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    <loc>https://www.elsazekeng.com/blog/what-is-the-perception-of-the-eu-in-eu-au-partnerships</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-06-26</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - What is the perception of the EU in EU-AU partnerships - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Blog - What is the perception of the EU in EU-AU partnerships - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Blog - What is the perception of the EU in EU-AU partnerships - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Blog - What is the perception of the EU in EU-AU partnerships - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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    <loc>https://www.elsazekeng.com/blog/to-reach-vaccination-rate-of-70-of-the-population-in-africa-we-need-to-think-creatively-quickly-and-act-urgently</loc>
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    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-03-28</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Reaching 70% vaccination rate in the global south, would require creative, quick thinking and urgent action - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Blog - Reaching 70% vaccination rate in the global south, would require creative, quick thinking and urgent action - As we observe the patterns, this is not the first time this is happening. This cycle will be perpetuated if we don’t address the inequities in access to public health goods. Additionally, we need to create systems that can absorb epidemics and pandemics, move from a disease centred approach where during an epidemic and/or pandemic there is not a significant reduction in access to health care facilities and treatment for other diseases.</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - Reaching 70% vaccination rate in the global south, would require creative, quick thinking and urgent action - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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    <loc>https://www.elsazekeng.com/blog/4svb0zvscu0nuo2oqv6f57ej29cotp</loc>
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    <lastmod>2022-02-08</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - 2 years into the COVID19 pandemic, the fight for vaccine equity continues.. - Elsa Zekeng, Young Leader, European Development Days 2016, Mark Dybul, then Executive Director, The Global Fund, Ronald de Jong, then Executive Vice-President and Chief Market Leader, Royal Phillips, Martin Seychell, then Deputy Director General DG SANTE, European Commission, Christiaan Rebergen, then Deputy Director for International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands, Martha Rojas-Urrego, then Head of Global Advocacy, Care International, Bob Collymore, then CEO Safaricom, Moderator, Ryan Heath, then Senior EU Correspondent and Associate Editor, POLITICO</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - 2 years into the COVID19 pandemic, the fight for vaccine equity continues.. - A snapshot of health expenditure from countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC)</image:title>
      <image:caption>Source: SADC and the Abuja Declaration: Honouring the pledge</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Blog - 2 years into the COVID19 pandemic, the fight for vaccine equity continues.. - Average acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine across studies and subgroups within studies. The average acceptance rate across the full set of LMIC studies is 80.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 74.9–85.6%).</image:title>
      <image:caption>Source: Arce et al., 2021; COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in low and middle income countries, Nature Medicine 27, 1385-1394 (2021).</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Blog - 2 years into the COVID19 pandemic, the fight for vaccine equity continues.. - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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    <lastmod>2021-05-16</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - COVID19: “Either we are all saved or no one is safe”</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - COVID19: “Either we are all saved or no one is safe”</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - COVID19: “Either we are all saved or no one is safe”</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - COVID19: “Either we are all saved or no one is safe”</image:title>
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    <lastmod>2021-04-05</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - To be a woman in 2021</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - To be a woman in 2021</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - To be a woman in 2021</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - To be a woman in 2021</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - To be a woman in 2021</image:title>
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    <loc>https://www.elsazekeng.com/blog/4341vb5vesgw93dguupqddwg25ta52-lbsf5</loc>
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    <lastmod>2021-03-15</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Trends and Technologies sped up by COVID19 that are here to stay.</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - Trends and Technologies sped up by COVID19 that are here to stay.</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - Trends and Technologies sped up by COVID19 that are here to stay.</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - Trends and Technologies sped up by COVID19 that are here to stay.</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - Trends and Technologies sped up by COVID19 that are here to stay.</image:title>
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    <loc>https://www.elsazekeng.com/blog/4341vb5vesgw93dguupqddwg25ta52</loc>
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    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2021-02-22</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - The chips are stacked against us women..but we continue to thrive!</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - The chips are stacked against us women..but we continue to thrive!</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - The chips are stacked against us women..but we continue to thrive! - “Bumble CEO becomes female billionaire, takes company public with son on her hip. Whitney Wolfe Herd, 31, is the youngest female CEO to take a company public.”</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - The chips are stacked against us women..but we continue to thrive!</image:title>
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    <loc>https://www.elsazekeng.com/blog/get-out-there-azrdl</loc>
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    <lastmod>2021-02-15</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Healthcare Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa</image:title>
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    <loc>https://www.elsazekeng.com/blog/why-deserts-matter-too-st35s</loc>
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    <lastmod>2021-02-04</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - How can we concretely engage girls in Science-related fields of studies in Africa?</image:title>
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    <lastmod>2021-02-04</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Depression in PhD Students &amp;amp; Youth</image:title>
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    <lastmod>2024-01-01</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Home - Hi, I’m Elsa</image:title>
