LIGHTNING SAFETY

LIGHTNING SAFETY

                Few days ago while my nine year old son was talking to his dad and I while it rained, there and then, I remembered those days I grew up in mushin, Idi-oparun to be precise and we had no running portable water in our house, hence, we had two plastic drums (you know all those thick blue drums) of 200 liters each that my elder sister and I used to go and fetch water into, down our street or some two-three streets away. One of the drums was dedicated for cooking and doing the dishes so it was placed by our kitchen door away from the sun to prevent contamination while the second one is for bathing, laundry and sanitary uses.

There again, I remembered how my sister and I used to harvest rainwater for our home use anytime it rained and thereby enjoyed bathing in the rain, 70s, 80s, and some 90s, kids would remember the fun we had bathing in the rain. So, I told my son that I would want him to experience the fun in bathing in the rain someday and he was so elated and looked forward to it.

Fast Forward to some days later, when it started drizzling, my son asked for permission to go take a bath and I said “no, this isn’t the kind of rain we used to bath in”. while waiting for the type of rain we enjoyed to fall, my kids and I decided to go visit their grandparents and during our stay, the rain decided to pour again,my son came to ask me for permission to go in the rain in the presence of my mum because he knows my mum will oblige him, then my mum asked me if was true and I said yes and she further asked why and I said “just for him to experience the fun”. She wasn’t in total support but she gave her concerns which are, for her grandson or any of her grandchildren to bath in the rain, such rain must be without lightning or thunderstorm, it must be a clean rainwater, he mustn’t be under any form of electric cable/wire, and the likes of which I agreed. If given the chance, my mum will object to such fun totally but grandparents, what they did to us their children and they can’t do to their grandchildren.

To God be the glory, rain finally came but still not the type I want but my son insisted and wouldn’t allow me rest, so I gave him the go-ahead. He was so happy that he started dancing in the rain. Few minutes later I told him to come in, that he has had enough of the rain bath for the day and hours later, the rain stopped and off we went to my mum’s place. Over at my mum’s place again, mr rain came again and little mister insisted on going for a second round of rain bath which he was granted that his sisters too wanted to join him but I refused because they just had their hair plaited in two-hand African style.

Consequently, my dad got to know about our rainbath and the conditions attached to it and in addition to the condition his wife already gave, lol, he forwarded a lighting safety video to me.

So, here are the safety measures/precautions I deduced from the video, which are to be taken when it rains or if you want your kids to have that rain bath experience.

1. avoid open space such as parks, bikes, open car/vehicle
2. stay at home or under a building or find a safe place and do not come out .
3. if inside a car or bus, safely shut the doors and the windows to maintain safety. (don not open them)
4. do not take shelter in parks, under tall trees, or on elevated lands.
5. the use of an umbrella is not a guarantee to safety as the tips can conduct electricity.
6. stay away from poles of any kind
7. if in a forest, stay away from tall trees and take shelter under a short tree.
8. if in an open field where there is no shelter, squat on the ground with your head resting on your two hands crossed over your knees.
9. while at home, avoid contact with telephone cords, electric cables/wires or metal pipes. the use of a mobile phone is safe.
10. avoid taking a bath during lightning or thunderstorm as your body can be charged .
11. avoid any interaction with electrical appliances. 

Guess what peeps, the main rain came before we left my parents house (the third rain) of the day and my son said “yeah, this is the type you talked about, that one that each drop is so thick and looks like cane. He asked asked for permission again to go into the rain, you already know my response………. I objected, point blank!

 

Stay safe everyone!

Take caution against lightning when it rains.

UNDERSTANDING COVID-19 AND AGENDA 2030 (PART 2)

2030 AGENDA (SDGs) AND CORONAVIRUS

To achieve the 2030 agenda, good health and well-being (SDG 3) is paramount as it is a healthy person in the right frame of mind (mental health) that can make the other SDGs achievable. However, before this can be possible, SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 are the major driving force or factors of a good health.

Let’s see how,

During the MDGs years (2000-2015), central government funds were released, offices were created (office of the MDGs) under the presidency control, and individuals were appointed to key positions but, infant mortality rate was at 72.7 deaths per 1000 live births due to multiplicity of health system related, political and systemic challenges ranging from lack of human capacity for implementation, poor access to primary healthcare delivery systems with high cost of healthcare, inadequate funding and indiscipline with endemic corruption, absence of monitoring and evaluations. This period was also known to have recorded 10 different healthcare workers strike over a period of 3 years which paralyzed the healthcare industry and consequently led to avoidable mortality and morbidity rate as well as increase in medical tourism.

