May 9, 2024 - South Africa Vision

May 9, 2024

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre Leading Health Sector Transformation in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Harvard University — Eight years into Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has made significant strides with digital innovations and enhanced access to quality care. Strategic investments in infrastructure, technology, and talent, have led to advancements revolutionizing patient care delivery and elevating the standards of healthcare locally. These efforts have notably raised the average life expectancy, reduced mortality rates, and enhanced overall well-being across the Kingdom.

Central to these achievements, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC), renowned for its specialized care and treatments across critical fields such as oncology, cardiology, organ transplantation, and genetics has positioned itself as a leader in specialized patient care, taking the charge towards a brighter, healthier future for the Kingdom. Through its commitment to pioneering digital health initiatives, comprehensive educational programs, and novel research endeavors, it is reshaping the local landscape, and setting new standards of efficiency and accessibility.

In an era defined by technological advancements, and with the Kingdom’s push towards digitalization, KFSH&RC stands at the forefront of digital health integration among its local peers, leveraging cutting-edge telemedicine services, virtual consultations, and AI-driven tools such as the ANFAL AI System that transforms patient outcomes through predictive insights and personalized care, ensuring the best outcomes for patient satisfaction.

KFSH&RC’s digital health initiatives extend to addressing broader health threats through technologies such as Whole Genomic Sequencing (WGS) and Advanced Radiation Therapy. The hospital has also pioneered organ transplantation by performing the world’s first fully robotic liver transplant and introduced to the region innovations like the Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (TPV), enhancing patient recovery and experience. These technologies facilitate personalized treatment plans and improve the accuracy and speed of medical diagnostics, contributing significantly to the elevation of patient care standards and a sustainable, resilient healthcare infrastructure in line with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program.

KFSH&RC continues to push the boundaries of medical research addressing pressing health challenges and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s public health landscape, with discoveries like the PfAP2-MRP gene crucial for malaria treatment and the identification of the new Riyadhensis bacteria strain. These discoveries have not only improved diagnostic accuracy but also facilitated early interventions, ensuring timely and effective patient support, in line with the national objectives to reduce chronic disease prevalence.

These comprehensive efforts are supported by KFSH&RC’s robust educational initiatives, which prepare the next generation of medical professionals through training programs and international collaborations.

Recognized by ‘Brand Finance’ in 2024 as the most valuable healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East for the second consecutive year, placing 9th in Saudi Arabia and 28th in the Middle East. Additionally, KFSH&RC stands out as the only hospital worldwide to be ranked among its country’s top ten most valuable brands.

About King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC):

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) stands as a leading healthcare institution in the Middle East, envisioned to be the optimal choice for every patient seeking specialized healthcare. The hospital boasts a rich history in the treatment of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, organ transplantation, neurosciences, and genetics.

In 2024, “Brand Finance” ranked King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre as the top academic medical centre in the Middle East and Africa, and among the top 20 globally for the second consecutive year. Additionally, in 2024, it was recognized as one of the leading global healthcare providers by Newsweek magazine.

As part of Saudi Vision 2030, a royal decree was issued on December 21, 2021, to transform the hospital into an independent, non-profit, government-owned entity, paving the way for a comprehensive transformation program aimed at achieving global leadership in healthcare through excellence and innovation.

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Essam Al-Zahrani, Media Affairs Head, 0555254429

Mr. Abdullah Al-Aown, Media Coordination Officer, 0556294232

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/003e76ab-3d93-42d4-9edf-5e652a14c559

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9114722

May 9, 2024

Curia and Carterra Partner on Biologics Symposium to Further Biotechnology Research in the Pacific Northwest

Curia & Carterra Biologics Symposium

Biologics symposium slated for May 31 in Seattle, WA

ALBANY, N.Y. and SALT LAKE CITY, May 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Curia, a leading contract research, development and manufacturing organization and Carterra Inc., the world leader in label-free high throughput antibody and small molecule drug discovery, today announced their partnership in hosting a high-throughput biologics symposium slated for May 31 at the Residence Inn at Marriott in Seattle, Washington.

