UAE, Bill Gates recognise Nigerian polio survivor, others at HOPE Awards

A Nigerian polio survivor and Chairman of the Association of Polio Survivors of Nigeria, Mr. Lawan Misbahu, has received the Heroes of Polio Eradication Award in Innovation.

 Misbahu was honoured along side Ghanaian aid worker, Mr.  Constant Dedo, and three other  polio eradication advocates from Pakistan, and Afghanistan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates recently.

The Heroes of Polio Eradication Awards were presented in Abu Dhabi by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates  Armed Forces, and Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

What your top 3 priorities should be in 2016

Lets pray together: www.priestsforlife.org

I'm no preacher or prophet. Am definitely not given to yearly visions like the famous Nigerian Pastor T.B Joshua. But  I do know that your relationship with God, your family and health should top your priorities in 2016.

GOD

Let's face it, we can't take all decisions on our own. Some people talk to their spouse, friends or family before taking major steps.Why not make God your confidant all day, each day this year?Try it, it works.

FAMILY

Don't forget to spend quality time with your immediate family this year. They are the rock that you need to stay sane in this crazy times. Heck, I still had a small fight with my dad this morning but at least we talk every day.Stick close to your spouse and kids this year, you need them not the other way round.

HEALTH
When was the last time you had a thorough medical check up? You must have a 'sickness and in health relationship' with your doctor.Don't wait till you're ill before knowing your blood sugar level. 

Your New Year resolution could be as simple as eating a bowl of fruits a day or buying a piece of land.Whatever you decide, stay focused on it.

Forget all gloomy economic predictions, with God as your side kick, there is no shaking. Friends, I welcome you to this fabulous year, may we look 20 and feel 16!

President Muhammed Buhari is 2015 most googled person in Nigeria

President Muhammed Buhari is the person that Nigerians searched for most on the internet in 2015. In a report published by TIME, Google,the most used search engine in the world, says the 'Person of Interest' for you and I was Buhari this year. Football legends, Lionel Messi, Christina Ronaldo and pop sensations, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and the usual suspect Kim Kardashian topped searches in the U.S, France, Congo and New Zealand.
Check out the most googled personalities in your country:http://time.com/4157975/kim-kardashian-lionel-messi-most-googled-people/?xid=time_socialflow_twitter

TB Alliance, WHO Launch Child-friendly Tuberculosis Medication

The fruit-flavoured medication dissolves in water within few minutes

TB Alliance, the World Health Organisation and its partners have launched the first ever child-friendly tuberculosis medicines .

 President and Chief Executive Officer of TB Alliance, an international non-profit organisation, Dr. Mel Spigelman, made this announcement at a press briefing at the 46th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Cape Town, South Africa.

 The fruit-flavoured TB doses is going to save over 1,000,000 children with drug sensitive tuberculosis.

The improved treatments are the first to meet the dosage guidelines set by the World Health Organisation in 2010.

 Spigelman stated that the palatable child-friendly medication is provided at a reduced cost of $15.5 for the six months dosage. He added that the drug which was manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical company, Macleods is made available as a result of a project largely funded by UNITAID.

 He noted that countries that are under the Global Drug Facility can access the drugs. According to the WHO, at least one million children become ill with TB each year and 140,000 children die of this curable disease. To date, children around the world have not yet had access to appropriate TB medicines.

 “The availability of correctly dosed medications will improve treatment for children everywhere.This is an important step toward ending the neglect that has characterized the care of children with TB for far too long,” Spigelman added.

Finally in Mexico as a Global Media Scholar

I was super excited when I was informed by the Global Health Strategies that I had been chosen as one of the 10 Global Media Scholars that would be attending the Global Maternal and Newborn Health Conference in New Mexico city, Mexico. As a health journalist, am passionate about the health of women and children, I knew this was a great opportunity to hear about new policies and reports on this very dear topic.

