In order to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola viral disease, Balmed is actively working on a community monitoring and data information tool by using smartphone applications syncronized with a cloud server for real time data transfer and global accessibility. Balmed futhermore looks to collaborate with national and international partners interested in data management and information technology. Interested parties can contact Balmed for a system demonstration. Collected data is displayed on a GIS-­‐map and globally accessible through a cloud. Please click on the link to view current statistics: cloud.saplumira.com

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia is said to be out of control. In Sierra Leone, 489 people are infected and 159 has been died from the virus (28.7.2014). The president, Ernest Bai Koroma, has announced the state of emergency and enforce quarantine procedures in affected regions, if necessary with the help of military. Borders in affected countries will be closed. WHO released a 100 Mio $ package to combat the disease with immidiate effect. The center for Disease Control in USA has raised the alert level to 3 for Giunea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Travellers from Lungi International Airport have to undergo a health asessment before boarding any plane. Balmed has stopped operations in the affected epicentres in Kailahun and Kenema. The Ebola outbreak furthermore seriously threaten Sierra Leones economy and food supply, as epicentres are considered to be the agricultural areas accounting for the majority of food and cash crops produced in the country. Several NGO´s and Development Organizations have closed their offices and deployed their staff from affected regions or even out of the country. Ebola is a Viral Heamorragic Fever, transmitted through body liquid and close contact to infected persones. Typical symptoms are headache, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. Suspected cases must be immidiately reported to the Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or +232 76 913000

Balmed Holdings signed a Funding Agreement with the African Enterprise Challenge Fund. (AECF) The company was granted an 800.000 $ facility to upscale the Blockfarming operations and plant another 3.000 acres of treecrops using the Blockfarming System. Balmed will furthermore diversify into cashew production targeting the northern parts of Sierra Leone. The project will result in 930 direct project beneficiaries and an average Net Benefit of 945 $ per household per year, when crops reach full maturity.

In order to boost and increase its cocoa and coffee sales Balmed signed Trade Finance Agreement with the African Agriculture Trade and Investment Fund. (AATIF) The AATIF is an investment fund backed by the german development bank KfW, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Deutsche Bank as Investment Manager and the Common Fund for Commodities as Technical Assistance Manager. The AATIF public private partnership facility provides various funding sources ranging from loans to equity investment.