HEALTH

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THE VELVET TAMARIND

BY Toyin Johnson

This is Velvet Tamarind
Popularly known as Awin in Yoruba, Icheku in Igbo and Tsamiyar kurm in Hausa, African velvet tamarind is the fruit of a native West African tree (dialium guineense) loved especially by Nigerian children. Velvet tamarind is cultivated not totally for its fruits but as a source of timber and fuel. The common names of this fruit includes
Tamarind Plum
Velvet Tamarind.

The velvet tamarind is a tree part of the Leguminosae family that grows to great heights in tropical forests. It is known for it’s small edible fruits, usually the size of grapes. The brown shells are hard and must be discarded.

Velvet Tamarind also cures diseases such as:
Malaria: According to research, the leaf extract inhibits the growth of plasmodium falciparum which causes malaria. Therefore, taking a decoction can cure malaria.

Treats Ulcer and Prevents Hypertension: The leaf extract of velvet tamarind has the ability to increase gastric mucus secretion. Therefore, a decoction of the leave can be a remedy for gastric ulcer. The leafs are also highly diuretic-promotes the production of urine, making it easier for the heart to pump blood hence, reducing the risk of hypertension.
Anti-inflammatory and Anti-microbial Properties: The fruit pulp contains abundant vitamin C which fights against microbial infections. The stem bark has the ability to reduce inflammation in bronchial tubes that arises due to bronchitis.

Improves Oral hygiene and cures Tooth ache: The stem used as chewing stick (indigenous tooth brush) contains saponin which adds cleaning effect to the teeth and at the same time removes plaques and caries on the teeth of users. The stem bark decoction is also used to treat.

Reliefs Menstrual Cramp and stops Diarrhoea: The stem bark extract has significant analgesic property hence, can be used to reduce menstrual pain. You can take it along with papaya leaf, salt and water to work effectively. It can also stop diarrhoea.
It is also good for lactating mother’s, it can also build immune system.

The velvet tamarind is no doubt an interesting and useful fruit. What is it called where you come from???

SOURCE:
-WIKIPEDIA
-PULSE NG

MADAGASCAR CURE :AFRICANS ARE STILL MENTALLY COLONIZED BY THE WEST .

By GANIU RIDWAN AYINDE

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It saddens to see that Africans are still not yet fully liberated from the shackles of western colonization and imperialism.
Despite their political independence, they are still in economic and mental encumber and obscurity. We claimed to be independent but our economy is still exploited by these people and most importantly,our thinking and perceptions of social and political administrations are still determined and controlled by them.

Madagascar, African’s largest island with a population of 27.5 million people and military strength of 13,500 found a cure for the global pandemic that even the claimed powerful countries failed to achieve. what a commendable effort! but the World Healthy Organization rejected this. why? Is it because the cure was discovered in black continent?then who is expected to discover a vaccine or cure? Is it Bill Gate, the world richest man, who is on a mission to appropriate the world? Or from the Asian where the problem ostensibly originated from? Inarguably, it appears that only a vaccine or cure from either of the aforementioned would be truly acceptable by WHO.

It doesn’t matter where the cure or vaccine comes from or who is accredited with it’s invention. what really matters is it’s efficiency and effectiveness to end this unwanted virus from the surface of the earth but instead of giving adequate medical support, they continue making illogical excuse saying “it is not scientifically proven”. However, there might be a contingency that their theory is right but why can’t WHO work in hand with Madagascar government in to enhance and authenticate the cure.

The fundamental question that arises is that, do we still really need WHO’s approval and recommendation before testing the cure? we can easily verify the Madagascar news and find out for ourselves if Lengasa works against covid-19. this requires for just a simple logic but instead,our incurably kleptomaniac attitudes, disunity, government delinquency and corruption, selfish aspiration , medical and technological dependency continues to exacerbating which is affecting the progress and sustainable development of every country in Africa.

If we can’t critically evaluate and find solution to what’s happening in our atmosphere, then who is running our minds? Should we remain like this forever?of course not! we can’t continue living in political, social, economic and technological fragments. many talents have been wasted because there is no adequate support. Most of the contemporary problems are caused internally so, stop putting all blames on the whites. We have natural resources and industrious people who are ready to work for the betterment of Africa but the government continues to waste money on white elephant projects rather than people’s orientation. why does this often occur, it is simply because they refused to be free from the encumber and obscurity of mental colonization. They want to be like them so, they adopted their customs and systems. our constitution are nothing but a replicate of our former colonial master’s. This happens because we refuse positive and rational dynamism.

