Laos has received a new shipment of Covid-19 vaccines donated by the United States through the COVAX Facility.
Over 1 Million Covid-19 Vaccines Donated by United States through COVAX Facility Arrive in Laos
The Community-based Social Innovation for Youth Program in Hong Kong
The Third “Social Innovation • Community 4.0” Competition Prize Presentation Ceremony
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 16 July 2021 – A team of four Form 3 students from True Light Girls’ College was crowned champion at this year’s “Social Innovation * Community 4.0” Competition. Their winning solution “EGames Truck”, a mobile entertainment center featuring different educational and entertaining games, aims at tackling the mental health issues of the increasing population of elderly citizens living in remote areas in the North District by regularly bringing educational and entertaining games to their doorsteps. The winning team will join a Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS)-organized tour to Bali next year to visit a cluster of innovative start-ups and social enterprises.
Supported by Citi Foundation and organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the “Social Innovation * Community 4.0” Competition is a pioneering challenge open to all secondary schools to find sustainable solutions to community problems. Mr. Ivan Lee Kwok Bun, JP, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Efficiency, Innovation and Technology Bureau; Mr. Wayne Fong, Head of Corporate Affairs, Citi Hong Kong; and Mr. Chua Hoi Wai, Chief Executive, HKCSS and Miss Gloria Lam Tsz Yan, Assistant District Officer, North District Office, Home Affairs Department, officiated at the award presentation ceremony today. Also attending were representatives of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), competition’s partnering and supporting organizations, as well as teachers and students from the finalist teams. Five award prototypes were showcased at the ceremony.
Each year a district in Hong Kong is selected as the focal area – Central and Western District in its first year, Kowloon City District was next, then this year North District was the focus. Through experiential learning in the community and comprehensive training in design thinking, technology, and making prototypes, as well as interaction with local citizens with the support of the District Office and NGOs in the area, participating students are challenged to identify a community issue and come up with solutions to address it. This year, 45 teams from 28 secondary schools submitted their proposals. 15 finalist teams were invited to produce prototypes, which, together with remaining teams’ concept boards, are now being exhibited to the public at North District Town Hall until July 18.
Mr. Ivan Lee Kwok Bun, JP, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Efficiency, Innovation and Technology Bureau called upon members of different sectors to model on this competition and join hands to drive social innovation, “I look forward to seeing more organizations and bodies engage in such cross-sector collaboration to foster youth participation in social innovation and devise related programs and projects that bring impact to society.” He also encouraged students to continue to care about society, “In this competition you have demonstrated your creativity, affection, empathy, as well as commitment to society. At a time when our society is facing different challenges, I truly hope you will keep caring about the community and other people and get yourselves well equipped to contribute to building our splendid home with your positive energy.”
Mr. Wayne Fong, Head of Corporate Affairs, Citi Hong Kong, said, “Young minds are key to shaping a brighter future for all, and Citi Foundation aspires to equip them with the skills and networks which will contribute to their success in our ever-changing world. This competition is an example of Citi’s commitment to sustainability and we are pleased to see our vision to advance youth empowerment for the holistic and inclusive growth of the community come to fruition.”
Mr. Chua Hoi Wai, Chief Executive of HKCSS, said, “I am so happy to see that students are able to walk through their journey of design thinking and produce innovative solutions to address the community needs of North District with empathy. With the extensive support of concerned government departments, community partners, village groups and expert groups, the competition provided a series of community visits, community pitching, technological and technical support to students. It is hoped that the ‘Social Innovation * Community 4.0’ Competition is not only a student competition, but also an action-oriented experience that delivers real community solutions and puts social innovation into practice.”
The finalists’ prototypes will undergo four rounds of testing in the community on July 19 and 22 this year. Teams will demonstrate on-site how their prototypes operate in practice, while residents in North District will be invited to provide user feedback in order to improve the feasibility and practicality the prototypes.
