COVID-19: Challenges of Rural women and social distancing

By Ebere Agozie

As the world grapples with prevention and finding cure for the #covid-19 outbreak, #social distancing has become a buzzword. Incidentally, many of the recommendations given by health experts as to the required keeping of distance between people have to do with what makes life pleasurable and in contradiction with some long established traditions.

According to Wikipedia, social distancing, or physical distancing, is a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures taken to prevent the spread of a contagious disease by maintaining physical distances between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with eachother.

Also, according to the(WHO) soccial distancing involves keeping a distance of three feet (one meter) from others and avoiding gathering in large groups.

It is established that when someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person has the disease.

A person is adviced to avoid going to crowded places because where people come together in crowds, it is more likely to come into close contact with someone that has COIVD-19 and it is more difficult to maintain physical distance of 1 metre (3 feet).

Going by the above definition, one wonders how women in rural areas will stick to these recommendations by health experts, considering the roles they play in the society.In Africa where there are basically no institutions that take care of the elderly and children with special needs, the challenge of taking care of them is left to the women.

Women as care givers do not only take care of the young children at home, feed and bathe them, they equally take care of their husbands and their aged ones.Even as the typical belief or culture of an African woman revolves around domestic chores, some of these women are also the breadwinners of their homes. So, they go out and are exposed and come back to give care.

For instance, no matter how incongruous it may sound, one cannot but wonder how a nursing mother can keep distance from her suckling child without the attendant psychological trauma that follows every woman separated from her child.

More especially, social distancing cannot also be observed by rural women because of lack of information or knowledge about the dangers of contracting the deadly virus. Findings reveals that even when the information is passed across to them, social distancing can never be completely observed since most of them basically live in what is considered slums.

Social distancing is literally impossible for people living in small apartments. For some of them the one room could also serve as bedroom, living room, kitchen and store.It is therefore unimaginable that social distancing could be practiced here.

Some of these women are with men with erroneous belief that the coronavirus is a scam by their respective governments to squander public funds, or that the COVID-19 is a kind of third world war, and thereby narrowing it to the fight for supremacy between the United States of America and China.

These men will always demand for sex from their women, even when they are sick, and of course there are the factors of culture and religion. Culture and religion give the women no choice but to succumb to the advances of such men, which sometimes come in the form of commands.

While the social distancing is part of prescribed ways of curbing the spread of COVID-19, it is nonetheless going to be very difficult for women trying to go about their lives to stay healthy while still carrying the burden of the people around them.

Most of the women interviewed lamented that their religions and culture have put much burden on them as women.They seemed constrained by these factors which smark of obvious indoctrination, almost amounting to brainwashing.

Some believe that eating of spicy African foods will prevent, and even cure the virus.For some, its a big mans sickness and for those who eat the oyibo (foreign) kinds of food.They all believe that womens immune systems are made strong by God, and that is why more men get the virus than women.

Hajia Fatima Muhammad, a civil servant jokingly asked, how can I observe social distancing when my husband will not keep away from me?

My husband has three wives, he goes out, all the wives go out too to do different businesses and come back home to have bodily contact with our husband. If he gets infected either through any of the wives or even from his contacts outside and still wants to sleep with me, what do I do since I cannot say no to him?

Mfon Effiong, a business woman angrily responded, Abeg leave that big man sickness, I am a nursing mother, how do I breastfeed my baby?

I heard more men are infected than women, and more women survive than men even though we still sleep with them and bodily fluids are exchanged in the process. Besides God has seen all the loads we carry as women and has thus given us strong systems. I will not be infected in Jesus name, she declared.

From the above encounter, it is clear that the practicability of social distancing by rural women is a massive challenge.There is no easy way out of this predicament and the real or perceived inequality in the society does not help matters either.

The less privileged members of the public still believed that the government has always left them with the short end of the stick.They, therefore, see the current pandemic which they still see as the big mans disease as divine punishment for their perceived oppressors.

It is therefore clear that the government has its work cut out by the public in this time of great fear, culture conflict, health challenges and social inequality in dealing with COVID-19 . More than anything else, there is an urgent need for more aggressive grassroots education to sink in the preventive measures needed to contain this pandemic in the country.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

Enough with European colonialism against Venezuela.

The European Union ambassador (has) 72 hours to leave the country, enough with supremacist interventionism and racism, Maduro said at the Miraflores Palace according to a government statement.