The purpose of the collaboration is to promote the rising biotech focus within the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S and Canada. The symposium will bring together all levels of scientific leadership from the biotech and pharma communities.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Carterra to organize this antibody discovery symposium, bringing the Pacific Northwest biotech community together and sharing the latest advances in antibody discovery,” said Steve Lavezoli, Vice President of Biologics at Curia. “We are also looking forward to sharing our optimal, high-quality and accelerated antibody discovery workflows to first-to-human antibody discovery, development and clinical manufacturing. Antibodies discovered and/or engineered with Curia’s platform technology are in the clinic and we have over 230 successful antibody discovery campaigns performed for the biotech community.”

Speed, scientific expertise and efficiency can surmount the high attrition rates of early antibody discovery and achieve first-to-market delivery of new therapeutics. The symposium will highlight Curia’s technology platform and integrated services with a focus on the development of enhanced mouse systems for antibody generation and high-throughput single B cell screening. The combination of next generation sequencing (NGS) and rapid recombinant production of milligram to gram quantities of purified monoclonal antibody (mAb) significantly accelerates identification of development candidate leads.

Since 2017, Carterra has been selling its powerful LSA^® high-throughput biosensor to analyze and characterize antibodies using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). With the launch of its LSA^XTplatform last year, Carterra now offers products that can perform small molecule analysis as well as antibody discovery. The LSA platform has been profiled in several peer-reviewed papers in Science, Nature and Cell, detailing the path of multiple therapeutics entering clinical trials. At the symposium, several leading scientists in biopharma will be sharing their insights into their specific areas of drug discovery and will highlight the transformative impact of integrating HT-SPR technology, AI/ML and other new technologies.

“We are excited to be partnering with Curia on our symposium. Carterra symposia are scientific events that we host each year throughout the U.S. and Europe,” stated Chris M. Silva, Vice President of Marketing and Product at Carterra. “These symposia help us to share the latest technology advancements and important data generated from the workflows of scientists using Carterra’s label-free platforms. Coming to the Pacific Northwest is an opportunity to create a deeper understanding of the technology in pharma and biotechs in this region.”

Click here to RSVP for the event. Registration is required as seating is limited.

About Curia:
Curia is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience, an integrated network of 27 global sites and over 3,500 employees partnering with Biopharmaceutical customers to bring life-changing therapies to market. Our biologics and small molecules offerings span discovery through commercialization, with integrated regulatory and analytical capabilities. Our scientific and process experts and state-of-the-art facilities deliver best-in-class experience across drug substance and drug product manufacturing. From curiosity to cure, we deliver every step to improve patients’ lives. Visit us at curiaglobal.com.

About Carterra, Inc.:
Carterra, Inc. is a privately held company. Its HT-SPR technology provides large-molecule and small-molecule drug discovery customers with screening and characterization throughput and functionality that scales with omics-level applications, condensing months of work down to days. Our solutions have enabled multiple therapeutics and breakthrough research and helped academic and translational researchers and biopharmaceutical companies in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and more. Carterra is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has Customer Experience Centers in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Boston, Manchester, England, and Munich, Germany. Carterra products are available in Asia-Pacific and Oceania through our exclusive distributor, Revvity. To learn more, visit www.carterra-bio.com or connect with us on LinkedIn or X (Twitter).

Curia Contact Information:
Viana Bhagan
+1 518 512 2111
corporatecommunications@CuriaGlobal.com

Carterra Media Contact:
Cheri Salazar
(408) 594-9400
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/020a0a28-86f0-4f6c-96f2-0eaa01c82784

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9114095

May 9, 2024

DMRE hosts Battery Energy Storage bidders’ conference

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will today host a bidders’ conference in respect of Battery Energy Storage (bid window 3) under the Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP).

The department launched a third Request for Proposal (RFP) under the Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (IPPPP), calling for the procurement of 616 MW of new generation capacity from battery energy storage technologies.

‘The third battery energy storage bid window calls for 616 MW (2464 MWh) battery energy storage capacity and ancillary services in line with the power system service requirements as set out by the system operator. The procurement round will procure five storage facilities that are located within the Free State province,’ said the department.

The new bid window was released on 28 March 2024 in accordance with the Ministerial Determinations made under the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2019).

‘In support of this significant milestone in the IPPP programme, and to engage
with potential bidders and other energy sector stakeholders, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), and the Independent Power Producers Office, will host a virtual bidders’ conferences on Thursday, 9 May 2024,’ said the department.

The conference will allow all stakeholders to engage with members of the DMRE and IPP Office on queries or clarification questions in relation to the released RFP.

Hosted on an e-platform, it further aims to provide more information on the qualifying criteria and bid submission requirements.