Furthermore, the MDGs period also experienced the insurgency/kidnappings which led to increase in communicable diseases and malnutrition caused by poor hygiene and sanitary practices from lack of Water and Sanitation Health infrastructures, loss of farmlands and agricultural produce with poor or no food security as a result of displacement of people in the affected regions, limited access to healthcare services, drop or poor school enrollment, while their mental health was destabilized. Also, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) covered only about 3% of the population while healthcare verticalization (attending only to the current health issue while abandoning the ones at hand, current case of covid-19 in Nigeria to other health issues) was practiced. Without affordable healthcare services, death is inevitable. To these effects, Nigeria can achieve the SDGs if it starts to use hospital based data for the SDGs projections and discouraged verticalization of healthcare while she embraces integration.

Nigeria has identified five SDGs that are closely linked to the country’s national development priorities as captured in the Economic Growth Recovery Plan (EGRP), SDGs 1,3,4,5 and 8. SDG 1 is tied to the National Social Investment Program (NSIP) and to the EGRP, SDG 3 linked to the Nigeria Strategic Health Development Plan and SDG 4 implemented through the Nigeria Education Sector Strategic Plan. The road map to the SDGs in Nigeria designed to focus on six thematic areas namely: policies, data management, institutions, partnership, communications and finance and to be carried out in three phases, phase 1: 2016-2020, phase 2: 2020-2026 and phase 3: 2026-2030.

In January, 2020, the WHO declared the outbreak of a new coronavirus disease (covid-19) to be a public health emergency of International concern. It also stated that there is a high risk of covid-19 spreading to other countries around the world. In March, 2020, WHO made the assessment that Covid-19 can be characterized as a pandemic then on the 11^th of March, 2020, The WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic due to the number of cases over 118,000 in over 110 countries and territories of the corona virus diseases illness and the risk of further global spread.

The disease has taken hold in Europe (Italy, Spain, United Kingdom), The USA (the current epicenter of the virus), and Asia (Iran, South Korea) and is beginning to wreak havoc in Africa and South America with over 2, 761,121 confirmed cases, 193,671 deaths and 760,047 recoveries  as at 26^th of April, 2020, 21.17 West African Time. Globally, we have 8, 050,373 confirmed cases, and 436,710 deaths with 4,155,506 recoveries and current cases of 3, 458,175 (3,403,581 which make up 98% are with mild conditions and 54,576 which is 2% are in critical condition) while Nigeria has 15,682 cases and 407 deaths as at 5:28pm, Nigeria time, 15th June, 2020. (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/)

In the wake of this pandemic which presently has no cure nor vaccine, the best possible way to prevent contracting it is by staying home and by regular hand washing with soap and under running water  and when there is no water, the use of Alcohol based hand sanitizer should be enforced. Unfortunately, most developing Nations like Nigeria do not have access to adequate and equitable safe and affordable drinking water nor sanitation and hygiene for all, waste management practices amongst all is generally poor. Our cities and communities are mostly full of satellite towns and shanties considering our architectural design, our consumption are irrational, how do we now enforce the hand washing principle where water is not adequate or where do those that live in a one room, one bedroom and two-bedroom apartment self-isolate?

The Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged economies of the world because presently almost all the nations are on lockdown and the populace are living in fear. The implication of the pandemic which has hindered the 2030 agenda include:

STRESS. The whole world is stressed and the health sector are being overwhelmed, all attention are being shifted to covid-19 patients while other patients are not receiving the total attention they should be getting, you know what that means? Increase in morbidity and mortality rate, SDG 3, target 3.3, 3.8 has been defeated by covid-19. Medical personnel doing a continuous job and scientists are urged to find the vaccine and or cure to Covid-19 as soon as possible, this can lead to a drop in mental health when the pressure and stress is too much for the body to handle, even Singapore’s calm of prosperity in a turbulent region has been disoriented.

COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION: in the developed nations, total and partial lockdown with social distancing are being enforced to reduce community transmission and flatten the curve of the spread of the virus, even the Vatican is closed to the public (we saw that during the Easter Celebration) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the closure of the Mosque and Kaaba to public as well as to pilgrims for the ummrah and the Ramadan period) the adherence in these nations are substantial  because the governments have been able to provide palliatives to its citizens. However, on the part of the developing Nations, adherence to social distancing and lockdown as failed as palliatives were not thought of before enforcing lockdown. When palliatives were provided, they were not even enough and people defiled the lockdown and social distancing rule with the excuse that they needed to find what to eat for their families, the result is what we are seeing in the past one week which might escalade in the next few weeks. SDGs 1, 2 and 3 are under threat here.

