World
Sierra Leone better positioned now to fight Ebola: UN
Freetown: Sierra Leone is in a better position now than it has been, in its fight against Ebola, according to the new UN Ebola mission chief.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the new head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) Friday, voiced optimism about Sierra Leone’s fight against Ebola, according to a report.
In his maiden press conference since he assumed office, Ahmed said: “We are now looking at a future response package…”
“I am left with the optimism that Sierra Leone can make it, but it will need a lot of effort from all of us,” he said.
He reminded Sierra Leoneans not to be complacent as the situation was still bad, given the number of cases, but believed that people now had a better understanding of the data.
Sierra Leone, one of the three West African countries worst affected by Ebola, apart from Liberia and Guinea, reported nearly 250 new confirmed cases in the past week, but the spread of the virus there may be slowing down, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.
“There are signs that case incidence may have levelled off in Sierra Leone, although with 248 new confirmed cases reported in the week to Jan 4, 2015, it remains by far the worst-affected country at present,” the WHO said.
The new UN mission chief said: “We will only be satisfied when we begin to register zero cases.”
WHO special envoy, David Nabarro, said that the UN has been able to mobilise enough funds to fight and eradicate the disease.
Nabarro disclosed that originally the UN appealed for more than $1 billion in September, which was revised to $1.4 billion in October, of which about $1.1 billion have been received, a gesture he described as “a good response”.
He said that it was expected that the rate of infection would drop considerably in a few weeks.
On Wednesday, the UN team had discussions with Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma on the progress of the Ebola fight.
UNMEER, the first-ever UN emergency health mission, is leading international efforts in the battle against Ebola.
As of Friday, the total number of cases attributed to Ebola in West Africa reached 20,972, of which 8,259 people have died.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.