Italy eyes Rwanda leather sector

Tuesday, 26 February 2013 09:37 Kenneth Agutamba

KIGALI, Rwanda - Rwanda’s leather industry has caught the eye of Italian investors raising hopes for a future modern leather plant following talks in Kigali recently.
The EABW has gathered that Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry, François Kanimba recently hosted a delegation from the Italian government which culminated in the signing of an Agreement with the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) represented by the Director of its Johannesburg Office, Sergio La Verghetta and officials from the Rwandan Association for the Promotion of Leather and Leather Products (RAPROLEP).
The MOU aims at accelerating the operationalization of a Training and Production laboratory for the Footwear and Leather products in the Community Processing Center in Gatsibo District, Eastern Province.
According to the Minister Kanimba the agreement would lead to the establishment of a technical and

BIG DEAL: Leather piled together in Rwanda.

financial cooperation in the set-up, organization and installation of a Training and production laboratory for the footwear and leather goods industry in the Community Processing Center of Gatsibo District.
“The Italian partners expect to send 24 machines with production capacity of between 60-200 pieces per day latest May, 2013”, said Kanimba.
He added that the agreement will also help to transfer and apply advanced Italian technologies and know-how to Rwanda’s local industry in terms of development of new product designs, training on new product development and other technical services and technologies in the local footwear and tannery industry.
The Italian delegation was composed of Dr. Sergio La Verghetta who’s the Director of the Agency for the promotion of Foreign Trade & the Internationalization of Italian companies (ICE) based at the Italian Trade Commission in Johannesburg; Dr. Carlo Milone, the Secretary General of the International Polytechnic Industrial and Economic Development (PISIE) Italy and Patricio Cioni, the President of PLURIPEL Group, an investor in the tannery sector.
The delegation recently concluded a three day visit in Rwanda in which they held several meetings with different Government institutions.
They revealed that while their initial efforts will go towards supporting the leather community processing center in Rwanda, the private investors PLURIPEL Group also expressed interest in investing in the leather industry to make it bigger and more productive.
A three phase investment entry was proposed with the first one leading to the building of a tannery for production of wet blue for export and 10% of finished leather to supply local market; Phase 2 would see the up-grading of the tannery from production of Wet-blue to finished leather while phase 3 would see the establishment of a shoe factory with other Italian investors in leather products.
If all goes to plan, the parties reckon that phase three would be achieved by 2017 with a fully fledged leather industry.

Kagame shuffles cabinet

Wednesday, 27 February 2013 09:41 Kenneth Agutamba

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame made a surprise cabinet reshuffle on Monday last week in which he named Finance Minister John Rwangombwa, new central bank governor.

Ambassador Claver Gatete who was hitherto the National Bank governor becomes the new Finance and planning Ministry.

Gatete’s last act as a governor was mid-last month when he turned up to announce how the economy performed in 2012 and reassured that growth will keep up to the projected 8% average growth even as global economics remain unsteady.

Meanwhile, his predecessor Rwangombwa in his last act appeared before the lower chamber of parliament in which he announced budget expenditure would be increased by 12% from RWF 1,385 billion to RWF 1,550 billion.

The additional expenditure was aimed at bailing out debt burdened RwandAir as well as financing the construction of the Kigali Convention Center.

The changes took immediate effect after swearing in ceremony took place on Tuesday, just a day after the reshuffle was announced.

Gatete took over at Central Bank governor in May 2011 and has orchestrated a number of developments especially in making the institution adopt new ICT based solutions to improve efficiency.

Meanwhile Rwangombwa leaves after being in charge for less than three years and at a time when the ministry has to make ends meet following aid delay or cuts by some donors.

The reshuffle has also seen Prof. Silas Lwakabamba, formerly the rector of the National University of Rwanda become new Minister for Infrastructure replacing Albert Nsengiyumva who has been named State Minister in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the Ministry of Education.

Oda Gasinzigwa hitherto the chief gender monitoring officer becomes new Minister of Gender and Family Promotion after the death in December of Aloysia Inyumba in who occupied the post.