The fourth “Social Innovation * Community 4.0” Competition will be open for applications in mid-October, and the new cohort will focus on social issues in Sham Shui Po District. It is hoped that the competition inspires the students to turn their ideas into action for the betterment of the community, advancing social innovation in our society.
Mr. Ivan Lee Kwok Bun, JP, Hong Kong’s Commissioner for Efficiency, Innovation and Technology Bureau (first from left), joined by Mr. Wayne Fong, Head of Corporate Affairs, Citi Hong Kong (first from right), presents the award of the third “Social Innovation * Community 4.0” Competition to the champion team from True Light Girls’ College for their innovation “EGames Truck”.
Award prototypes were showcased at the ceremony.
15 prototypes and 45 concept boards are now being exhibited to the public at North District Town Hall until July 18.
About HKCSS
The HKCSS is an umbrella organization of about 490 agency members that provide over 90% of the social welfare services in Hong Kong. HKCSS launched the Caring Company Scheme in 2002 to build a cohesive society by promoting strategic partnership among business and social service partners and inspiring corporate social responsibility through caring for the community, employees and the environment. HKCSS puts much effort in building capacity of social enterprises through the Social Enterprise Business Centre (SEBC) to advance social entrepreneurship and mobilize social innovation.
Additional information may be found at www.hkcss.org.hk |
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/HKCSS1947
About Citi Foundation
Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyze job opportunities for youth, and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant cities. The Citi Foundation’s “More than Philanthropy” approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfil our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation. For more information, visit www.citifoundation.com
#HKCSS #CitiFoundation
China Dongxiang Announces Operational Results for FY2021/22 Q1
Retail Performance for the Overall Platform Registered Mid-to-Low Teen Growth yoy Same-Store-Sales Grew by Mid-to-High Single-Digit yoy
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 16 July 2021 – The leading international sportswear brand enterprise in the PRC, China Dongxiang (Group) Co., Ltd. (“China Dongxiang” or “the Company”, together with its subsidiaries, “the Group”, HKEx stock code: 3818) announces the operational data for the three months ended 30 June 2021 (”FY2021/22 Q1”)
For the FY2021/22 Q1, the retail performance of Kappa stores (including Kappa kids’ apparel business) for the overall platform registered a mid-to-low teen growth on a year-on-year basis.
The same-store-sales (“SSS”) for the FY2021/22 Q1 for the overall platform registered a mid-to-high single-digit growth on a year-on-year basis, based on Kappa stores (including Kappa kids’ apparel business) which have been in operation since the same quarter the previous year.
As at 30 June 2021, the number of retail stores of the Group under the Kappa brand was 1,386 (including Kappa kids’ apparel business), representing a net increase of 34 as compared with to those as at 31 March 2021 (”the end of FY2020/21”).
Mr. Zhang Zhiyong, Executive Director, CEO and President of China Dongxiang, said, “In the first quarter of FY2021/22, the Group reported stable growth in the retail performance and the same-store-sales, demonstrating the effectiveness of the channel reform. The Group is fully confident in the prospects of sportswear industry this year. We will seize the market opportunities ahead and strive to achieve sustainable development for the Group.”
About China Dongxiang (Group) Co., Ltd. (Stock code: 3818)
China Dongxiang (Group) Co., Ltd. is a leading international sportswear brand enterprise in China which has been listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 10 October 2007. The Group is primarily engaged in the design, development, marketing and wholesale of branded sportswear in China. Currently, China Dongxiang owns all rights to the internationally renowned Kappa brand in Mainland China and Macau. Since April 2008, the Group became the owner of the brand PHENIX. PHENIX is a well-known skiing brand in the international market.