Global Media Scholars after a round table with Melinda Gates  at the GMNCH conference  at the Hilton Reforma in New Mexico city
 

Lady Gaga, Kerry Washington ruled the Red Carpet at the 67th Emmy Awards

What colour ruled the Red Carpet?

Lady Gaga, Taraji P. Henson and Sarah Paulson scored in  their floor length black dresses.

Lena Headey,  Kerry Washington, Allison  Janney,  Regina  King and Laverne Cox  dazzled  in classy dresses from  designers like Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs and Chanel at the 67^th Emmy Awards.

Among the best dressed were Claire Danes, Taraji, Washington, Tatiana Maslany and Cox 

Viola Davis, Regina King, Game of Thrones Stole the Show at the 67th Emmy Awards!

The Game of Thrones crew at the award

Have always loved movies, music and fashion!I'm not surprised that my first post on this fabulous blog, theafricanqueenblogs.blogspot.com is on the 67^th Emmy Awards that aired this morning.

For those who don’t know, the Emmy Awards arguably rewards outstanding actors, actress, directors, and writers of great shows, series on television every year.

 The Emmys has indeed rewarded my favourite actresses and shows this year starting with Viola Davis who won Outstanding Lead Actress for her role as Professor Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder!

Davis gave a moving speech on the challenges coloured women face in Hollywood.

Her powerful acceptance speech moved us, every one of colour! She thanked producers, directors, writers who gave coloured women  the opportunity to shine in Hollywood when no one would!She gave a shout out to the Taraji! Kerry Washington!Gabrielle Union!Coloured sisters keeping it real!

Davis said,“The only thing that separates women of colour from anything else is opportunity.You can’t win Emmys for roles that are simply not there.”

Finally, the Academy bowed and listened to the voice of reasoning by giving HBOs’ Game of Thrones the Best Drama Series of the year!

 Game of Thrones is unarguably the best thing I have seen on TV for years.  Those of us who have the privilege of following this life-changing epic drama are forever grateful. Many of the cast came on stage to accept the award that closed the Emmys. It was exciting  for me to see Sophie Turner( Sansa) , Arya ( Maisie Williams,  Cersei ( Lena Headey),  Sam  ( John Hardley), and  Gwendoline Christie (Brianne of Tarth)!  It was exciting to see the crew on the stage they deserved.

But  I was more satisfied that Peter Dinklage (Tyrion) clinched the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series!I loved his short but witty speech and he looked marvelous!The shortest man in showbiz!.

Game of Thrones took home Emmys for best directing and writing  for Mother of  Mercy. I hear Jon Snow( Kit Harrington) is alive.

Peter Dinklage won for his role as Tyrion Lannister in  the HBO Drama Series, Game of Thrones.

Allison Janney sang part of her acceptance in her shimmering sequined semi -sheer dress that is to die for!I thought that was a brilliant and spontaneous performance.

She won the Outstanding Supporting Actress for  her role on CBS series ‘Mom’.  Julia Louis Dreyfus won for VEEP again. The Academy can be so obsessed with some series!

Jon Hamm won his farewell Emmy  as the Outstanding Lead Actor for his role in Mad Men. He rolled to the stage to accept the award! Yeah, he has been nominated is it eight or nine times? Well he just won this year. The awards featured a short tribute to great personalities like Joan Rivers, whose absence I felt the most.

The biggest surprise had to be Regina King for me. She won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series  or Movie for American Crime. King was in the same category with big shots like Kathy Bates, Angela Basset, and Sarah Paulson.

My favourite show, Saturday Night Live won for Outstanding Variety Special! The show has hilarious presenters; they make you cry literarily from laughing soo hard. Jon Stewart also won an Emmy for the Daily Show.

 Uzo Aduba won her  2^nd  Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series ( Orange is The New Black) She was pitched against formidable actresses like Lena Headey (Cersei of Game of Thrones) and  Emilia Clarke( Khaleesi).

And she thanked God! Photo credits:etonline.com

All in all, It was a big night for HBO with Game of Thrones, VEEP, Oliver Kittredge picking up the juicy categories.