General Marcel Gatsinzi the Minister in charge of Refugees and Disaster Preparedness was replaced by Serafina Mukantabana who voluntarily returned to Rwanda from Congo Brazzaville in 2011 after 17.

Dr Anita Asiimwe formerly the Deputy Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Center and Head of Institute of HIV /AIDS Disease Prevention and Control (RBC-IHDPC) takes over as the new State Minister in charge of Public Health and Primary Healthcare in the ministry of health.

Evode Imena, a geologist working with Rwanda Natural Resources Authority (RNRA) becomes the Minister of State in charge of Mining in the Ministry of Natural Resources in-charge of Mining.

Rwanda has 21 cabinet ministers and nine (09) state ministers making it the smallest executive in the region.

R/wasaare Saacid oo Shirka Kismaayo ku tilmaamay wax aan la aqbali karin oo aysan dowladu Raali ka Ahayn

Muqdisho(RBC Radio) R/wasaaraha xukuumada Soomaaliya Cabdi Faarax Shiirdoon ayaa gaashaanka u daruuray shirka maamul u samaynta Jubbaland ee shalay ka furmay magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta gobolka Jubada hoose R/wasaaraha ayaa tilmaamay in dowlada Soomaaliya aysan raali ka ahayn shirka ka socda magaalada Kismaayo isagoona dhaleeceeyey habka loo maray shirka maamul u samaynta gobolada Jubooyinka.

R/wasaaraha xukuumada Soomaaliya ayaa ku tilmaamay shirka Kismaayo mid shacabka gobolada Jubooyinka u horseedayo taariikh madow oo laga soo gudbay wuxuuna si cad u sheegay in dowlada Soomaaliya aysan marnaba raali ka ahayn shirka laga furay magaalada Kismaayo wuxuuna tibaaxay in dadka ku hawlan shirkaasi ay faraha kula jiraan shaqadii dowladu ay lahayd.

Cabdi Faarax Shiirdoon wasiirka koowaad ee xukuumada Soomaaliya ayaa ayaa ku nuuxnuuxsaday in shirak ka socda magaalada Kismaayo uu yahay mid aan u cuntami kari dowlada Soomaaliya isla markaane aan si naba loo aqbali karin,wuxuuna ku celceliyey ineysan dowlada Soomaaliya lid ku ahayn iney maamul dhistaan dadka kunool goboladaas balse wuxuu meesha ka saaray habka loo wado samaynta maamulkaas.

R/wasaaraha ayaa carrabka ku dhuftay in dowlada Soomaaliya ay masuul ka tahay qaban qaabinta shir kasta oo maamul loogu dhisayo dalka iyo abaabulka bulshada isagoona shirka Kismaayo ku tilmaamay mid aan laga tixgalin dowlada Soomaaliya,R/wasaare Saacid ayaa hadalkiisa kusoo koobay in shir kasta oo aan laga tala galin dowlada Soomaaliya ay na tiijadiisu noqon doonto fashil iyo guul darro.

Hadalka R/wasaaraha ayaa imaanaya xili magaalada Kismaayo uu ka furmay shir la doonayo in maamul goboleed loogu dhiso gobolada Jubooyinka iyo Gedo wuxuuna muujinayaa halka ay ka taagan tahay dowlada Soomaaliya arimaha magaalada Kismaayo oo ay dad badan oo Soomaaliyeed ku jaaw wareersanaayeen go’aanka dowlada ee ku aaddan shirka Kismaayo iyo doorka ay ku leedahay.

RBC Radio

Xafiiska Wararka Muqdisho

2 Qarax oo Ismiidaamin ah oo Goordhow ka Dhacay Maqaayad kutaala Xeebta Liido ee magaalada Muqdisho

Muqdisho(RBC Radio) Wararka Naga soo gaaraya xeebta Liido ee Magaalada Muqdisho ee Caasimada Soomaaliya ayaa ku waramaya in 2 laba qarax oo isxig xiga ay ka dheceen maqaayada Indian Ocean oo ku taala afaafka hore ee xeebta Liido  goobta uu qaraxu ka dhacay ayaa waxaa gaaray ciidamo iyo saraakiil oo katirsan dowlada Soomaaaliya.