      <image:caption>I am a Scientist, an Entrepreneur and an Advocate or more recently called by Forbes Afrique La ‘Sciencepreneuse’ - The ‘Science-Entrepreneur’. With exceptional skills in Project Management and Strategy Development, I have worked with renowned organisations such as the World Health Organisation and the European Commission as a consultant. I am founder of SökerData, a start-up increasing equity in clinical trials for women and black and ethnic minority groups by engaging with Pharmaceutical and biotech companies to support them in diversifying their drug development process. My first entrepreneurial venture - the Northwest Biotech Initiative, an organisation to connect ‘science-students’ with jobs outside academia is currently in its 10th year as of writing this, 2023 (I’m no longer involved in its operations). This has been widely acknowledged as I was selected for the following; one of 40 under 40 future black leaders by the British Cultural Archives (BCA), the “Top 50 Most Inspiring, prominent and influential black voices in UK Tech” by TechNation, Youth Delegate by the Africa-Europe Foundation, European Commission Young Leader, nominated as “One to Watch” and ‘Agent of Change’ by Northern Power Women. I’ve featured on various shows on Channel 4, ITV, Sky News &amp; on the 1000 Voices Podcast. Additionally, I received a medal from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II (may she RIP) for exceptional work during the biggest Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Africa .</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Forum Europe Afrique, Marseille</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Interview at Radio Television Belge Francaise</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Dr. Mark Dybul - Former Executive Director - Global Fund</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Pitch @ Palace - Technology 11.0 at St. James's Palace</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Dr. Tedros Adhanom - Director General of the WHO</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>PhD in Infectious Disease &amp; Global Health - University of Liverpool Graduation</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Conference against Gender-Based Violence organised in Cape Town, South Africa with various partners</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Cover in a "Welt Der Frau" German Magazine on work in Guinea &amp; the UK</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka - Executive Director UN Women</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>"Ebola Medal for Service in West Africa" From Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II of England</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>European Commission 2016 Young Leaders with Her Majesty the Queen Mathilde of Belgium</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>European Commission Young Leaders Editor 2018</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>European Commission Young Leader 2016 - Interviews</image:caption>
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      <image:title>About</image:title>
      <image:caption>9 months into my PhD, this “itch” was awoken as I started seeking opportunities to broaden my skill set. Science - I was great at but I knew, I had more to offer. That’s when I co-founded my first company - the Northwest Biotech Initiative (NBI). This was to encourage collaboration between academia and industry, create a space where scientists can learn how to spin out their research into companies and explore career opportunities outside academia. Over 4 years, NBI recruited a team of 24+, organised 20+ high quality events, more than 1,000 registrations with an 80% attendance. NBI raised over £10,000 in sponsorships, gained recognition from Manchester Enterprise Centre, Liverpool Doctoral College, Louise Ellman (Labour MP of Liverpool), Liverpool Doctoral College and more. This was the first time I called myself an Entrepreneur. With a heart for marginalised communities, I also spent many summers volunteering for UNICEF and Society for Women living with AIDS in Africa (SWAA) in Accra, Ghana.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>About</image:title>
      <image:caption>It was therefore no surprise that, in 2015, when the biggest Ebola outbreak happened in West Africa and the World Health Organisation put out a call for Scientists as consultants, I quickly signed up, was recruited and deployed to Guinea. There, I spent 6 weeks in Coyah, Guinea at the Ebola Treatment Centre, testing patients for Ebola or Malaria. I was subsequently awarded “the Ebola medal for service to West Africa” by Her Majesty, the Queen of England the II. This experience was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhaustive. Being the problem solver that I am, I began to speak, write and advocate for some of the inequalities I experienced on ground and sought solutions to these challenges. Serendipitously, all my worlds collided - the Scientist, the Entrepreneur and the advocate as I was selected as a European Commission Young Leader 2016 to advocate on Sustainable Development Goals from a Youth Perspective.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>About</image:title>
      <image:caption>With extensive experience and excellent public speaking skills, I was a voice of youth to speak with decision makers on high level panels and influence policy through some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the European Development Days 2016 and 2017. These goals included SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all). I shared my opinion and experiences on a high-level panel alongside Decision Makers such as Dr. Mark Dybul - Executive Director of Global Fund, Dr. David Nabarro - Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Lilianne Ploumen – Minister for foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, The Netherlands, Bob Collymore – CEO Safaricom, Martha Rojas-Urrego – Head of Global Advocacy, Care International and Martin Seychell – Deputy Director DG SANTE, European Commission</image:caption>
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      <image:title>About</image:title>
      <image:caption>Today, I am founder &amp; CEO of SökerData, a pioneering health data platform providing aggregated, inclusive patient health data—both public and proprietary—to pharmaceutical research and discovery teams. By incorporating gender and minority ethnic perspectives, SökerData enables pharma companies to accelerate drug discovery, identify new biomarkers and optimize treatments.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>About - If your goal is to build, grow or expand any venture or brand - whether it’s for Profit or Social Responsibility, I’m your girl!</image:title>
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      <image:caption>'Une Sciencepreneuse - en pleine ascension' - 'A Science-preneur - on the rise'</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Panel on closing the health gap in the UK for underrepresented groups hosted and organised by the USA Embassy in London</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Panel on gender equality in STEAM hosted and organised by the USA Embassy in London</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>40 X 40 Future Leader's Award at the British Cultural Archives Oct 2022</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>40 X 40 Next Generation of Black Future Leaders Oct 2022</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Mayor of London's Black History Month Event Oct 2022, 40 X 40 Future Black Leaders</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>State of Europe Event, Oct 2022: Leading the discussion on Africa - Europe partnerships</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>State of Europe Oct 2022 with the awe-inspiring Chimamanda Ngozie</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>State of Europe Oct 2022 with Former Prime Minister of Niger - Ibrahim Assane Mayaki</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Forum Europe Afrique, Marseille, 2022</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Forum Europe Afrique, panel on Vaccination and Treatment for all, Marseille, 2022</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>The Duke of York Pitch@Palace Initiative, Technology 11.0 at Buckingham Palace, 2019</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>With Jamaal Brathwaite - Jobseekrs CEO &amp; Founder at the GCHQ &amp; Wayra Demo Day 2019</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Presenting at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine in Cape Town, South Africa, 2016</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Robert Collymore - Former CEO of Safaricom, European Development Days, 2016</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>European Mobile Laboratory, Coyah, Guinea during the biggest Ebola outbreak in West Africa with Dr. Isabel Garcia, 2015</image:caption>
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      <image:caption>Working with WHO in Guinea, 2015</image:caption>
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