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The Ajinomoto Foundation, Sysmex, and NEC initiate a cross-industry co-creation project to improve maternal and child health and nutrition in the Republic of Ghana

TOKYO, May 27, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The Ajinomoto Foundation, Sysmex Corporation, and NEC Corporation are set to commence initiatives for a co-creation project (the "Project") to improve maternal and child health and nutrition in the Republic of Ghana (Ghana). This project is in line with the Memorandum of Collaboration concluded between Japan and Ghana for the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC)(1) Expansion and Africa Health and Wellbeing Initiative (AfHWIN)(2) proposed during the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development(3) (TICAD7) in August 2019. As a specific project of this initiative, we aim to promote public-private and private collaboration in both countries to improve maternal and child health and nutrition in Ghana. In Ghana, malnutrition and malaria(4) are some of the most severe health issues, and are considered the most significant risk factors for death and disability(5). Malnutrition is a leading factor in stunting the growth of unborn children and infants and causes anaemia, which enhances the risk of severe malaria. Additionally, children under five and pregnant women are especially vulnerable(6) to malaria, making it particularly important to take an integrated approach to the prevention of malnutrition, anaemia and malaria. Since 2019, World Food Programme (WFP) and TAF have implemented activities in cooperation with Ghana Health Service (GHS) to promote maternal behavior change and recommend the Nutritional Supplement KOKO Plus(7) as a specific solution to improving nutrition. By further developing this project and combining high-quality testing with ICT from Japan, we will accelerate the activities aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition, and also aim to create a mechanism to contribute to promoting the health of Ghanaian mothers and children and hence sustainable and stable economic growth. The 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8), held in August 2022 in Tunisia, will be disseminated worldwide as an activity case and will be promoted to support non-governmental activities to improve maternal and child health in Africa. Through public-private partnerships between Japan and Ghana, this project aims to achieve Goal 2 "Zero Hunger" and Goal 3 "Good health and well-being" while practicing Goal 17 "Partnerships for the goals" among the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We will contribute to accelerate UHC expansion while co-creating greater value through cross-sectoral efforts to resolve social challenges in the public and private sectors. See the following for the history and overview of this project.1. HistoryAugust, 2019: TICAD7 held and Yokohama Declaration 2019 was adopted.Launched Japan Business Council for Africa and concluded a memorandum of cooperation between Japan and Ghana.February, 2021: Suggested co-creation concept of Nutrition-Anemia-Malaria-ICT to Ghanaian governmental and health professionals at Ghana-Japan Healthcare Business Webinar sponsored by the Council of Secretary-Japan Business Council for Africa.October, 2021: Exchanging of Notes(8) on Grant Funding for Nutrition Improvement for the Republic of Ghana, the Universal "Nutrition" Health Coverage Plan (through WFP) through a sustainable system for nutrition improvement.March, 2022: Concluded a contract between the WFP Ghana office and KOKO Plus Foundation for the development of this project.March, 2022: Based on the contract between the WFP Ghana office and KOKO Plus Foundation, a contract was concluded among relevant personnel located in Japan and Ghana(9).April, 2022: Held launch event of new Japan-Funded Nutrition Programme - Universal "Nutrition" Health Coverage through sustainable systems for nutrition improvement in Ghana.2. Overview of this project2-1. PurposeBy combining effective nutrition education for mothers and children in Ghana using ICT with business-based approaches such as supplement production by local private companies and marketing and infiltration activities by local NGOs to enable sustainability, we will make behavioral changes to healthcare and strengthen the health system through human resources' development of healthcare professionals. Utilizing innovative ICT and clinical testing technologies originating in Japan, this will contribute to creating environments where pregnant women, breastfeeding women, caregivers, and children can enjoy high-quality nutrition and health services.2-2. Participating organizations and companiesJapan: TAF, Sysmex, and NECGhana: KOKO Plus Foundation (NGO), Sysmex West and Central Africa Ltd. (local affiliate)2-3. RoleTAF/ KOKO Plus Foundation:- Cooperation with WFP and management of the entire projectImproving health and nutrition guidance capacity through training for staff in health centers in collaboration with Ghana Health Services- Construction of a Supply Chain for Nutritional Supplement KOKO Plus around health centers- Providing experiences and networks in Ghana in the past decades as a platformSysmex/ Sysmex West and Central Africa Ltd.:- Promote improved test quality and access through the introduction of malaria diagnostic medical devices- Educational activities for medical professionals (clinical laboratory technicians and clinicians) leading to the early detection and treatment of anemia, malnutrition, and malaria through human resources development, academic symposium, etc.- Collaboration with GHS and National Malaria Control Programme*10NEC:- Application Development for support of health checkup and nutrition instructions- Promoting behaviour change among mothers and children through the use of newly developed applications that help to deliver health checkup information, nutrition instructions, and recommendations for KOKO Plus ingestion and/or additional testing at hospitals in which Sysmex clinical testing devices are installed- Provide tablets and ICT training for staff at health centers(1) Universal health coverage (UHC) means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. It includes the full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.(2) Memorandum of Cooperation in the Health Care and Health Fields between the Office of Health and Medical Strategies of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Ghana www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/kenkouiryou/pdf/20190820_ghana_hc.pdf(3) TICAD is an international conference on the topic of African development. Since 1993, it has been led by the Japanese government and held jointly with the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the African Union Commission (AUC). The number of meetings is indicated as "TICAD7".(4) Malaria is one of the three major infectious diseases of the world defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is widely endemic mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. A protozoal disease caused by Plasmodium as a mosquito-borne parasite that, when it enters the body, infects red blood cells in the blood after a certain incubation period, with symptoms such as high fever, headache, vomiting, and anemia. According to World malaria report 2021 in WHO, the number of people affected and total fatalities in 2020 was reported to be approximately 241 million and 627,000, respectively.www.malarianomore.jp/archives/12598 (Japanese text)www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240040496(5) The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME)www.healthdata.org/ghana(6) Children under five are particularly vulnerable to both malaria and malnutrition, and malaria may be more severe in malnourished children. Malaria also increases the risk of poor maternal and neonatal prognosis, including anemia and death in pregnant women, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, prematurity, low birth weight infants, and neonatal and infant deaths.Nutrition and Malaria: Integrated approach for effective case management(7) Registered trade of TAF of Supplements to Improve Child Nutritionwww.theajinomotofoundation.org/kokoplus/https://endmalaria.org/related-material/malaria-and-nutrition-thematic-brief(8) Exchange of Notes Regarding Grant Aid for Nutrition Improvement for the Republic of Ghana.www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/release/press6_000941.html (Japanese text)(9) This agreement is a contract between 5 parties: TAF and its Ghana-based implementation partner KOKO Plus Foundation, Sysmex and its local affiliate in Ghana, Sysmex West and Central Africa, and NEC(10) The organization in GHS that manages the malaria control in GhanaAbout The Ajinomoto FoundationThe Ajinomoto Foundation was established in 2017 for the purpose of contributing to solutions for crucial social issues, by conducting programs related to "nutritional improvement through food". We have 4 public interest programs that include the "Disaster reconstruction assistance project," "Ghana Nutrition Improvement Project (GNP)," "Food and Nutrition support project (AIN Program)" and "Dietitian project in low-income countries (VINEP)." www.theajinomotofoundation.org/About Sysmex CorporationIn line with its mission of "shaping the advancement of healthcare," which is defined in the "Sysmex Way," the corporate philosophy of the Sysmex Group, Sysmex works to contribute to the development of healthcare and the healthy lives of people. Sysmex conducts integrated R&D, manufacturing and sales, and provides support services for its instruments, reagents and software for in vitro testing of blood, urine and other bodily fluids. Sysmex supplies its products to medical institutions in more than 190 countries and regions throughout the world. Sysmex is working to improve access to proper healthcare so that as many people as possible may receive it. To that end, we are helping promote UHC in emerging countries and developing countries by making testing widely available. www.sysmex.co.jp/en/index.htmlAbout NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at www.nec.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Helping parents in discussion of tough topics with kids

SINGAPORE - Help at hand to guide parents in those difficult, sensitive conversations - like poor grades - that will inevitably come up with their children aged seven to 12. Bramble, a mobile app started by four Singaporeans, plays both therapist and mediator to keep discussions loving and productive, with the help of machine learning. Parents and children pass the phone back and forth as they take turns to talk, as the app suggests statements and prompts responses as they talk about things like stress, expectations and managing emotions. A session on the app takes about 20 minutes. During the conversation, the app guides parents and children in clarifying their thinking and empathising with each other, and then in coming up with a simple plan - like committing to one small thing to make homework easier in the future. Prompts include, "I noticed that...", "I would rather..." and "Let me repeat what you just said to check if I understood." It also gives children keywords like "embarrassed" and "sad" if they need help to express how they feel. "We hope to emphasise the importance of empathy and feelings in the process of communication," said Bramble chief executive Chew Chia Shao Yuan. Bramble is built on the insights of child psychologists such as Dr Haim Ginott and Dr John Gottman - "namely that when you communicate with empathy, you nurture your children's ability to express and regulate their feelings healthily, equipping them with social and emotional skills". The team is advised by therapists and psychiatrists in Singapore and Boston, where Mr Chew Chia is studying computer science and global health and health policy at Harvard. Launched in August and free for download in Singapore, the app sees between 10 to 20 new users a week. The team said the feedback so far has been positive, with some parents saying Bramble has allowed them to express themselves without accidentally hurting their children. Bramble's other co-founders are Ms Bernadette Clara Yeo, Mr Chua Jiahao and Ms Lim Pin Xiu. All of them are 25, except Ms Lim, who is 23. Brought together by Mr Chew Chia, the four friends started working on Bramble full-time in 2019. Mr Chua studied computer science and engineering, and together with Mr Chew Chia, is in charge of the software. Ms Yeo majored in early childhood and special education at New York University and taught in public schools in Brooklyn in the United States. Mr Chew Chia cited American psychologist Thomas Gordon's observation that parents are blamed but not trained. "From speaking to parents, we realised there's a gap between what they cognitively know and/or want to do, versus what they're able to do in the moment of a heated conversation," he said. "That's why we want to design the app to be situation-responsive, meeting parents and kids wherever they are and gently guiding them through alternative paths if a particular strategy isn't working." More on this topic   Related Story Roping in parents, schools to boost support ecosystem for youth mental well-being   Related Story Going digital to help Singapore youth dealing with mental health issues For instance, parents may be susceptible to all-or-nothing thinking or catastrophising, which impacts how they interact with their child. Instead of nagging their child, parents can indicate on the app that they worry about their children's exam results, for example. The app will then ask what is on their mind when they feel nervous. Parents may be worried that receiving bad results means that their child will not succeed in life. The app will respond by acknowledging that the parent wants the best for their child, but highlights that it is not just a case of "I'm successful" or "I'm a complete failure". The app then nudges parents to acknowledge to the child that there are many things between being a success or being a complete failure, and to emphasise that there are many ways to be successful. The parent is also advised to reassure the child that he is not "doomed" by one bad exam. The team aims to make Bramble a trusted and accessible source of guidance for family communication, and to expand to help children in other age ranges and countries. There is some awkwardness in using an app for a very human activity - talking to one's child - as some parents have shared, but the team hopes the app's use will be normalised. Mr Chew Chia said: "We have beliefs or expectations about what talking to your child might look like and most of us probably want the rosy image of an effortless, loving conversation. "My hope is that Bramble is eventually seen as a tool to bring families to that reality and there's less stigma surrounding what support it might take to get there." More on this topic   Related Story Setting up safe, non-judgmental 'listening corners' across S'pore

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Number of child abuse cases in S’pore investigated last year highest in 10 years

SINGAPORE - The number of child abuse cases investigated by the authorities last year was the highest in a decade, according to fresh data from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). The Covid-19 pandemic forced some vulnerable families into tight quarters, increasing the chances of conflict. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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To protect children sexually abused by family members, CPS officers draw up safety plan

SINGAPORE - When the Ministry of Social and Family Development is alerted to a case of intra-familial child sexual abuse, its Child Protective Service (CPS) ensures the child is kept safe. This entails having an adult who can ensure the child is not left alone with the perpetrator, said manager of the CPS investigation team Nurul Nadiah Mohamed Noor, 29. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Higher demand for childcare, maids and gadgets in S’pore as more people return to workplace

SINGAPORE - When Ms Pamela Wah, 26, heard that she could return to the workplace from last Monday, she immediately ordered a portable breast pump costing $92. The accounts manager at a tech company, who has a seven-month-old child, has to return to the office for five days a week. She said the wired pump she uses at home would be inconvenient to use in the office or at a client's place. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

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Singaporean student who imported child-like sex doll in Australia sentenced to 11 months’ jail

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean student living in Australia who imported a child sex doll and possessed child abuse material has been sentenced to 11 months' jail. However, the 27-year-old, who was not identified, was immediately released on a two-year good behaviour bond. The Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police said in a joint statement last Saturday (Feb 20) the judge had also ordered that the man be placed on the sex offenders register. In 2019, the Singaporean was arrested after border officials intercepted a parcel containing the doll was sent to him from China at a Perth air cargo depot on Christmas Eve. The doll was ordered online and was addressed to the man's residence in the Perth suburb of Beckenham. Around two weeks later, border investigators arrested the Singaporean following a search warrant for the address on the package. Warrant investigators seized a mobile phone, computer tower, laptop and hard drive belonging to the man. These devices were handed to the Australian Federal Police, which identified child abuse material in the tower, laptop and hard drive through a forensic digital investigation. In Australia, those who import child sex dolls can be imprisoned for up to 10 years and fined A$555,000 (S$580,000). The Singaporean subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of importing prohibited goods - which includes sex dolls that resemble children aged below 18 - and one count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using electronic means. While the 27-year-old will not be jailed, his immigration status - he is on a student visa - is now under review, the statement added. "The Australian Government takes seriously its responsibility to protect the Australian community from risk or harm posed by non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct or behaviour of concern... Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa will be liable for detention and removal from Australia, pending resolution of any ongoing matters," the statement said. In Singapore, it is a crime to own, produce and sell child sex dolls - resembling children aged below 16 - since Jan 1, 2020. Those found doing so face a maximum penalty of imprisonment for two years and a fine. Adult sex dolls are legal. More on this topic   Related Story Ban 'grotesque' child sex dolls linked to abuse, charity says   Related Story Parliament: New Bill seeks to criminalise exploitative sexual relationships and child sex dolls

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