What We’re Reading 4/28/2009

Apr 28th, 2009 10:45 AM UTC
By Chandler Smith

A Reuters piece today says that despite the joy and high expectations inspired across Africa by Barack Obama’s election, issues on the world’s poorest continent have hardly featured at all on the new U.S. president’s agenda in his first 100 days. Out of 41 international analysts asked to grade Obama’s first 100 days in office by Foreign Policy magazine this week, just four mentioned the continent at all, and three of those only did so in connection with the piracy incident.

Reuters: Obama’s many challenges overshadow Africa

The head of the African Development Bank said Sunday that Africa was hit more quickly than expected by the global financial crisis and will pick up more slowly when the recovery eventually comes. Donald Kaberuka, head of the AFDB, said most had expected the effects of the crisis to begin showing up in Africa after about 18 months because it was not so tightly integrated into the global financial system.

AFP: Africa to lag recovery from crisis: AFDB

World Bank Vice-President for Africa, Obiageli Katryn Ezekwesili, Wednesday, assured African countries that the bank will try its best to safeguard African economies from being directly hit by the current Global financial crisis.

AllAfrica.com: Africa: WB Gives Assurance to Continent’s Economies

A vaccine that protects babies against fatal bacterial infections was introduced in Rwanda last week, its first distribution in a third world country.

New York Times: Pneumonia: Rwanda Receives Vaccine to Shield Babies Against Bacterial Infections

With just over 600 days remaining before the December 31, 2010 UN global target for all malaria endemic countries to achieve universal coverage with essential malaria control interventions, the UNICEF has called for greater effort in the run against the malaria onslaught.

AllAfrica.com: 600 Days to UN Target On Malaria Control – Unicef Seeks Greater Commitment

-Chandler Smith

TAGS: Policy News, What We're Reading