#ChinaDongxiang
Cyberport Community Dedicated to Developing 5G Solutions to Enhance Lifestyle Experience and Business Applications
Over 30 projects awarded funding totalling around HKD15 million under the “Subsidy Scheme for Encouraging Early Deployment of 5G”
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 16 July 2021 – As Hong Kong’s digital technology flagship, Cyberport is committed to leading the development of state-of-the-art technology applications. Following the widespread coverage of 5G networks, Cyberport has been playing an active role in supporting community start-ups to develop innovative solutions using 5G technologies. Cyberport is also coordinating with a number of telecom operators and enterprises to provide opportunities for the commercialisation of the 5G solutions, so as to enhance the lifestyle experience and business applications in the city. In addition, more than 30 projects from over 20 Cyberport start-ups have been awarded subsidies totalling around HKD15 million under the “Subsidy Scheme for Encouraging Early Deployment of 5G” launched by the Hong Kong government.
More than 30 projects from over 20 Cyberport start-ups have been awarded subsidies totalling around HKD15 million under the “Subsidy Scheme for Encouraging Early Deployment of 5G” launched earlier by the Hong Kong government.
Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport, said: “5G wireless technology enables ultra-high data speed, low latency, massive network capacity, increased availability and more reliability. We are glad to see that many Cyberport start-ups grasped the opportunities presented by 5G technology to develop cutting-edge applications. We support start-ups in the development, testing and launch of their 5G solutions by utilising our infrastructure, as well as the Cyberport’s Partner Networks. We welcome the government’s announcement to increase the funding for the “Subsidy Scheme for Encouraging Early Deployment of 5G”, and to extend the application deadline to July 31, 2022. Cyberport will continue to encourage applications of the start-up community and build a smarter city together.”
Cutting-edge Entertainment and Food and Beverage (“F&B”) Experience
5G accelerates the development of Internet of Things (IoTs) application, which overcomes geographical barriers in the entertainment and F&B sectors while sparking new enjoyment. For example, Formula Square, a digital entertainment start-up, has leveraged the ultra-high-speed and low latency of 5G to take virtual car racing to the next level. 5G network allows players to watch high-resolution visuals captured by the camera of 1/10 RC vehicle on a real-time basis, which allows them to control the vehicles remotely in driving simulators with realistic racing experience. This also enables racers from different locations to compete in the same racetrack. Wada Bento, another Cyberport start-up, focusing on the development and operation of bento vending machines, has used 5G technologies to adopt remote management of the machines, which makes early alert of malfunctioning and fast repairing possible, and reduces maintenance costs while enhancing customer experience.
Promoting Green Living
Apart from entertainment and F&B, start-ups also utilise 5G in green technology projects. For example, the high speed and low latency of 5G has enabled Carbon World, a green technology company, to upgrade its self-developed PET bottle recycling machines which can now identify different bottles within 5 seconds instead of 20. The new technology has also made real-time machine inspections possible. Such advancements have made recycling more efficient and encouraged citizens to “go green” in everyday life.
Innovative Business Applications and Exhibition Experiences
5G delivers substantially faster speed which support real-time transmission of videos for live streaming on mobile devices. Some start-ups take advantage of the advancement to enhance the quality of their businesses and exhibition experience. Cyberport start-up Ark Space has developed a unique 5G-based smart glasses software system. High-resolution visuals captured by the built-in camera of the glasses will be transmitted to backstage engineers and maintenance staff in real time for more accurate instructions from a perspective of frontline personnel.
Another start-up SyZyGy has developed a movable video display box that adopts 5G technologies to conduct live streaming of 1:1 holographic videos under different settings. This not only extends the mixed reality experience of the event industry to outdoor venues, but also paves way for brand displays in shopping malls and shops. In addition, Unissoft has leveraged 5G’s edge computing feature to transmit 4K camera videos with 5G signals. The videos are not only uploaded for cloud-based storage, but also sent to nEdge, its locally-deployed edge equipment product, for real-time analysis and alert onsite management staff earlier to prevent accidents.