Qaraxyada ayaa la sheegay in midka hore uu ahaa gaari laga soo buuxiyey kaasoo ku qarxay ilinka maqaayada iyadoo qaraxa xigane uu ahaa qof is qarxiyey kaaasoo la sheegy inuu xirnaa sun ay ka buuxaan waxyaabaha qarxa sida uu warbaahinta u sheegay taliyaha Laanta danbi barista C/laahi Xasan Bariise.

C/laahi XAsan Bariise ayaa sheegay in qaraxa uu ku geeriyooday 1 ruux halka ay 7 kalane ku dhaawacmeen kuwaas oo dhaawacyadaooda ay daabulayaan gaadiidka Ambalaaska  kuwaas oo loola cararayo cisbitaalada magaalada Muqdisho.

Ninka Ismiidaamiyey ayaa lasheegay inuu maanta ka cunteeyey  Maqaayada uu isku qarxiyey iyadoona la tilmaamay inuu watay boors ay ka buuxeen waxyaabaha qarxa goobjoogayaal ku sugnaa maqaayada la weeraray ayaa xaqiijiyey in ninka is qarxiyey uu tiro dhowr jeer ah galay Suuliga maqaayada iyadoo la aaminsan yahay inuu kusoo diyaarinayey walxaha qarxo oo uu ku sitay boorsada.

Wixii faahfaahin ah ee kusoo kordha Khasaaraha qaraxyada ismiidaaminta ah ee lagu qaaday maqaayada Indian Ocean ee kutala afaafka hore ee xeebta Liido waxaan idiinku soo gudbineynaa wararkeena danbe maalma ka hor ayey ahayd markii sidan si lamid ah weerar loo adeegsaday gaari laga soo buuxiyey waxyaabaha qarxa lagu weeraray maqaayada Baar Liido oo iyane ku taala Xeebta Liido ee magaalada Muqdisho.

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Xafiiska Wararka Muqdisho

Al-Qaeda's Abou Zeid killed in Mali - Chad's Deby

Algeria-born Abu Zeid was last seen in public in Timbuktu and Gao last year

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Mali: Divided nation

• Scarred and scared
• Guerrilla mountains
• Not 'new Afghanistan'
• Timbuktu celebrates

A senior al-Qaeda militant has been killed in northern Mali, Chadian President Idriss Deby has said.

He said the country's forces killed Abdelhamid Abou Zeid during clashes in the remote region.

Algerian security services are said to have taken DNA samples from two of Abou Zeid's relatives to compare with the body which is reportedly his.

He is said to be second-in-command of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which is fighting foreign forces in Mali.

"Chadian forces killed two jihadi leaders, including Abou Zeid," President Deby said on Friday, without giving any further details.

'Most violent commander'

He was speaking after funerals of Chadian soldiers killed in the fighting in Mali.

Separately, reports in Algerian media said that the authorities were comparing DNA from Abou Zeid's relatives to confirm the militant's death.

A US official - speaking on condition of anonymity - said Washington found reports that Abou Zeid was killed "very credible", according to the AFP news agency.

However, France reacted with caution to the reports, with government spokeswoman Najat Vallaud-Belkacem stressing that his death was so far unconfirmed.

Earlier unverified reports in the French media said that the militant was killed during fighting against French army units.

Algeria-born Abou Zeid - believed to be in his 40s - was known as the most violent al-Qaeda commander in the region. He was last seen in public in Mali's cities of Timbuktu and Gao seized by Islamist groups last year.

Malian troops - together with French and African forces - have since recaptured most of the previously rebel-held territory.

Abou Zeid is also blamed for kidnapping dozens of Westerners in the vast region in recent years and killing at least two of them.

If confirmed, his death will immediately raise questions over the state of several French hostages who are widely believed to have remained in Abou Zeid's custody to date, the BBC's Thomas Fessy reports.

'Ex-gay' London bus advert 'like a slap in the face'

The adverts were a riposte to a slogan by gay charity Stonewall

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A proposed bus advert by a Christian group would have been like a "slap in the face" to gay charity Stonewall over an anti-bullying message, the High Court has heard.