Presently,Madagascar is not joking. Schools have reopened , the production of covid organics is going smoothly in Madagascar with the president making it’s consumption compulsory for adults and children. stores are short for supplies , yet the fore demands have not started in high numbers. the product is distributed free in schools and to the poor neighbors. Madagascar is proving that African country can survive and act for it’s people.

Andry Rejoelina, the president of Madagascar is soliciting international partnership for mass production of their work which could also be given as injection. a bigger factory is being but to increase production.
With this determination, why some Africa countries are afraid to support Madagascar? It saddens when South Africa government says they are only giving research analysis support only.

It is conspicuous that Madagascar cure is taking away opportunities from our leaders because most of them are making huge profits out of covid-19 crisis and that is why most Africa countries refused to accept the cure not because of WHO’s warning.

Finally, without any form of juxtaposition or favoritism, I think it is high time we supported Madagascar in all ramifications. What they need now is our support and backup. If we could achieve this together as an entity then we are making a history. let positively change our orientations and free from external interventions.

COVID-19: THE BLAME GAME

By Shittu Ayomiposi

The Covid-19 pandemic has held almost every part of the world to ransom due to its ability to spread faster than a normal communicable disease. It has affected the world’s economy and even the most strongest of holds like the world power “USA”.

The root of this pandemic can be traced back to a little city called ” Wuhan” in China where the outbreak began, the cause yet to be figured out. In Lew to this, blames are being shifted on whether the virus was spread due to poor containment of the virus or the virus is a lab made tool to take over the world power which later got exposed to the public.

The US and China has since been shifting blames on why the pandemic has gotten to this level in the world. Even smaller acquaintances like Africa and smaller nations has also joined in the game.

Well, there are shady hypothesis to how and why the virus has gotten to this level but there has been no proven statistics to affirmate the claims of these hypothesis.

Some claimed the virus is a lab made weapon to infect the rival nations of China,while China claimed the virus came into being from an animal yet to be known,but when scientists and researchers took a thorough look into this claims, none was affirmed.

The Us has since blamed China over late preventive measures against the virus, questions were raised as to why the Chinese government has to wait for 6 days before the virus was declared,it is said that the Virus could have spread to different countries unknown to them during this short period of time.

The Chinese government claimed they were taking their time to look into the virus before jumping into assumptions. Smaller countries like Nigeria also blame the developed countries for poor efforts put into the containment of the virus as it is the cause of its spread to their regions.

These blame games has since been going on between different countries, well what we need to look at now is how to put in place and practice the preventive measures the WHO has ordered in other to reduce if not curb the spread of the pandemic. The following are standard procedures that have proven to make a positive effect towards the containment of the virus.

-When going out wear face masks, stay away from people for at least two metres to ensure social distancing.

-Wash your hand from time to time with soap and water, in a situation where you can’t find this use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.

-Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and dispose immediately.

• Avoid touching your face.
• If there is no essential need to go out, stay home.

COVID-19 SPECIAL FEATURE: MADAGASCAR CURE- LEGIT OR SCAM?

By Folami Roqeeb

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Madagascar president Andy Rajoelina, last month launched a herbal remedy which he claimed can prevent and cure Covid-19 named Covid Organics (CVO).

These claims have caught the attention of medical experts who have been working to find a cure to the deadly virus which has killed hundreds of thousands of people around the globe.

According to the Malagasy Institute Of Applied Research, the remedy is produced from Artemisia annua (sweet woodworm), a plant which has proven effective against malaria.

When speaking to journalist and diplomats, the 45 year old president said “This herbal tea gives results in seven days”.
WHO (World Health Organisation) wants the herbal remedy to be tested for efficacy and negative effects. They have no evidence the drink works according to the head of WHO Africa office.

Despite the lack of evidence of efficacy of the remedy, Rajoelina defends the remedy telling France 24 a Paris-based international television news network that it is “a preventative and curative remedy” and “works really well”.

The President went ahead to slam WHO for not endorsing it’s cure. He said, during an exclusive Interview with France 24 “If it were a European country which had discovered this remedy, would there be so many doubts”. He went further to say ”The problem is that it comes from Africa. And they cannot accept that a country like Madagascar, which is one of the poorest countries in the world, has discovered this formula to save the world”.

Matshidiso Moeti who works at the WHO Regional Office for Africa was asked during a press conference whether the WHO has any evidence of the remedy effectiveness, she said “No, we do not”. WHO had warned against the use of Covid Organics (CVO) without any medical supervision and cautioned against self medication. They said they are not discouraging the use of the herbal drink. “Africans deserve to use medicines tested to the same standards as people in the rest of the world,” a statement says.

Several African countries like Equiatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Niger and Tanzania have ordered for the dispatch of the remedy

PRICE OF CHLOROQUINE SURGES IN A COVID-19-FREE LG IN LAGOS

By Favour OLABANJI

In the middle of March, information concerning the use of chloroquine in curing the coronavirus disease went viral, as hailed by the President of The United States of America, Donald Trump. As a result of this, the antimalaria drug which was once banned in some parts of the world saw a surge in its prices. Debunking this news, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Director-General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, warned that chloroquine has not been approved as a cure for COVID-19. He disclosed this while reacting to media reports that suggested chloroquine could protect people from the coronavirus disease or treat patients who are already infected with the disease.

However, this has not led to a reduction in the price of the antimalaria drug, as seen in the case of one of the COVID-19-free Local Government Areas in Lagos, Ojo. Chloroquine is a widely used medication used to treat malaria caused by mosquito bites but since the surge in the price of the antimalaria drug, patients who use this drug regularly have expressed discomfort in purchasing it.

According to a malaria patient in the Ojo Local Government of Lagos State, Ouwatumininu Adetoro, who has been using the drug to cure his frequent malaria, he lamented that the drug has increased in price and has become extremely expensive to purchase.

Two pharmacies and four druggists were visited in Ojo local government, to make enquires and confirm the current prices of the antimalaria. The other four are referred to as druggists because they were discovered to only sell drugs without an affixed name to their drug shop.

According to Oluwatumininu, the drug used to be sold at N10 per piece and N100 for 10 pieces but at the time of writing this, the price of the drug has increased from N10 to N50 per piece hence, N500 for 10 pieces.

Bukola Adeniyi is another resident of Ojo who resorted to talking herbs considering the hike in the price of chloroquine as prescribed by the doctor after she carried out a test.

The first pharmacy she visited in the area was a druggist located on Alhaji Shittu street. The drug shop had a particular brand of the antimalaria drug called Maxiquine and, according to the drug seller, the drug is now sold for N700 not its initial price of N150.

A druggist and a pharmacy at Mosafejo first transformer are, that stood not too far away from each other in the area had different but expensive prices for the drug. The first space visited was the drug store who had two brands of the chloroquine drug, Maxiquine which was sold for N300 and the other called Albequine sold for N500.

The second space was a pharmacy called “Rafon,” not too far away on the same road sold the Maxiquine brand for N800, the highest price from all the drugstores so far. A drug store on Nzeduru Street had the Maxiquine syrup sold for N500 and chloroquine pills for N50 per piece or N500 per 10 pieces.

Another drug store on Olufemi Adenigba Street sold all its chloroquine products for N500.

New Concept Pharmacy Drugs and Sundries, is another pharmacy in the Local Government not too far from the Local Government Secretariat, very close to Iyana-Iba market. Social distancing measures were in place at this pharmacy and customers were not allowed to access the pharmacy, they only bought their needs from the gate with attendants of the pharmacy responding to their requests.

An engagement with Chineye, the accountant of the pharmacy revealed that the cost of chloroquine in the pharmacy is N700 and that there was a surge in price because it was said to have been a cure for the novel coronavirus. She explained that there had been an increase in the requests for chloroquine compared to other antimalaria drugs.

After being asked if an association of pharmacists in the local government exists, she responded in the affirmative but noted that the association had no business with the pricing of drugs or chloroquine, specifically.

These are the average prices of the antimalaria drug, chloroquine in a local government area said to not have recorded any case of the virus by the Lagos State Government. Residents of the area who have experienced malaria in the last couple of months have lamented over the surge in the price of the drug.

No doubt, other malaria drugs exist but certain patients of the malaria illness who are used to taking the drug, despite its ban in Nigeria in 2004, have had their system accustomed to the use of the chloroquine anti-malaria drug over time.

COVID-19: Reflection on Nigeria’s Health and Education Sector,the way forward

By Oluwatumininu Adetoro

27th of February marked a day of reckoning in Nigeria as the first case of the novel corona virus disease was confirmed by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control(NCDC), this was the case of an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan, Italy to Lagos, Nigeria on the 25th of February 2020. And ever since then, Nigeria has since experienced an exponential surge in the cases of corona virus.

The virus which started from Wuhan in China is said to take within 5-14 days before the symptoms begin to surface thereby making transmission unknowingly easy. Therefore, in order to curtail the widespread of the virus as the case of USA, ITALY and other countries, the Nigerian government had so far rolled out measures such as total lockdown, closure of borders, disbursement of palliatives amongst others in order to mitigate the effect of the disease.

With Lagos state being the commercial nerve center of the country and one of the most populous state, there has been no doubt more cases with the federal capital territory following suit in the highest number of cases recorded. It is then evident that if not properly and swiftly managed, this pandemic is capable of wiping out a generation.
Earlier before the outbreak of covid-19, Nigeria as a nation has been battling with a weak and dying health and educational sector as the government underfund these sectors. There have been several complaints about the health sector being poorly funded, state of the art hospitals not built, available ones not properly maintained, substandard facilities, poor remuneration of health care workers amongst others.

According to the recommendation of the World Health Organization declaration of April 2001 in Abuja, for Nigeria to be considered as prioritizing healthcare, the government must commit at least 15% of its annual budget to the healthcare sector (BUDGIT). However, it can be seen that Nigeria lags behind showing the allocations given to health over the years.

Despite the gigantic budget being approved yearly by federal and state governments, it could be seen that the health sector could only struggle to get a minute part of the budget.

The 2020 allocation for the healthcare sector is N440.73 billion, approximately 4.16% of the total budget. The State house clinic have also been receiving allocations annually from this allocation.

However, even with the large amount of money being pumped into the clinic at the state house, top government officials including the President still fly abroad for treatments for cases as little as malaria. What then happens to the money being allocated to the clinic? This therefore shows the decaying and deteriorating state of our health care system.

There is no doubt the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease has further exposed the poor state of the system despite the availability of the best doctors in the system. The poor funding and mismanagement of the system has therefore led to our health sector being crippled. This pandemic has only come to expose the decadence in the system.

Ever since the outbreak, Nigerians have begun to lament and panic on how catastrophic and disastrous it is going to be if the cases escalates further as seen in other nations. Noting the poor and limited facilities available to the system, and comparing how USA as a world power and other developed countries with great technological advancements even in their health sector is seen battling and suffering from the blows of the virus, the question that then comes to mind is what then becomes the fate of Nigeria in the face of such?

In a bid to reduce the colossal effect and help fight the pandemic, various organizations and private individuals have donated towards the fight against the corona virus disease.

Eminent amongst these are UBA (5 billion), GTB, ACCESS BANK, EU (21 billion), Dangote (1 billion), Tinubu (200 million) amongst others. As a matter of fact, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced the total amounts received in donations to fight the virus to be N25.8bn as at March 17, 2020.

Another interesting yet thought provoking aspect of this pandemic is the fact that the government officials fond of flying abroad for treatments can no longer do that as countries are shutting their borders and Nigeria as one is not left out. Hence, they are all left with no option than to get treated in the health sector they have failed to develop over the years. Isn’t this the result of corrupt practices? Of course it is!.

Recall that on 24th of march Late Mallam Abba Kyari: Chief of Staff to the President was said to have tested positive of the virus after his return from a trip to Germany where he went to negotiate a deal with Siemens AG. And after weeks fighting for survival, the nation lost her chief of staff to the cold hands of death.

It is pertinent to note that the Presidential villa has its own hospital which is being funded yearly but despite that, the federal government had to transfer the Chief of Staff to Lagos for treatment, therefore that is an indication that something is amiss in the running of the system.

If the healthcare facility domiciled at the seat of power cannot handle basic and critical health challenges, what then happens to that in the state. Where then are the funds going to?

Nelson Mandela once said that a time would come when African leaders will no longer be able to travel abroad but will be left confined in their countries. Should we then say those golden words in form of prophecy has come to fulfilment?

This should serve as a lesson and a clarion call to the government to see this outbreak as an avenue to repent and invest massively in the healthcare system of the country as we cannot be too sure what is to happen next. There is a need for the healthcare system to be well prepared to combat all health challenges bedeviling the citizens.

On EDUCATION, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” says the great Nelson Mandela of our time. It is therefore evident that the place of education in any forward thinking nation cannot be overemphasized.

Earlier before the outbreak, schools were in session, while some are just starting, some are preparing for exams while others are writing exams. Tertiary institutions are either in their first or second semester with the most being in the first semester; secondary school students were preparing for the Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), while the UTME examination is also going on.

The outbreak of COVID-19 in the country however brought to a halt the running of schools as the social distancing and gathering preventive measures were put in place and there was the need for it to be strictly adhered to.

It is worthy to note that earlier before the outbreak, there have been several controversies and speculations on the state of the educational system in Nigeria. Issues such as poor infrastructural development, welfare of staffs and students, the curriculum being used, poor remuneration of staffs amongst others.

Recall that earlier this year, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has gone on a two weeks warning strike in a fight that seems to be unending between this body and the Federal Government.
The issue of strike has even become a norm in the system as there is now a cliché that if you do not experience strike during your course of study as a student, then you’ve not been to a Nigerian university. That shows the extent of the recklessness and ignorance of the harm being done to the system. In other countries where education has been advanced and being given maximum attention, as compared to Nigeria which only allocate just 6.48% of the 2020 budget to education as against the recommended 15-20% by UNESCO, there would not be much panic as to how to survive the crisis and keep the system running despite all odds.

Over the years, technological advancement and innovation in learning has been clamored for by stakeholders in the education sector. However, this pandemic seems to have forced us to embrace these innovations regardless. Recall that the federal government through the honourable minister for education; Adamu Adamu announced that schools should begin leveraging on online platforms to continue academic activities in the face of the lockdown. Ever since this announcement, managements of schools have rolled out different means and strategies to achieve that though there have been myriads of problems being faced in putting this in place as there are not enough modalities put in place to achieve the maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the innovation.

Problems such as how to access the platforms, technical and financial ability to access such, how to track the success rate amongst others. It would be seen that other countries who have earlier before now adopted the system and integrated them in their practices will not have much problem adjusting and adapting to these strategies in this trialing period as compared to the Nigerian system which is still struggling with the effectiveness of the offline system talk more of online.

How do we plan on measuring the effectiveness of these innovations that the pandemic has forced us to embrace? How will the average Nigerian home struggling to feed in the lockdown be able to provide the needed aid to receive this online learning?
Looking at the challenges faced by the health and education sector during this pandemic, it is obvious that Nigeria is not prepared for this and has not planned well for rainy days like this.

Nonetheless, in every problem they say is an opportunity. Despite the obvious mess we have found ourselves in, we are optimistic we will surmount and survive these travails. But, then the questions remain what happens to these critical sectors after this pandemic? Do we then go back to our careless living or we forge ahead maintaining the advancements and developments we were forced to inculcate? Is there a place for repentance and reflections on the part of the government in terms of developing the Nation? Is there a place for Sustainability on the parts of the citizens and government likewise?

There is a need for us to learn our lessons as a nation and see this as an opportunity to step up our developmental and sustainability race. The education sector is not expected to throw away these innovations nor should the health sector deteriorate in the improvements made during this period.

There is a need for the government to massively invest more in technology in the education sector. It should serve as a supplement to aid and ease teaching and learning. Likewise, on health, the place of technology cannot be overemphasized. The government need to procure and fix state of the art facilities in our hospitals in order to make work easier for our health workers and fast track the developments made in this sector.

Also, employments, appointments and promotions in these sectors should be based on merits and not favoritism, tribalism nor nepotism so as to avoid having the wrong persons in the right positions for the sake of effective and efficient discharge of duties.

Citizens should also imbibe the spirit of patriotism by actively and consciously helping the government in their course to develop and progress these sectors.
This should serve as a lesson to the government also that there is need to invest more in the nation, education and health in particular and other critical sectors to be able to combat similar future occurrences. It is indeed a time to be sober and reflect on everything that matters. We should also note that there is no other place to call our home other than the Nigeria we have built for ourselves.

To the families of those whose lives have been lost during this pandemic, my prayer for them is that God gives them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss

KENYA BECOMES THE FIRST AFRICAN COUNTRY TO EVACUATE HER CITIZENS FROM CHINA

By Toyin Johnson

The Kenya government had announced plans on how to evacuate it’s citizens who are stranded in China and cannot afford their own travel costs.

This decision was made by Kenyan government after various reports accusing Beijing a capital in China of maltreatment to African people.

There are various pictures and videos of videos going viral on social media showing Africans including Nigerians and Kenyans sleeping on the street,which prompted African community in diaspora and back home,call on government to rescue those stranded in the city of China.

According to the notice issued by officials of Kenyan Embassy in Beijing ,this Fridays calls on Kenyans ready to buy a ticket out of China to get ready their information via online to enable them out of China. This Kenyans have to prove that they are free from corona virus,and once they arrive,they will be forced into quarantine for 14 days upon landing at Nairobi.

However Kenyan views on social media(twitter) suggest that government should use the funds meant for covid-19 relief to have Kenyans flown back home.

The kenyan ministry of foreign affairs admitted that it’s Nationals were victims of the controversial policy,now considered as racist.

According to foreign affairs principal secretary of Kenyan Macharia Kamau told a media briefing on Tuesday that ” This situation as been extremely worrisome to all of us. The reality is that this been a very unfortunate outcome. African, Kenyans included have been discriminated against the process of [ Guangdong provincial].

Government response to mop up this situation they are facing there,post crisis.
The Kenyan Embassies across the world have been asked to update there records of Kenyans living in the areas of their jurisdiction.

COVID-19: WE HAVE A PART TO PLAY

By Hannah Soyombo

As at the 2nd of April 2020,the corona virus cases in Nigeria summed up to 184.

The Nigerian Government has employed all means possible to curb the spread of the bedeviling pandemic fighting the globe.

In other to curb it’s spread,citizens have been asked to stay indoor, even though many find it difficult to adhere to the instructions as the pain of hunger could be unbearable.

Different broadcast has been released regarding the efforts of the Government to provide foodstuffs for the nation.

Although,some people have interpreted this act as fraudulence and consequentially the infliction of pain to souls in the course of duping them and making them believe after some exercise they would be paid, yet the Federal Government claimed to have not released such information. As they have not even discussed how the money will be shared.

Just yesterday the Lagos State government his Excellency, Babajide Sanwo Olu in his speech was glad to announce to the people of Nigeria that 20 infected person’s has been cured and released from the hospital and allowed to go back to their family. Leaving the total number of the infected to be 184.

He urged Nigerians to take heed to the instructions of the federal Government and bear with them as the issue at hand is very tasking.

I implore us all as citizens to cooperate with the Government by staying in our homes, taking the necessary precautions, and helping out the best way we can, for Unity is the fuel of progress.

LASU DEVELOPS MOBILE APP TO HELP FIGHT AGAINST CORONA VIRUS.

By Toyin Johnson

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The Lagos state university has just recently developed a new self test app to help fight against corona virus.

The department of computer science has developed this self test app for individual self test for corona virus.

According to LASU the app was part of lasu’s effort to create an awareness to the general publics on the ongoing pandemic.

In a statement by Ademola Adekoya, the coordinator of center for information,press and public relations said that the innovation was led by Benjamin Aribisala, a professor and assisted by other team members which include:
-Oluwatoyin Enikuomehin
-Olusola Olabanjo

-Abdulazeez Saheed and Abdulazeez Anjorin of Microbiology Department.

The statement further said the software has been tested and certified by the Provost Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, and will be available on Playstore from 7th April, 2020.

The vice chancellor has urge all student to strictly adhere to safety precautions,and to contact the authorities when they notice any symptoms for the virus.

CORONA IS REAL,THE BOREDOM IS REALER

By Princess Onisemoh

The past few days has accommodated a number of citizens within the four walls of their humble homes, as many has indeed taken to the express use of social media to pass out time and keep their restless self engaged.

Many students has shared their earlier unwillingness to go back to their homes, as some had determined to remain at their hostels before their parents beckon had called them home. The few who had stayed back sure had to cope with a number of alarming calls from their guardians .

Indeed, the rising numbers of COVID-19 victims has been a cause for worry,, especially parents . As many students has shared how their parents call had done well to inform each of them that there was a rising development with a sense of alarm that ringed fear.

It is quite funny to disclose how some disbelieving hearts has refused to see the reality in the virus presence, as some had backed their disbelief with several excuses which indeed many had countered to be flimsy. Some correspondents shared their thoughts as they spoke about how much their prayers are against the virus.

The past few days had unveiled a number of talents in many social media users, as many had taken to occupying themselves with thriller videos dancing , talking and doing all sorts of creative things. “Indeed the Netflix videos had also helped reduce the boredom this break” jessica, a young girl explained, “I am an introvert” She said

Many share how “WhatsApp” portray the intensity of the boredom, as many contacts had frequently flooded their status with wide range of diverse contents. The WhatsApp video calls has also being a trend this season . “I have been on 8 video calls this morning, and still counting” Emmanuel a lasu undergraduate shared. ” All thanks to my WhatsApp contacts, their status keeps me going” Bukola playfully noted.

Despite the pleasure and refreshing that many have enjoyed through social media platforms, many have lamented on how mobile data subscription has made the indoor pleasure quite expensive. As many laments how their data subscription during this season easily gets exhausted ,making the fun quite restrictive .
In the bid to engage in productive things while Waring off boredom, a few shared their secrets. ” I have watched quite a number of movies, and went ahead to write reviews on these movies” As a Wattpad lover, I have read diverse novels and recommended interesting ones on my blog” ” I have opened a YouTube channel just recently, as I realised my talents as a broadcaster “. ” I have engaged in poems and all forms of creative writings” . “I have maximised this period to study at my place, as I’m a slow learner” Mike an undergraduate confessed.

Mr Ozor an Established graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka urges undergraduates to make the best use of this season, as he explains that many lecturers by resumption wouldn’t be able to explicitly revise the course, as schools would most likely place academic activities in hurry as to meet up with their planned calendar. He urges that students maximize this period to read up, make notes themselves and study well.

CORONA VIRUS: THE END OF THE PANDEMIC IS NIGH

By Sotubo Ayomide

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Like they always say, the darkest part of the night is just before dawn. It is very accurate if we compare the current state of the world to that of acute darkness.

The entire globe is bound to an inadvertent curfew and a total lockdown. So great is the Covid-19 pandemic that it has brought the human race to its knees.

The statistics don’t lie, the spread is having a global multiplying effect and at an alarming rate. According to the most recent figures provided by the World Health Organization as at March 26, 2020. Globally, there are 462,684 recorded confirmed cases of which 49,219 of these cases newly discovered in the past 24 hours. This is an all time low, without any doubt.

In Lagos, Africa’s Apex commercial hub, 12 new cases were confirmed the same night, ensuring a rare surge in the overall numbers to a total of 65 cases in Nigeria.

Despite the world experiencing this extraordinary turmoil, it is clearly not the time to despair. Finally, illumination seems to exist at the tail end of this current tunnel of doom. The city of Wuhan from which the contagious virus sprung from will end restrictions on regular basis daily routines from April 8. This was revealed by the Chinese consul to Nigeria, Chu Maoming in Lagos. According to him, Wuhan residents will become allowed to go about their routines as from the midnight of Tuesday March 24, 2020 if they are confirmed to be healthy.

Chu Maoming disclosed, “People who wish to travel in or out of Hubei or Wuhan will be able to do so as long as they have a “green” health code issued by the authorities.”

This shows that the Chinese governments and people have made remarkable achievements in the epidemic’s prevention and control with strenuous efforts and enormous sacrifices. The positive progress that China has achieved in the fight against COVID-19 has once again demonstrated the strength, conditioning and solidarity of the great Chinese people. China will prevail over the epidemic and will grow up ever stronger.

After the outbreak, China has made all-out efforts in epidemics prevention and control, effectively fending for the “first wave” of the virus and earning time for the world to see enhance preparedness. At present, China has stepped out of the most arduous stage. During the fight, the international community provided support and help, which Chinese people will never forget.

With parity being restored in the city in which the pandemic arose from, it is safe to say that a corresponding Volume of sanity will soon be assumed in the global space. It remains to be seen how soon there would be a transformative effect in the world, we can stay safe in the knowledge that has every beginning has an end, we would soon see the end of the pandemic.

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