http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu Thu, 23 May 2013 08:20:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/05/03/a-sustainable-strategy-to-deal-with-urban-poverty/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/05/03/a-sustainable-strategy-to-deal-with-urban-poverty/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 21:10:28 +0000 Renee Cho http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=36157 When architect Fernando Arias first arrived in Kumasi, Ghana last year, he saw unpaved roads, trash burning, garbage everywhere, and shoeless children running all around. He knew he needed to act on their behalf.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/05/03/a-sustainable-strategy-to-deal-with-urban-poverty/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/11/01/mcis-signature-s2s-program-kicks-off-its-third-year-with-a-series-of-trainings/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/11/01/mcis-signature-s2s-program-kicks-off-its-third-year-with-a-series-of-trainings/#comments Thu, 01 Nov 2012 21:37:10 +0000 Susan Blaustein http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=31814 MCI’s signature School2School Connectivity Project (S2S), a partnership with global communications giants Ericsson and Airtel Ghana, the City of Kumasi, Ghana, the Kumasi Metropolitan Education Directorate, Columbia University Teachers College and selected New York City public and private schools to teach the uses of the computer and the Internet in the teaching of the STEM [...]]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/11/01/mcis-signature-s2s-program-kicks-off-its-third-year-with-a-series-of-trainings/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/05/29/architecture-and-urban-design-students-present-innovative-upgrading-plans-for-a-millennium-city/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/05/29/architecture-and-urban-design-students-present-innovative-upgrading-plans-for-a-millennium-city/#comments Tue, 29 May 2012 15:02:50 +0000 Susan Blaustein http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=27343 Graduate students in architecture and urban design recently presented their findings and design work issuing out of a collaboration between the Urban Design Lab (UDL) and MCI in the Millennium City of Kumasi, Ghana. At the city’s invitation, and with MCI's facilitation, the UDL came to Kumasi in early February, to devise solutions to revitalize the severely degraded and impoverished areas of Akrom, Adukrom and Sewabah and to design a comprehensive Women's and Girls' Center for the vibrant downtown commercial neighborhood of Bantama.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/05/29/architecture-and-urban-design-students-present-innovative-upgrading-plans-for-a-millennium-city/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/05/23/regional-partnership-promotes-trade-and-investment-in-three-sub-saharan-cities/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/05/23/regional-partnership-promotes-trade-and-investment-in-three-sub-saharan-cities/#comments Wed, 23 May 2012 19:43:36 +0000 Susan Blaustein http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=27183 MCI's Regional Partnership to Promote Trade and Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa held its regional meeting May 7-9, in Mekelle, Ethiopia, where delegations from the three participating Millennium Cities were able to hold extended, frank discussions with their colleagues and with private sector investors, who did not hesitate to describe precisely what it is that local and foreign investors need and look for, in order for their businesses to grow and prosper.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/05/23/regional-partnership-promotes-trade-and-investment-in-three-sub-saharan-cities/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/12/05/a-lasting-impression-kumasi-stakeholders-truly-committed-to-bettering-their-city/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/12/05/a-lasting-impression-kumasi-stakeholders-truly-committed-to-bettering-their-city/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:52:33 +0000 Susan Blaustein http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=20303 My lasting impression of Kumasi, Ghana, is one of incredible warmth; traveling there with the MCI team for the Kumasi Stakeholder Workshop, which was held October 11-13, I was happy to discover that the much talked-about “Ghanaian friendliness” was a generalization that proved to be true. I was also inspired by the number of Kumasi residents I met who face whatever obstacles they encounter – whether minor inconveniences or major developmental challenges – with grace and a true can-do attitude. ]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/12/05/a-lasting-impression-kumasi-stakeholders-truly-committed-to-bettering-their-city/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/09/30/standing-up-for-girls-and-their-right-to-the-education-they-deserve/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/09/30/standing-up-for-girls-and-their-right-to-the-education-they-deserve/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:53:54 +0000 Susan Blaustein http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=18426 For many in the developing world, education isn't taken for granted. Around 35 million girls are out of school, the World Bank says, almost half of them in sub-Saharan Africa. In support of girls’ education, MCI joined the literacy organization LitWorld and other partners, including Connect To Learn, Asia Initiatives and the Children of Kibera Foundation, for a “Stand Up for Girls” rally to celebrate the International Day of the Girl on September 22. ]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/09/30/standing-up-for-girls-and-their-right-to-the-education-they-deserve/feed/ 1 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/07/28/ultrasound-trainings-improve-maternal-and-newborn-care-at-kumasi-hospitals/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/07/28/ultrasound-trainings-improve-maternal-and-newborn-care-at-kumasi-hospitals/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:09:25 +0000 Susan Blaustein http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=16551 Maternal and neonatal mortality rates remain high across the Millennium Cities and throughout much of the developing world. All the more reason why we’re excited about the second in a series of ultrasound trainings and screenings in Kumasi, Ghana, led by the London-based International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG), MCI’s partner, which works all over the world to further maternal and child health through the use of this life-saving technology. ]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/07/28/ultrasound-trainings-improve-maternal-and-newborn-care-at-kumasi-hospitals/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/09/20/mci%e2%80%99s-mdg-heroes-series-kumasi-metropolitan-health-director-reduces-maternal-mortality/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/09/20/mci%e2%80%99s-mdg-heroes-series-kumasi-metropolitan-health-director-reduces-maternal-mortality/#comments Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:03:10 +0000 Susan Blaustein http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=6673 In the Millennium City of Kumasi, Ghana, the Maternal Mortality Ratio was on the rise until 2009. But a sustained and dedicated effort on the part of the Kumasi Metropolitan Health Directorate and its director, Dr. Kwasi Yeboah-Awudzi, has resulted in dramatically reduced maternal deaths over the last 18 months. Dr. Yeboah-Awudzi’s direction included upgrading frontline facility infrastructure to accommodate safe deliveries, performing more cesareans at these facilities and intensifying public education regarding the importance of ante-natal visits. In celebration of this week's UN MDG Summit, MCI interviewed this "MDG Hero" about his work to advance Target 1 of Millennium Development Goal 4. ]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/09/20/mci%e2%80%99s-mdg-heroes-series-kumasi-metropolitan-health-director-reduces-maternal-mortality/feed/ 1 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/07/01/saving-lives-one-birth-at-a-time-ghanaian-pediatricians-become-master-trainers-in-the-aaps-helping-babies-breathe-curriculum/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/07/01/saving-lives-one-birth-at-a-time-ghanaian-pediatricians-become-master-trainers-in-the-aaps-helping-babies-breathe-curriculum/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:18:50 +0000 Susan Blaustein http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=3730 ...]]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/07/01/saving-lives-one-birth-at-a-time-ghanaian-pediatricians-become-master-trainers-in-the-aaps-helping-babies-breathe-curriculum/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/01/26/kumasis-new-neonatal-clinics-on-track-to-reduce-maternal-and-infant-mortality-despite-lingering-challenges/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/01/26/kumasis-new-neonatal-clinics-on-track-to-reduce-maternal-and-infant-mortality-despite-lingering-challenges/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:48:04 +0000 Susan Blaustein http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=1481 ...]]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/01/26/kumasis-new-neonatal-clinics-on-track-to-reduce-maternal-and-infant-mortality-despite-lingering-challenges/feed/ 4