Strengthened Interactive Learning
MAD Gaze, a local supplier of smart glasses, adopted the maturing 5G technologies to develop innovative applications in different industries, including interactive learning. Using specially designed applications, teachers can prepare dynamic course content for students equipped with smart glasses to learn from AR teaching materials. Coupled with classroom teaching, the interaction between teachers and students will be significantly enhanced to deepen learning experience and efficiency. 5G supports high speed transmission and fast processing of large amount of data and low latency. The combination of 5G and AR computing can strengthen the interaction offered by AR teaching materials to improve the quality of presentations.
Cyberport Provides 5G Development Kits
With an aim to help start-ups save development costs, Cyberport offers a testing environment with 5G network in its campus area. 5G development kits, including 5G SIM cards, receivers and other necessary equipment, are available for rent to enable new technology applications in different areas. 01 Tech Limited, a Cyberport community member, plans to take advantage of 5G technology to develop its wheelchair maintenance system for social welfare organisations to improve convenience for needy. The project is non-profit-making and the company has rented Cyberport’s 5G development kit for product development and testing to reduce the development cost.
Multiple start-ups within the Cyberport community also provide 5G applications. If members of the press wish to learn more about them, please get in touch with Cyberport’s Communications and Stakeholder engagement team.
About Cyberport
Cyberport is an innovative digital community with over 1,650 start-ups and technology companies. It is managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, which is wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government. With a vision to be the hub for digital technology thereby creating a new economic driver for Hong Kong, Cyberport is committed to nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem by cultivating talent, promoting entrepreneurship among youth, supporting start-ups on their growth journey, fostering industry development by promoting strategic collaboration with local and international partners, and integrating new and traditional economies by accelerating digital transformation in the public and private sectors.
For more information, please visit www.cyberport.hk.
#Cyberport
OctaFX claims the Best ECN Broker award for the second year in a row
World Finance magazine, a leading global financial publication, proclaimed OctaFX the Best ECN Broker for the second time.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 16 July 2021 – According to World Finance, while people spent much of 2021 locked down, the increase in digital communications was promising for the Forex industry. Brokers went out of their way to provide excellent services and keep the attention of their clients, who became more active online. The publication decided to recognise these efforts, and OctaFX was not left unnoticed.
The company managed to sustain the title of the Best ECN Broker for the second year in a row. OctaFX considers its clients’ feedback and follows financial news closely to stay at the top of the industry.
‘OctaFX is one of the key Forex providers leading the pack and pushing through superior services, best-in-class digital tools and a safe, secure environment for retail FX investors’, the award committee said.
ECN is all about innovation, the best trading conditions and a platform’s speed and security. In this regard, the company is indeed among the market leaders.
Best ECN Broker is one of the nine categories World Finance distinguished this year, including Best FX Broker, Best FX Research and Education Provider, and Best Crypto Broker.
World Finance magazine has acknowledged the accomplishments of OctaFX before with the Best ECN Broker and Best Islamic FX Account both in 2020.
About OctaFX
OctaFX is a global broker that provides online trading services since 2011. It offers a state-of-the-art trading experience to over 7 million trading accounts globally. OctaFX has won more than 40 awards since its foundation, including the 2021 ‘Best Forex Broker Asia’ award and the 2020 ‘Most Transparent Broker’ award from Global Banking & Finance Review and Forex Awards, respectively. The company is well-known for its social and charity activities. It is also committed to educating its clients about trading and investing in accessible and appealing ways.
#OctaFX
The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2021 Competition Adds Four New Social Issue Categories, in a Call for Students to Innovate for A Better World
With the competition’s theme of ‘Innovate for a Better World’, Hong Kong primary and secondary students are encouraged to develop solutions for sustainability, happy learning, ageing population, and public health, and compete for prizes worth more than HK$270,000
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 16 July 2021 – The world’s leading technology company, Samsung Electronics H.K. Co. Ltd, officially launched its annual ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ competition today. Now in its eleventh year, this year’s theme is “Innovate for a Better World”, and for the first time four crucial social issues are included in the competition, namely “Green Tomorrow”, “Education Tomorrow”, “Age-friendly Tomorrow” and “Healthy Tomorrow”. The competition’s aim is to inspire and motivate Hong Kong students to care about the wider issues affecting the community, encouraging them to develop solutions by applying their STREAM (Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) knowledge. Other than bringing them closer to their communities and caring for their social problems, Samsung believes that students can enjoy the fun of learning through the competition.