Transport for London banned the Core Issues Trust's "ex-gay" advert because it could cause "widespread offence".

It told the court there was a "storm of protest" as news of the advert spread.

TfL said the mayor was aware but denied he influenced the decision, weeks before an election.

The advert, which was to read "Not Gay! Ex-Gay, Post-Gay and Proud. Get over it!" was also paid for by Christian group Anglican Mainstream.

Dr Michael Davidson, co-director of the Core Issues Trust, is asking the court for permission to have a judicial review against TfL's decision to ban the adverts.

'Outrage and disgust'

The trust submitted the advert on 5 April and after being cleared by the Committee for Advertising Practice, TfL was informed about it by advertising company CBS Outdoor on 12 April.

The same day the Guardian newspaper published an article saying the signs would be displayed the following week.

Within hours, hundreds of comments expressing "outrage and disgust" were received by the paper and on social media and TfL also received 37 complaints.

This was "a phenomenal negative response", Nigel Pleming QC, representing TfL, said.

Mike Davidson, who says he is "ex-gay", argues the ban was unlawful

The decision was made by TfL that evening not to run the advert, he said.

TfL's barrister dismissed the trust's claim the decision, which was made during the run-up to the mayoral election, was taken under political pressure from London Mayor Boris Johnson, who heads the TfL board.

The mayor was "aware" and there was "a lot of political noise and media noise", but it was a decision made by the TfL, not the mayor, Mr Pleming said.

Other leading mayoral candidates also supported and endorsed the decision, he added.

The advert was due to run on 25 buses between 16 and 29 April, days before the mayoral elections on 3 May.

It was specifically meant to counter Stonewall's "anti-bullying" and "acceptance" message of "Some people are gay. Get over it", which was wholly consistent with TfL's advertising policy, he added.

The charity's campaign was widely publicised and supported by the prime minister.

But the Core Issues Trust's message was negative, he said.

"You have got gay acceptance (advert) and a few days later a slap in the face, gay rejection," the barrister said.

'Interpreted as homophobic'

TfL's decision was in compliance with article 10 and stopping the advert was justified as its advertising policy clearly stated it could rule against displaying something that could cause "widespread offence" and the public body also had a positive duty to promote equality, the court heard.

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“Start Quote

I don't think there's a right not to be offended”

Paul DiamondRepresenting Dr Michael Davidson

The lawyer said TfL could not simply "ignore" the public response, which was similar to concerns expressed by its bosses.

The trust's advert was "interpreted by many as homophobic" and seemed to imply that sexual orientations could be addressed through therapy, the lawyer said.

Core Issues Trust argues it had as much right as Stonewall to have its viewpoint aired under article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights for freedom of expression.

Paul Diamond, counsel for the group, said as a public body TfL should be impartial but there was "unfettered regulation".

"I don't think there's a right not to be offended," he said. "There is a degree of rough and tumble in our society."

He said TfL made "a lot of effort" to distance the mayor from the "highly charged political decision" and added that TfL made its decision after receiving an email from the mayor's office, the content of which he did not reveal.

Since the news of this advert broke Dr Davidson has faced "considerable hostility", he added.

Judgement has been reserved.

Hugo Chavez 'battling for his life', says VP Maduro

There has been an outpouring of affection from President Chavez's supporters

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Chavez health crisis

• Continuity or crisis?
• Conflicting views
• Post-Chavez scenarios
• Tricky succession

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is "battling for his health, for his life", his deputy Nicolas Maduro says.

"Our commander is sick because he gave his life for those who don't have anything," he said on Venezuelan TV.

Mr Chavez has not been seen in public since he had further cancer surgery in Cuba in December and is reported to have a severe a respiratory infection.

The government has previously said Mr Chavez, now back in Venezuela, is running the country from the hospital.

Mr Chavez, who has been in office for 14 years, is believed to have cancer in his pelvic area but his exact illness has never been disclosed.

He was re-elected for another six-year term in October 2012, but the Supreme Court ruled that his swearing-in could be delayed because of his illness.