LACK OF CAPACITY AND RESOURCES: few weeks back, the USA opened its immigration portal for a particular category of skilled people under its immigration rule, this is to enable them have enough hands to treat covid-19 and most of the prospective applicants are going to be from developing Nations who are currently lacking the basic health care capacity and resources. In Nigeria, the ratio of Doctors to patients is roughly put at 1: 200,000, and they will still be part of those that will make the leap to America is search of greener pastures, blame them not, it will get to an extent your loyalty to your motherland will be questioned when you are not getting commensurate reward for the service you rendered. Also, presently, the world is in urgent need for ventilators, Nose masks, hand gloves and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) needed to keep the Covid-19 at bay.  The world is currently short of healthcare givers and resources to effectively manage the Covid-19 pandemic, SDGs 3, 8 and 9 are under threat.

HAMPERED DEVELOPMENT: presently, major expenditure projects in Nigeria have been suspended, India’s aim of 100 gig watts of operational solar power capacity by 2022 which 80% of the solar cells and modules are to be imported to the country from China has been put on hold and achieving the 2022 targets is not feasible and SDG 7 threatened

THREAT TO LIFE UNDER WATER: we have seen that the current increase in the use and indiscriminate disposal of nose masks have a potential of wreaking havoc to life under sea by deaths of water organisms, and a potential of an endemic arising from reactions between water organisms and the viruses from the used nose masks which might further extend to the consumers of underwater organisms and a potential outbreak or reoccurrence of the Covid-19 might be inevitable.

Other implications of Covid-19 include:

• Reduced demands and production of some products like Crude oil, and ICT such as the case of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Mobile Phones Companies.
• Economic drivers (manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and entertainment) are grounded, a case of Vietnam and Thailand rice farmers, China Solar panel Manufacturers, most or all hotel reservations are being called off, Indonesia will lose about $4 million in tourism related revenue, aviation industry is grounded, jobs are lost, incomes are being cut (Arik Air has cut its workers salary by 80%) even the footballers in major leagues around the are being asked to salary cut. All of these have potential disastrous implications.
• Restricted movement and commerce which will lead to spike in the prices of commodities and services and supply chain will be disrupted.
• Overwhelmed facilities and infrastructures.
• Factories shut down, cut in production and output.
• Education disruptions.
• Setbacks to economic and growth recovery program (presently, companies in Denmark registered in tax havens won’t be able to access financial assistance).
• Increase in unemployment rate.
• Economy contraction, looking at recession and probably slip into depression.
• Lost business revenue.

 

 

 

UNDERSTANDING COVID-19 AND AGENDA 2030 (PART 3)

POST COVID-19 AND THE SDGs

After all said and done, “there is light after the tunnel” Covid-19 is not all about negativity. Yes, do not give me that look, let me give you an insight to my personal perspective on the positivity of Covid-19 on the SDGs.

·         Digital investment will be on the rise as a measure for future back-up towards any epidemic or pandemic.

·         Reduced interest rate and costs of borrowing to boost investments and diversification (only if SMSEs will benefit more rather than the politicians and the elites)

·         Tax will be cuts to ameliorate the effects of the pandemic.

·         SDG 2, target 2.3 – 2.5 will see a turnaround while targets 2a-2c will be looked into which will have an effect on SDG 1.

·         SDG 5 has been proved to be effective (case of Taiwan, New Zealand, Iceland, Estonia and Germany) hence SDGs 4 and 3 will be on track. Let’s not forget that women comprise 70% of the world’s healthcare staff but only 25% of global leaders are female and without them, women’s issues could fail to be addressed throughout the crisis

·         SDG 6 has proven to be a powerful tool in the fight against Covid-19, I believe efforts are on the way to actualize it. 

·         Innovations (SDG 9) will drastically take a leap (through companies such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, health, sciences) which have a direct effect on SDG 3, and indirect effect on SDGs 1, 2 and 8, therefore, the youths should brace up and come up with sustainable innovations

·         SDG 10 proved itself with the case of India and USA and the Rich and Poor.

·         SDGs 12, 13, 14, 15 will receive the needed attention.

·         And above all we have seen that without SDG 17 all other SDGs can be achieved, just like Michael Jackson Said in his song titled “heal the world” the chorus goes thus “ heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race….. “

After all said, in line with agenda 2030, four steps should have been taken or put in place since the outbreak in china which are;

1.      Preparation (health facilities and equipment as well as resource personnel) , communication (training and information)

2.      Detection (from all points of entry), protection (isolation and quarantine) and treatment

3.      Reduction (reduce transmission particularly community mode)

4.      Innovate and learn (make shift isolation centers, trial drugs and vaccine)

During the outbreak, four steps should be taken by all.

1.      Political willingness.

2.      Behavioral change. (stay home safe, practice social distancing, start hygiene practices)

3.      Prevention (further spread apart from the ones under isolation and quarantine)

4.      Environmental/public health (think of others and yourself, maintain safety, good safety and hygiene practices)

5.      Capacity building (provide the needed PPEs by stockpiling and distribute appropriately).

 

Thank you for your time, stay safe, adopt behavioral change, and prevent the spread of covid-19.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Coronavirus pandemic: www.telegraph.co.uk

Corona Virus-World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/health-topics.

https://sielednetwork.wordpress.com/2016/09/13/the-sustainable-development-goals-sdgs/

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Obinna Ositadimma Oleribe et al: Before the Sustainable Development Goals; Why Nigeria Failed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, The Pan African Medical Journal ISSN 1937-8688.

Sustainable development goals, Knowledge platform:

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topic/sustainabledevelopmentgoals.

UN working to fight covid-19 and achieve global goals: www.un.org/en/un-coronavirus-communications-team/un-working-fight-covid-19-and-achieve-global-goals

www.wikipedia.org/2019-20 coronavirus pandemic data.

UNDERSTANDING COVID-19 AND AGENDA 2030 (PART 1)

 THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)

    The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which started a global partnership effort was adopted in year 2000 to tackle the indignity of poverty. Fifteen years later, in September 2015, the world converged in the form of assembly to adopt the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development (17 Goals) which were developed to build upon the MDGs to establish the United Nation high-level political forum on sustainable development building on the principle of “leaving no one behind.

These goals are urgent call for action by all member Nations both developed and the developing, by global partnership. They recognized that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand in hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce in equality and spur economic growth (all, while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests).

source:SIELED © 2016

All 17 goals of the SDG interconnect in such a way that success in one affects success for the others e.g., achieving better health or gender equality helps to eradicate poverty while fostering peace and inclusive societies will reduce inequalities and help economies prosper and dealing with the threat of climate change impacts how we manage our fragile natural resources. These 17 goals are intended to be achieved by the year 2030 with some targets measurable with indicators.

According to Rockefeller Foundation, to achieve the SDGs, close to $200 trillion will be needed in annual private capital investments flows toward development efforts as well as philanthropy. In the same light, the economist maintained that alleviating poverty and achieving the other SDGs will require about $2.3 trillion per year for a period of 15 years while World Health Organization (WHO) estimates for providing clean water and sanitation for the whole population of all continents is put at $200 billion which is subjected to frequent reevaluation per country, and, The United Nation Trade and Development Agency (UNCTAD) says $2.5 trillion per year is needed in achieving the UN Goals. 

However, as good as the SDGs seems, its delivery is /can be hampered by some challenges which include contradictory or competing goals (increasing employment and wages can work against reducing the cost of living), trying to achieve all the goals at the same time and pace rather than focusing on the more urgent and fundamental priorities (which differ from nation to nation) since all the goals are interconnected. A typical case is that the environmental sustainability side of the SDGs is underrepresented such that the resources security for all particularly for lower income populations is put at risk which can be seen in the boom in economic activity and the ceaseless exploitation of natural resources which are most often, damaging to the environment. 

Another challenge to the actualization of the SDGs is the level of actualization of the MDGs particularly in a country like Nigeria. Although, globally, all countries made progress on improving health and educational outcomes since 2000, however, there is disparities in sub-national educational and health outcomes in Nigeria. Under-five child mortality is lower and educational attainment is higher in most regions across the country but no region in Nigeria is on track to meet both the under-five child mortality goal and the education target. Nigeria lagged behind in the actualization of the MDGs due to a variety of reasons ranging from bureaucracy, poor resource control/management in the healthcare system, sequential healthcare worker industrial action, to insurgency/kidnappings. However, to take the leap towards the actualization of the SDGs by the 2030 target date, the country needs to tackle all the aforementioned problems, hence it is imperative to implement fully funded primary health care systems to improve health outcomes and improve the quality of education to make progress on basic skills.

 Similarly, a new challenge to the actualization of the SDGs that is tied to SDG 3 is the current Covid-19 pandemic that has ravaged the world. The 2030 agenda is just ten years away and the year 2020 which is termed the decade of action is in the last stage of the first quarter, achieving the SDGs is now a mirage we look forward to with the emergence of the Novel Corona Virus (Covid-19).

Coronavirus disease is an infectious disease caused by coronavirus (a crown or torn like virus) that affects the respiratory tracts of its victim which can be spread through saliva droplets or nose discharges of an infected person through cough, sneezes or exhales. The droplets of the virus are too heavy to hang in the air which it quickly fall on floors or surfaces. One can be infected by breathing in the virus if in close proximity of someone who has covid-19 or by touching a contaminated surface and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

Covid-19 is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) SARS-COV-2 Virus which originated from Wuhan in China. It is believed to have first jumped from an animal host to humans in Wuhan China.