(From left) Mr. Gary Tang, Director of The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups HKFYG, Ms.Yiyin Zhao, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics Hong Kong Co., Ltd., and Mr. Albert Wong, Chairman of AiTLE launch the kick-off ceremony of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2021. For the first time, four crucial social issues – Environmental, Education, Ageing Population and Personal Health, are included to motivate Hong Kong students to develop innovative solutions for these social issues.
In order for participants to have a better grasp of the trends and tips of the four topics, Samsung specially invited (from left) Mr. Alex Tam, Founder of EcoSage Limited, Mr. Albert Wong, Chairman of AiTLE, Mr. Denis Huen, Co-Founder & CEO of MedEXO Robotics and Ms. Sylvia Lam, Consultant Dietitian, to share their thoughts and insights based on the topic ‘How Technology Can Enable You to Be A Modern, Socially Conscious Citizen’.
“Samsung has spared no effort to achieve sustainable development goals and has accelerated its pace in recent years. For example, Samsung’s new ‘eco-packaging’ reduces greenhouse gases by 10,000 tons annually. Our TV cardboard packaging can be transformed into funny animals and the ‘Galaxy Upcycling at Home’ gives new life to discarded Galaxy smartphones by converting them into a variety of IoT devices through a simple software update,” said Yiyin Zhao, Managing Director at Samsung Electronics Hong Kong.
“With our organization’s purpose of ‘Together for Tomorrow. Enabling People’, the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition encourages students to apply STREAM knowledge and improve their 4C skills. In addition to the ‘sustainable development’ theme of the competition, we added sustainability, happy learning, ageing population, and public health categories this year, so that every student can unleash their talent and creativity to innovate a better future for Hong Kong,” continued Zhao.
Green Tomorrow: Environmental issues such as energy shortage, waste disposal, and global warming have been major concerns in recent years. About a quarter of Hong Kong’s energy production is derived from coal and according to the Environmental Protection Department, over 65% of greenhouse gas emissions is attributed to electricity production[i]. In 2019, out of the 4.04 million tons of waste generated, less than 30% were recycled while the rest went to landfills[ii]. Food waste was the largest component of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in 2019 at 30%[iii]. Beyond the government’s initiatives on sustainable development, this category may unearth solutions that encourage green lifestyles among the community.
Education Tomorrow: Online learning is the norm these days, yet many students miss the important in-person interactions with classmates and teachers. This category asks what is ‘fun learning’ to a student, as they deal with the pandemic in school, and whether the participants can apply STREAM knowledge to create solutions that integrate happiness, diversity, and interactivity into their classes.
Age-friendly Tomorrow: Hong Kong’s average life expectancy is among the highest in the world, at 88.13 years for women and 82.34 years for men[iv]. According to the Hong Kong Population Projections 2020-2069 by the Census and Statistics Department, the aging population is expected to surge and by 2038, will reach 2.44 million, or 31.9% – one elderly person for every three[v]. This development may lead to pressure on the healthcare system and other issues, with many elderly people living alone and suffering from geriatric ailments such as Alzheimer’s Disease. This category encourages students to be aware of the issues facing the elderly community and create solutions for them.
Healthy Tomorrow: The pandemic has made everyone more aware of their physical and mental health. Good nutrition and eating habits are essential to maintaining personal health, while clean and hygienic public areas are key to achieving public health. This category will create solutions that may help Hong Kong find even more ways to improve the health of residents, through personal or environmental applications.