Speaking on Thursday, Mr Maduro said the president "didn't take care of his health because he gave his body and soul" to the people.

"He's battling for his life, for his health, and we are there with him," he said.

'Lies and nastiness'

Mr Maduro, who has been named by President Chavez as his preferred successor, said the treatment was in a "complex and difficult stage".

Continue reading the main story

Analysis

Irene CaselliBBC News, Caracas

It is a waiting and watching game in Caracas - waiting for concrete news about President Hugo Chavez; watching should an election be needed to choose his successor.
The government has insisted that Mr Chavez is still running the country, albeit from his hospital bed.
The majority seem to accept this. A recent opinion poll found that 57% of Venezuelans believe Mr Chavez will recover, but 30% think he will not return to office.
Amid the uncertainty, opposition parties have been in talks to select a single candidate should a snap poll be called.
Whoever they choose would face Vice-President Nicolas Maduro, Mr Chavez's own choice to be his successor.

The government has said that Mr Chavez, who is breathing with the help of a tracheal tube, is writing orders and meeting senior ministers from his sickbed at a military hospital in Caracas.

Mr Chavez returned from Cuba in mid-February, sending a series of celebratory tweets thanking his Cuban hosts for their help and his fellow Venezuelans for their support.

The week before, images were released of him smiling in his hospital bed during a visit from his daughters, but little has been heard of him since.

Government officials have spoken before of Mr Chavez's "great battle" for life but Mr Maduro's latest comment comes amid an upsurge in rumours and speculation about the president's health.

Mr Maduro said "lies and nastiness on Twitter and Facebook" were the work of a "small and venomous minority".

President Chavez announced in June 2011 that he had cancer and has undergone four operations since then, as well as chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Horsemeat scandal: Four new products test positive

Nearly 2,000 tests for horsemeat have been carried out by British retailers

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Horsemeat scandal

• Table of test results
• Q&A: Meat scandal and response
• What is the FSA?
• Horsemeat - food fraud, not food safety

Four beef products sold by Bird's Eye, Taco Bell and catering supplier Brakes have been found to contain horse DNA, the Food Standards Agency says.

This is the third wave of test results received by the FSA, which has now received a total of 5,430 test results.

Meanwhile, new tests conducted on beef retail products revealed no new cases of horsemeat adulteration, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said.

This latest round of tests saw 1,797 products being examined.

The FSA has asked retailers to test beef products for the presence of more than 1% of horsemeat, with anything above that figure considered to be a sign of adulteration.

Its latest results have found that more than 99% of tests show no horse DNA at or above the level of 1%.

The affected products are Birds Eye's Traditional Spaghetti Bolognese and Beef Lasagne - which the company took of shelves last week as a precaution; Brakes' Spicy Beef Skewer; Taco Bell's Ground Beef.

'Let down'

Taco Bell has three outlets in Britain and says all its affected stock has been removed. The products had come from a supplier in Europe, the company said.

A spokesman for Taco Bell said: "Once we learned of this issue, we immediately voluntarily tested our product for our three Taco Bell restaurants in the UK.

"Based on that testing, we learned ingredients supplied to us from one supplier in Europe tested positive for horsemeat.

"We immediately withdrew it from sale, and discontinued purchase of that meat and contacted the Food Standards Agency with this information. We apologise to our customers and take this matter very seriously as food quality is our highest priority."

Birds Eye said in a statement: "We are introducing a new ongoing DNA testing programme that will ensure no minced beef meat product can leave our facilities without first having been cleared by DNA testing."

Brakes, which is based in Ashford, Kent, said: "Our testing programme represents a significant proportion of all results the FSA has obtained from across the food industry.

"Brakes have also segregated a frozen burger as a precaution after equine DNA at 1% was reported to the Food Standards Agency."

It said it was "very disappointed to have been let down" by suppliers and that it "sincerely apologised to our customers."

Meanwhile, fast food chain McDonald's announced that none of its meat products had tested positive for horse DNA, adding customers could "continue to trust in the quality of food" served at its restaurants.

Retailer tests

The BRC says 95% of its members' products have been checked, including all minced beef lines used by the UK's largest supermarkets.

