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RMU, DMI gears up for 3rd Blue Economy Conference
Dr Brooks (right) interacting with Rector, DMI, Dr Tumaini S. Gurumo
(middle) and a colleague during their recent visit to Ghana
The third edition of the Blue Economy Conference (BEC2024) is set for July 4-5 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Tanzania.
The conference organized by the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI), Tanzania in collaboration with the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Accra, would be under the theme, “Navigating the Future: Integrating Maritime Safety and Security, Climate Change Actions and Technological Advancements for Blue Economy.”
The conference is aimed at bringing together international stakeholders, focusing on promoting the blue economy to lead development across the continent.
The blue economy every year, has an estimated turnover of between US$3 and six billion. This includes employment, ecosystem services provided by the ocean and cultural services. It is also estimated that fisheries and aquaculture contributes US$100 billion per year and about 260 million jobs to the global economy, according to United Nations (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) report.
With the huge potential of the blue economy, Africa through the conference, is looking forward to developing the maritime sector to tap into its benefits for socio-economic growth.
The conference is also aimed at establishing a platform for capacity building and networking among stakeholders, fostering the blue economy in alignment with maritime safety and security, climate change considerations and technological advancements as outlined in the relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conference would tackle other areas including sustainable exploitation and utilisation of blue economy resources, ship seaworthiness and on board-ship competency challenges, business models for the blue economy, women in maritime sector, fishing industry and climate action policy and environmental protection.
There would also be discussions on Artificial Intelligence(AI) in maritime practices and the blue economy, renewable energy solutions for maritime transportation, information systems in maritime education and training, logistics, shipping and supply chains for the blue economy, climate-responsive maritime practices and coastal management, blue economy governance, law and policy as well as coastal and marine tourism development.
Keynote Speaker for the event would be the Deputy Minister for Transport, Tanzania Mr David Mwakiposa Kihenzile, with other speakers including Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Ikongshul Adalikwu, Maritime Law and Management Consultant, Dr Kofi Mbia, Special Advisor for Maritime and Blue Economy, Amb. Nancy Karigithu, Executive Director,Sierra Leone Maritime Authority Paul Sobba Massaquoi and Climate Specialist, Mr Pa Ousman Jarju.
The DMI had held the Blue Economy Conference for the past two years and now joining forces with the RMU to hold the third edition this year, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two giants in maritime education and training in February.
The MoU covers areas of research and publication, staff capacity building, organisation of conferences and seminars and workshops among others, hence the collaboration to hold this year’s conference.
Speaking ahead of the conference, the Ag. Vice Chancellor of the RMU, Dr Jethro W. Brooks Jr said, both institutions have committed to transforming economies across Africa by providing quality training and education that would ensure that young people were equipped and positioned to drive the maritime sector.
“We look forward for an insightful conference that would support the transformation of the African continent through the maritime industry,” he stated.
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Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
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Cervical Cancer alert: Avoid sex at early age
The Programmes Manager of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Mary Efua Commeh, has advised young girls to avoid sex at an early age.
This, she explained, will give the cervix the opportunity to mature before they become sexually active.
“You need to delay what we call the first sexual intercourse as much as possible to give the cervix the opportunity to mature before the person becomes sexually active,” she said.
Dr Commeh stated this in an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday as a part of the Cervical Cancer awareness month.
According to her, cervical cancer was the second leading female cancer in Ghana with a total of about 3,072 cases annually, and out of that, 1,815 deaths are recorded, representing more than 50 per cent.
She indicated that “If young girls are going to be sexually active, then you need to talk to your parents about being vaccinated.”
She explained that vaccinating young girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) has been found to be a very effective way of preventing cervical cancer.
“There are countries that started HPV vaccination years ago and they are not seeing any cervical cancers now because they would have eliminated most of the high-risk HPVs in their women. So if the high-risk HPV is not there, then obviously the results on cervical cancers are going to go down,” she added.
Dr Commmey said the HPV vaccination is recommended for young girls aged nine to 14 years, adding that it had been found to be highly effective, not just for cervical cancers but for other HPV-related cancers, such as anal cancers, cancers of the vagina, genital warts, amongst others.
She further elaborated that the idea is to put up a barrier before the HPV comes in and that once a young female encounters it, she is already protected.
She also mentioned that for cervical cancers, the main cause is called HPV infection, saying generally, all sexually active women acquire HPV at some point in their lives.
However, the Programmes Manager of NCDs at the GHS mentioned that the body has a way of clearing the HPV, explaining that it is a natural mechanism that goes on, unfortunately, there are a few women whose HPV persists.
Moreover, she noted that the numbers for Cervical Cancer tend to be much higher because at times, clients would wait, and try all sorts of medications before they finally report to the health facility saying “we actually lose some women before they get to the hospitals with over 75 per cent of the cases coming in its third and fourth stages.”
Dr Commey, therefore, called for public awareness while ensuring the availability of information for prevention and control.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