Mentorships and Presentation Day included, for additional fun, competition, and learning
The competition also cultivates and strengthens the students’ 4C skills (creative thinking, critical thinking, communicating, collaborating). Mentors will be appointed to each of the final shortlist of 10 primary sector and 10 secondary sector teams to be announced in December, who will provide further guidance and advice before the “Presentation Day” (currently scheduled for January 2022). On “Presentation Day”, judges will score and rank the entries, with winners and prizes announced in February 2022.
Encouraging students to be more socially conscious and participate in the creation of their future
The annual Solve for Tomorrow 2021 competition is co-organized by Samsung, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the Association of I.T. Leaders in Education, and Hong Kong Education City Limited. The competition opens in September 2021 and will run till February 2022 and all primary and secondary students can participate as teams representing their schools. Teams are encouraged to combine their STREAM knowledge with creativity to design innovative solutions that can help solve the city’s social and sustainability issues.
The competition cultivates and strengthens the students’ 4C skills (creative thinking, critical thinking, communicating, collaborating). Mentors will be appointed to each of the final shortlist of 10 primary sector and 10 secondary sector teams to be announced in December, who will provide further guidance and advice before the “Presentation Day” (currently scheduled for January 2022). On “Presentation Day”, judges will score and rank the entries, with winners and prizes announced in February 2022.
There will be a championship winner, 1st runner-up, 2nd runner-up, a Creative Idea Award, and six Merit awards. The winners will be picked from the shortlist of 20 teams, with prizes worth more than HKD $270,000 waiting for them.
Samsung will also be hosting workshops to promote STREAM knowledge and Design Thinking during the competition. Consultation workshops will also be available for students to speak with professionals from the technology and green fields to finetune their entries before submission. These workshops will be held in September. Details of the Consultation Workshop will be announced on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2021 webpage.
To participate or learn more about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2021 “Innovate for a Better World”, please visit http://www.samsung.com/hk_en/offer/solvefortomorrow2021/. (The website will go live soon)
[i] Source: Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2035+
[ii] Source: Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong 2019
[iii] Source: Hong Kong 2019 waste statistics
[iv] Source: Nippon Communications Foundation
About Samsung Solve for Tomorrow
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is an annual competition that brings together the creativity and passion for new technologies of young people around the world, to solve social problems in local communities. In 2013, Samsung introduced this meaningful event to Hong Kong and inspired tens of thousands of students to come up with innovative solutions that address social issues in Hong Kong. Samsung is promoting the new educational philosophy of “STREAM4CARE”. Besides encouraging Hong Kong students to increase their knowledge of STREAM – Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics – Samsung hopes that they can develop empathy and sense of responsibility and apply their STREAM knowledge to contribute to the society. Through the competition, Samsung hopes to cultivate thought leaders of tomorrow, equipping them with both technological knowledge and the sense of responsibility of a global citizen. To learn more about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, please visit: http://www.samsung.com/hk_en/offer/solvefortomorrow2021/.
About Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com/.
#Samsung
Tanoto Foundation Launches ‘Unlocking Potential’ Podcast Series
JAKARTA, INDONESIA /SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 16 July 2021 – Tanoto Foundation, an independent philanthropy organization established by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, has launched its inaugural ‘Unlocking Potential: Conversations with Tanoto Foundation’ podcast series.
The first episode, titled ‘Beyond the Pandemic’ and available on 
Spotify and 
YouTube, features Tanoto Foundation Trustee Belinda Tanoto and infectious diseases expert Professor Tikki Pangestu.
Belinda Tanoto, also a Managing Director at the global resource manufacturing Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) group of companies, has been actively involved in a number of Tanoto Foundation programs in human capital development such as stunting mitigation, poverty alleviation, early childhood education and development, maternal health and leadership development.
In addition to its other long-term focus on improving people’s health span through its medical philanthropy, the Tanoto Foundation has since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic collaborated with like-minded partners to provide urgent support to governments and communities in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, sanitizer and disinfectants, food staple packages, and more recently in Indonesia, oxygen concentrators and supply.