There have been 361 tests on 103 products carried out since 22 February.

The trade organisation represents a range of retailers, including supermarkets and independent shops.

A total of 1,889 tests have been carried out by BRC members since 20 January, with 0.3% of them finding traces of horsemeat.

The BRC's food director, Andrew Opie said: "The UK's major supermarkets, and a number of other BRC-member food businesses, have now tested all existing processed minced beef products.

"The reassuring news is that another intensive week of testing has produced no new positive results. And, since this testing programme started in mid-January, just a third of 1% of products have tested positive."

Food withdrawals

Horsemeat was first discovered in January in frozen burgers on sale in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and since then traces have been discovered in processed beef products and prepared meals across the EU.

A first wave of tests on beef products sold in the UK found horsemeat in some products sold by Aldi, Co-op, Findus, Rangeland and Tesco.

Subsequent rounds of testing revealed adulteration in some products sold by Asda, Sodexo - which supplies food to schools, care homes and the armed forces - and the Whitbread Group.

Last week Ikea withdrew a batch of frozen meatballs from sale in the food section of stores in the UK, and other European countries, after tests in the Czech Republic found traces of horsemeat in those products.

Air New Zealand pilot 'fell asleep' during flight

The Air New Zealand pilot blamed a bad night's sleep for the incident

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Aerospace and Defence

• Boeing 787: Facts and history
• A brief history of airliner problems
• What are the battery problems?
• The great London airport debate

Air New Zealand has said that one of its pilots nodded off during a flight between London and Los Angeles, local media reports say.

The airline said the pilot of the Boeing 777 had reported falling asleep twice as he flew the plane across the Atlantic in 2011.

It said safety had not been compromised as the pilot was not alone at the cockpit's flight deck at the time.

The transport minister said it "doesn't look good" for the airline.

"You've got big reputational issues here," Gerry Brownlee said.

"Satisfy the public that you're making sure your pilots are not asleep on the job," he added.

Fatigue report

New Zealand media said details only emerged after a request was made under the official information act.

In a statement quoted by the New Zealand Herald, Air New Zealand said: "During the cruise phase of the flight one of the two operating pilots nodded off twice for around a minute and woke spontaneously."

"The other operating pilot on the flight deck was aware of this and safety was not compromised at any point."

Most airliners have autopilots which use sophisticated computer software to help pilots control the aircraft, used often during long periods of flying at the same altitude on long-haul flights.

Each country has regulations governing the number of hours a pilot can fly before having to take a rest.

According to Agence France Presse, a New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority document said the pilot, who has not been named, had voluntarily submitted a fatigue report, blaming the incident on having a bad night's sleep in London the night before.

He said he was exhausted after having to change hotel rooms three times during the night because of air conditioning problems.

"I suddenly, and without any warning, fell into a deep sleep on the flight deck. The same event occurred twice," he said in the report, according to AFP.

The pilot will not face any disciplinary action as the airline does not wish to discourage pilots from reporting such incidents.

Many countries allow monitored controlled rest periods for crews in the cockpit, as long as these are co-ordinated between the pilots.

A 2011 study of British pilots suggested that one in five suffered from fatigue in the cockpit at least once a week.

Queen cancels Swansea visit after suffering from gastroenteritis

The Queen will now spend the weekend at Windsor

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The Queen has been forced to cancel a visit to Swansea on Saturday to celebrate St David's Day, after developing symptoms of a stomach bug.

Buckingham Palace said the 86-year-old monarch is suffering from gastroenteritis.

She had been due to present members of 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh with leeks to mark St David's Day.

She will now spend the weekend at Windsor and will be "assessed in the coming days".

It was due to be the first time that the Queen was to present leeks to 3 Royal Welsh, which is the reserve force of the regiment.

The ceremonial presentation of leeks dates back to at least 1916 and Welsh Guards at the Somme in World War I.

However, Saturday's ceremonies, including a parade to Swansea's Guildhall, will still take place - despite the Queen's absence.

The Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, Byron Lewis, will take over the ceremonial role

Saturday's celebrations were due to follow other royal events on St David's Day itself on Friday in Cardiff.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended a service at St John The Baptist City Parish Church, before visiting the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

9 Tips For Getting a Doctor’s Appointment Now

Posted on February 28, 2013 by admin | in Nanny

When you or your child is suffering from an illness, your first instinct is usually to visit the doctor. However, a quick conversation with the receptionist can reveal that waiting times are days or even weeks long, leaving you or your sick child to fend for yourselves until the doctor’s packed schedule eases enough to admit you. What you may not realize, however, is that there are a few tactics for breaking through the long wait times and getting an appointment much more quickly.

1. Be Courteous – It isn’t always easy to keep a handle on your temper when you’re not feeling well or dealing with a sick child and you’re struggling to get a doctor’s appointment, but it’s important to remember how much farther a calm, courteous disposition will take you. Shouting at the receptionist or resorting to threats will only make her less inclined to help you, so try to keep your temper in check and treat everyone you encounter with courtesy.
2. Be Honest – The temptation to grossly exaggerate your symptoms in order to get preferential treatment can be strong, but it can also backfire on you in a nasty way. Leading the administrative workers or nurses to believe that you’re more seriously ill than you actually are in order to angle for an earlier appointment might work one time, but it will probably cause you a truckload of problems in the future.
3. Give the Receptionist an Accurate Description of Your Symptoms – When the receptionist asks you to describe your symptoms, remember that he’s required to maintain confidentiality as part of his professional code of ethics. You may not want to discuss an embarrassing or particularly messy symptom with him, but being honest and accurately describing your symptoms can give him more of a sense of urgency than vague mumbles about not feeling well. Remember, the receptionist’s job is to book appointments and to ensure that those patients in more immediate need of care are scheduled accordingly. When you won’t discuss what’s ailing you, you’re more likely to get shuffled to the back of the line.
4. Inquire About Waiting Lists – Operating a medical practice comes with high overhead costs, which is why so many doctors schedule their days so tightly. A cancellation means lost revenue, something that business-minded doctors don’t want to encounter. As a result, the receptionists are usually trained to fill cancellations whenever possible. You may be able to talk the receptionist into putting you on a waiting list for an earlier appointment, if you’re polite and honest about your situation.
5. Let the Receptionist Know that Your Doctor Requested a Return Visit – Trying to schedule a follow-up appointment after you’ve left the office isn’t easy. However, if your doctor told you that you should return if a symptom doesn’t abate, gets worse or new symptoms appear, it’s important to share that information with the receptionist. Letting her know that you’re making an appointment at the request of your physician can help to fast-track the process.
6. Ask About Associates’ Availability – Regardless of how much you love your primary care doctor, there may be times when your need for treatment trumps your sense of loyalty. Asking the receptionist about the availability of associates within the practice can help you get an earlier appointment, especially when an associate is newer and hasn’t yet built up a large patient base.
7. Email Your Doctor Directly – It’s not a good idea to go over the nurses’ and receptionists’ heads for a case of the sniffles, but you also can’t expect your doctor to know what’s going on when you can’t get through the barrier of the front desk. Emailing your doctor with a description of your symptoms and the struggle you’re having in terms of securing an appointment can get you moved to the top of the list in a hurry.
8. Make Technology Work for You – There are a selection of websites and online applications that are designed to speed up the process of getting a doctor’s appointment, so it may be a smart move to consider them when you’re having trouble scheduling an appointment on your own.
9. Consider an Urgent Care Facility – When you’re not able to see your primary care doctor, there are no slots open with associates in her practice and you simply can’t wait a week for care, it may be in your best interest to begin exploring urgent care options in your area. These clinics are designed to accommodate the needs of walk-in patients and may be able to fit you in for a next-day or even same-day appointment.

In some cases, it’s smarter to settle for a next-day appointment than it is to spend an entire morning fighting for a same-day visit. By the end of the day, you’ll be more exhausted and the doctor will be anxious to end her work day. An illness that can’t wait another day for treatment may be grounds for more immediate, emergency-style care than a traditional office visit to your general practitioner, anyway.

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