The conference is open to any interested parties of the BESIPPPP BW3 Programme. Stakeholders can register at the following link: conference registration.

Further queries can be sent to [email protected] or [email protected].

Source: South African Government News Agency

May 9, 2024

Employee allegedly kills employer’s relative and steals various items

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in the Oshikoto Region have opened a case of murder against a 23-year-old man for allegedly killing a 32-year-old woman and stealing several items from the house where he was employed as a gardener.

According to NamPol crime investigations coordinator for Oshikoto, Deputy Commissioner Titus Ekandjo on Thursday, the incident happened on Wednesday around 11h00 in Tsumeb.

‘It is alleged that the victim was found dead laying in a pool of blood in a storeroom with a kitchen knife stuck on her right side under the shoulder,’ reported Ekandjo.

He said it is alleged that the woman was at home doing laundry in the storeroom, while the gardener was also busy in the house yard when a tenant of the house left for town.

‘When the tenant returned, she found the woman dead in the storeroom, and her one-month-old baby was alone in the house crying,’ Ekandjo said.

Several items including cellphones and the house keys were reported as missing from the house, and the gardener was nowhere
to be found.

‘The landlord was at work and the children from the house were also at school during the time of incident,’ Ekandjo said, adding that the deceased is a relative of the landlord.

The body of the deceased was transported to the Tsumeb State Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem.

The suspect was arrested on Thursday morning at Tsintsabis settlement and he will appear before the Tsumeb Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

In a separate incident, a 29-year-old man reportedly committed suicide by hanging. NamPol reported that the incident happened on Thursday around 08h00 at Elombe village.

The deceased was identified as Paulus Soondaha Asino and no suicide note was left behind.

His body was transported to the Onandjokwe State Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

The next of kin are informed and investigations continue in both cases.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

May 9, 2024

Ogwashi-Uku dam will serve 60 communities in Delta North – Nwoko

Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) says the Ogwashi-Uku dam will serve 60 communities in the senatorial district of Delta, when completed.

Nwoko said this during an interactive session with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

He said that plans were ongoing for the construction of a second dam in the senatorial district at Idumuje Ugboko.

The senator said the dams were initiated to address the problem of water supply and seasonal farming in the district.

According to him, the two dams in the senatorial district will address the problem of water supply and create an opportunity for all round farming through irrigation.

He said that the Ogwashi-Uku dam was near completion with the Federal Government completing its side of the project.

The senator said he was in talks with the Delta Government to play its part, by providing a reservoir and water treatment plant to ensure safe water supply to the communities.

Nwoko urged the communities to embrace the project and take advantage of the opportunities it would create when
completed.

The senator said he had initiated a motion to step down 100 megawatts of power from the power plant in Okpai in Ndokwa land to improve power supply in the area.

He said the initiative was initiated to address the delay in the supply of electricity to Ndokwa land and urged the state government to execute the project when the motion would finally be passed.

Nwoko said the Federal Government would make a refund for the cost that would be expended by the state government in the step down project.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

May 9, 2024

Police nab Congolese woman in N.dollars 5.5 million drug case

Police at Noordoewer have arrested a third suspect in the N.dollars 5.5 million drug case, a 34-year-old Congolese national.

Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator for the ||Kharas Region, Deputy Commissioner Nikodemus Mbango in a crime report issued to Nampa on Thursday said the woman was arrested on Wednesday morning.

‘The woman and her disabled child were with the two suspects that were arrested on Tuesday night, however upon our investigations, we also arrested her,’ said Mbango.

On Tuesday around 23h00 police arrested two men, a Namibian and a Congolese national aged 33 and 35 respectively, after they were allegedly found in possession of drugs valued at N.dollars 5 554 500.

The Congolese man and Congolese woman are registered as asylum seekers at Osire Refugee Settlement, Mbango noted.

According to the police, the suspects were found with 94 parcels of cannabis, weighing a total of 111.9kg.

‘Information was received about drug trafficking via the Orange River from South Africa into
Namibia, destined for Rundu via Noordoewer. The police officers swiftly attended to the information and the suspects were intercepted after they crossed the border via the river at an illegal point of entry. Consequently, the drugs were seized, and [the first two] suspects were apprehended,’ said the police report.

The suspects are scheduled to appear at the Noordoewer periodic court on Friday.

Police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency