Background
Causing more than 8.2 million deaths annually cancer is one of the top killer diseases of our time. The estimated number of 14 million plus new cases occurring every year is expected to increase by 70% in the next two decades. With the majority of cancer cases and deaths now occurring in low- and middle-income countries Africa is suffering the heavy burden of this serious public health crisis. A large proportion of cancers in Africa is diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease where curative treatment is no longer an option. This is due to the lack of screening and early detection services, as well as limited awareness of early signs and symptoms of cancer among the public and health care providers. Fear of Stigma associated with cancer also plays a role in late-stage presentation of the disease in most parts of Africa. Because many African countries lack adequate number of health facilities that can provide specialized treatment and palliative care, cancer patients are faced with long waiting period and considerable treatment costs that are beyond their economic means. With Cervical and cervical and breast cancers being the leading causes of cancer related deaths in Africa the burden of the disease in women is much worse. Gender inequalities, weak economic power of women and absence of screening and early diagnoses services contribute to the increasing number of preventable deaths of women.
The overwhelming demand for cancer treatment and care, the fragile public health system in many African nations coupled with the absences of national cancer control plan and supportive policy and financial frameworks is causing serious social and economic crises that call for an immediate and coordinated action to prevent and control cancer in Africa.
The Stop Cervical Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa Conference is one response among many to this alarming situation. The conference is an annual event dedicated to contributing to the efforts of ending Cervical Breast & Prostate Cancer in Africa. The 10th SCCA conference will be held 24 – 27 July 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference is organized under the patronage of H.E Roman Tesfaye Abneh First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The organizational work of the conference is undertaken by dedicated inter-ministerial committees in partnership with Princess Nikky Cancer Foundation.
The format of the event is interactive with roundtable discussions and case studies from leading healthcare CIOs, as well as healthcare entrepreneurs and government functionaries, all sharing their experiences on what works and what does not.
Who should attend?
The Ethiopian Christian culture dates back to the emergence of Christianity and continues vibrantly today. This long tradition makes Ethiopia a unique place to visit and study. Our seminar focuses on Ethiopian Christianity and its connections with the Eastern Mediterranean in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The theme includes the early reception of Christianity in Ethiopia, the emergence of a Christian state, and the development of the distinct Ethiopian Church. We explore the relations between Ethiopia and the Roman Empire, Persia, Egypt and Palestine up to the Crusades, and discuss distinct Ethiopian traditions in connection with Judaism and Islam. We will visit the late antique city of Aksum and the world-famous rock-hewn churches in Lalibela, as well as number of ancient monasteries, participate at a pilgrimage and meet with students and professors at two Ethiopian universities.
The seminar gives an exceptional opportunity to get to know Ethiopian Christianity which is an often neglected field of study in Nordic universities, despite the fact that several important early Jewish and Christian texts are only preserved in Ge’ez, the ancient Ethiopian language. We pay special attention to the diverse cultural manifestations of religion, including archaeology, art history, architecture, music and literature, theology and Church practices, general history, trade and international relations. The participants are invited to study texts in their traditional contexts and as part of the wider material culture.
Our seminar is the second of a number of Nordic PhD-seminars arranged by the Nordic Network for the Study of Judaism, Christianity and Islam in the First Millennium (NNJCI), a network of PhD students and faculty from Nordic academic institutions. For more, see http://nnjci.mf.no/.
Structure of the seminar
The duration of the seminar will be two weeks. The program covers several major sites in Ethiopia. In addition to excursions, there will be lectures given by experts on various topics. Each participant is also required to prepare a short presentation (ca. 20 minutes) on a related topic based on reading of relevant materials (see the list of reading below). The student may present either his/her own PhD project or a paper on a theme connected to the program.
Practical information
Participants: The number of participants is restricted to 12 students (and three teachers). The seminar is for PhD-students, but it will also be open for advanced master’s students and postdoctoral researchers if the available places are not filled by PhD-students.
Cost: The cost for the course is 9.000:- SEK excl. international air fare. This includes all domestic transport, half-board accommodation, all entrances, guide, lectures, materials. Travel to Ethiopia must be with Ethiopian Airlines in order to have substantial reduction in domestic fares. The flights from Stockholm to Addis Abeba should not be more than 5000 SEK if booked early. All participants are themselves responsible for booking the international flights (including their way to Stockholm.)
Reading list: All participants should prepare for the seminar by reading approximately 300 pages. The reading list will be distributed before September 1st.
Credits: The seminar equals 5 ECTS, but participants are themselves responsible for having these credits accepted by their doctoral program.
Organizers: Lund University (Samuel Rubenson, Mengistu Gobezie) and University of Helsinki (Outi Lehtipuu, Anna-Liisa Tolonen, in co-operation with the Finnish Institute in the Middle East).
Information: Follow our facebook-page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1625904417675426/) or contact Samuel Rubenson (Samuel.Rubenson@teol.lu.se) or Outi Lehtipu (outi.lehtipuu@helsinki.fi).
Application
Applications should be sent to Outi Lehtipu (outi.lehtipuu@helsinki.fi) before April 15th 2016.
Accepted applicants will be informed by May 10th, and be asked to pay a deposit of 4500 SEK by June 1st.
Click here for the application form.
The Africa Energy Indaba Conference will discuss, debate and seek solutions to enable adequate energy generation across the continent.
THE CONFERENCE WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO:
- debate policy
- review industrial progress and market trends
- discuss the efficiency of various public support mechanisms and public-private partnerships across the continent
- review new data and the latest technological trends globally
Delegates in the early stages of their careers will have an unprecedented opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of the energy sector and to lay the foundations for their role as “Future Energy Leaders”.
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?
- Update your knowledge on the current trends within energy across the African continent with input from global authorities
- Explore future trends to position your business as effectively as possible
- Explore the growing interest in ‘green’ and sustainability issues in the context of developing countries. New opportunities will emerge and new careers will be created
- Understand the research needed to transform the primary energy related industries of oil, gas and coal so these abundant resources can continue to be exploited responsibly
- Discover examples and best practices from other industries
- Find out how government and business leaders plan to address the energy demand
- Share ideas and network with business associates in a rewarding, off-the-record setting
- Understand how the new energy landscape is creating new opportunities to address our continent’s challenges, improve the way we work, impact training and development and attract new talent and technology to Africa.
Delegates, drawn from all continents, represent an unrivalled combination of industry experts, project developers, financiers, energy users, government officials and manufacturers.
NETWORK WITH PERSONALITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
- Government & Municipality
- Project Developers/Consultants/Analysts
- Environmental Engineering
- Equipment & Technology Solutions
- Banks/Investors/Insurance
- Automotive & Transport
- Green Energy
- Commodity Traders / Agents & Brokers
- Associations & Press
REGISTER TO ATTEND THE AFRICA ENERGY INDABA 2017 AND BENEFIT FROM:
- Networking amongst more than 600 senior level energy sector experts and decision-makers planning and developing the 21st century energy requirements for Africa.
- Hearing from more than 160 expert speakers discussing the latest and best industry practice.
- Visiting over 100 leading energy suppliers showcasing the latest technologies, equipment and services.
- Reviewing policy and regulation, industry progress and changing market trends.
Young African practitioners will have the unique opportunity to learn from world renowned international experts in Aikido, embodied leadership, somatic education, and conflict resolution. In addition, the summit will bring respected East African traditional elders to share their wisdom and ancient traditions in resolving conflict. Together, these two facets of the workshop will provide African young adults, as well as their non-African peers, a rich perspective on the wealth of the ancient traditions of African nations, while they also benefit from the global perspective of non-African teachers. International experts and African elders will share their knowledge and practices with one another, providing a unique stage that places African tools and approaches to leadership and conflict resolution on par with Western and Asian practice and perspectives. The workshops will serve as an unprecedented cultural exchange and collaboration for peace.