’s mission: to transform Africa’s sports sector through strategic investments, infrastructure development, and policies that foster long-term sustainability

LAGOS, Nigeria, January 30, 2025/APO Group/ — 

The Sports Africa Investment Summit (SAIS25) is more than an event—it’s a movement to unlock Africa’s potential by investing in sports infrastructure for a sustainable future. This mission wouldn’t be possible without the support of visionary partners committed to driving innovation, policy development, and investment in Africa’s sports industry.

Meet the Partners

Afreximbank – A leading financial institution fostering trade and development across Africa, Afreximbank brings its expertise in funding large-scale projects, making it a key player in sports infrastructure financing.

Bank of Industry (BOI) – As Nigeria’s leading development finance institution, BOI plays a critical role in driving local economic growth. Through strategic financing, BOI is supporting the expansion of Nigeria’s sports sector, creating opportunities for businesses and communities to thrive.

International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) – A global leader in sport integrity, ICSS works across continents to promote safety, transparency, and governance in sports. Their partnership with SAIS25 reinforces the need for robust security frameworks that protect investments and ensure the long-term sustainability of Africa’s sports ecosystem.

UN Global Compact Network Nigeria – Championing responsible business practices, this network is instrumental in promoting sustainability within sports investments, ensuring that SAIS25 initiatives align with global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

NESH Foundation – With a focus on Nigerian entrepreneurship, NESH plays a vital role in connecting sports investment with local economic empowerment, creating opportunities for homegrown businesses to thrive.

Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) – As a Nigerian policy think tank, NESG drives economic transformation by shaping investment-friendly policies across multiple sectors, including sports. Their expertise in fostering collaboration between governments, private sector players, and investors positions them as a key advocate for a sustainable and profitable sports industry across Africa.

Why This Matters

The collective efforts of these esteemed partners underscore SAIS25’s mission: to transform Africa’s sports sector through strategic investments, infrastructure development, and policies that foster long-term sustainability.

As SAIS25 approaches on February 17-18, 2025, in Lagos, we invite investors, policymakers, industry leaders, athletes, sports talent managers, sports merchandisers, fans and enthusiasts to join us in shaping the future of African sports.

Register now at https://apo-opa.co/4gjbCZg and be part of the conversation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Sport Nigeria Ltd.