The podcast largely centered on Asia’s ability to exit the pandemic, as well as opportunities to accelerate Asian nations’ recovery. Professor Pangestu, a Visiting Professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, shared broadly on the importance of vaccination, testing, treatment and social responsibility. The former Director of Research Policy and Cooperation at the World Health Organization added that nations have to be prepared to live with the virus as endemic as they exit the pandemic.
Professor Pangestu continually emphasized vaccination as critical consideration for any community to overcome the virus and reduce mortality and hospitalization rates. He cited matter-of-factly Israel, the UK, Singapore and China as countries who have continued demonstrating effective governance and management of the virus amidst the emergence of more infectious variants.
However, he expressed concern over three challenges many developing countries face in supply, logistics and vaccine hesitancy. He suggested that good governance and improving scientific literacy can help a nation achieve herd immunity, which comprises 80-90 percent of the population being fully vaccinated.
Israel and the United Kingdom (UK) serve as two examples of how vaccines reduce not only the spread of the infection but also mortality rates. With about 60% coverage, people in Israel are 30 times less likely to be infected and ten times less likely to be hospitalised. While the UK, which has 30-40% coverage, deals with the more infectious Delta variant, there is a significantly lower mortality rate.
Governments alone cannot battle the virus. Both Ms. Tanoto and Professor Pangestu agreed this was where public-private partnerships could help boost efforts in vaccination campaigns and public health communications. Professor Pangestu acknowledged that while private organizations played important parts in financing purchase of vaccines, oxygen and personal protective equipment, they could bolster efforts in public health communication, advocacy and education to overcome vaccine hesitancy.
Broader collaboration will reduce vaccine inequity, expand vaccine access and hasten the pace at which vaccines are administered. The podcast touched briefly on Indonesia’s ‘gotong royong’ mass vaccination campaign, a public-private collaboration aimed at sharply increasing the number of vaccines administered to people across the world’s fourth most populous country. Professor Pangestu added that private healthcare institutions such as private hospitals and clinics, along with pharmaceutical companies were vital in the distribution and delivery of vaccines to the population.
The Singapore-based researcher said that individuals could play a vital role, citing how celebrities, influencers, community and religious leaders have helped to amplify the vaccination campaign, public health advisories and good hygiene practices.
The conversation moved to the role philanthropies and non-profits could play to not only contribute to herd immunity but also safeguarding public health. Professor Pangestu said that philanthropies have continued to also support medical research, contributing to the growing body of knowledge that will spur the discovery of effective solutions in vaccinations and treatment.
In 2017, Tanoto Foundation contributed a transformational gift to the SingHealth Duke-NUS Medical Centre to establish the Viral Research and Experimental Medicine Centre @SingHealth Duke-NUS (ViREMiCS). This was in addition to establishment of Tanoto Foundation Professorships in diabetes research, cardiovascular medicine and medical oncology respectively in 2013, 2014 and 2016. In addition to supporting human capital development programs and the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), the Foundation has also contributed broadly to medical philanthropy as it seeks to meaningfully contribute to research in Asia-prevalent diseases and to the improvement of health span of populations globally.
Catch ‘Beyond the Pandemic’ on:
- Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Cvz587R9vQ5K8PvuWyblf
- YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU6YbvHTAB8
About Tanoto Foundation
Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organization founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto based on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to realize his or her full potential. Tanoto Foundation programs stem from the belief that quality education accelerates equal opportunity. We harness the transformative strength of education to realize people’s full potential and improve lives. Tanoto Foundation focuses on making an impact in three areas: improving learning environments, future leaders development, as well as medical research and sciences.
#TanotoFoundation
Vientiane Police Make Arrests in Two-Ton Amphetamines Haul
Police in Vientiane Capital have arrested a man for drug trafficking, seizing approximately two tons of amphetamines.