The leader said it is time to sort out our business with the European Union, adding that if they dont want us, they should leave.

The EU Council on Monday added 11 Venezuelan officials to its sanctions list, accusing them of undermining democracy and the rule of law in the South American country.

They will be hit with EU entry bans and an assets freezes.

In a statement, the EU cited the officials involvement in stripping parliamentary immunity from several members of the National Assembly, including Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The EU considers Guaido the legitimate head of the National Assembly in spite of a Venezuelan Supreme Court decision earlier this month confirming government ally Luis Parra as holding the post instead.

Parra, whose election came in an official but disputed vote, is among the newly sanctioned individuals.

The EU considers his election illegitimate.

Venezuela is locked in a bitter power struggle, with Guaido backed by the U.S. and many Latin American and European nations.

About 50 countries, including the U.S. and most members of the EU, recognise him as Venezuelas interim president.

Maduro meanwhile is supported by China, Russia and his local allies Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Pochettinos 19-year-old son signs new deal at Tottenham

Winger Maurizio, whose current deal was due to expire on Tuesday, announced the contract extension in a social media post on Monday.

The Instagram post showed the 19-year-old sharing a photo with his father along with the caption Looking forwards to the new season.

Neither the club nor Maurizio said how long the new deal would last for.

However, sports data website transfermarkt said it would last until 2022.

Maurizio joined the north London clubs academy in 2017 but is yet to make a senior appearance.

His father Pochettino was sacked by Spurs in November after more than five years in charge and was replaced by Portuguese boss Jose Mourinho.

Spurs are seventh in the league standings with 45 points, nine points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

FC Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo

FC Barcelona have reached an agreement to sell Brazil midfielder Arthur Melo to Juventus for a fee of 72 million euros (80.98 million dollars).

The La Liga title-holders said in a statement on Monday they have however gone on to sign Bosnian Miralem Pjanic from the Italian champions for 60 million euros.

The 23-year-old Melo, generally known simply as Arthur, will remain at the Camp Nou until the end of the 2019/2020 season before moving to Turin.

This has however been extended until August because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Pjanic, 30, will also move to the Camp Nou at the end of the campaign.

He will sign a four-year contract containing a release clause of 400 million euros, Barcas statement said, adding that the Bosnians transfer fee was worth an additional five million in variables.

Bosnian international Pjanic has been at Juve since 2016, having previously played for AS Roma as well as French sides Olympique Lyonnais and Metz.

The transfer helps Barca meet their target of a further 70 million euros in revenues from player sales before June 30.

This is in line with the budget the clubs members approved last October which forecast income of 124 million euros from transfers.

FC Barcelona have the highest revenues in world football but their finances have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic had affected ticket sales, television rights and merchandising, leading the club to enact a 70 percent pay cut for players in April.

But the negotiation has attracted criticism from Spanish future presidential candidate Victor Font, who said the deal came about due to the clubs financial mismanagement.

The deal once again proves the boards absolute priority is to balance the books by letting key players go.

The financial situation has been bad for many years, long before the pandemic, he said on Twitter.

Barca did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Fonts words.

Arthur joined Barca from Brazilian side Gremio in July 2018 and was initially hailed as the heir to former club great Xavi Hernandez.

Lionel Messi had said then that he was surprised by the players similarities to the sides former puppet master.

But in spite of a promising opening spell, Arthur made only 19 league starts in his first season with the club and 14 this campaign.

Coach Quique Setien said earlier this month that he had not lived up to expectations.

There were also issues off the field.

In March 2019, he apologised for travelling to Paris during the season to attend the birthday party of Brazil team mate Neymar.

Last December, Catalan television network said Arthur had gone snowboarding while sidelined with a groin injury.(Reuters/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, Coordinator, Defence Media Operations

By Sumaila Ogbaje
Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke have eliminated four armed militia men at Rafin Kada in Wukari Local Government Area and Yojaa in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the troops operated under the Operation Accord.

Enenche said the troops at Gbise in Katsina Ala Local Government Area in Benue and Sector 4 in Taraba conducted a joint commando raid operation in the area in the early hours of Monday.

He explained that the troops came in contact with the suspected militias at Che Jukun village, adding that four of the militias were killed and many other criminal elements were wounded during the encounter.

According to him, items recovered include; two locally made rifles, 55 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 117 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three mobile phones, three AK47 magazines, and two motorcycles.

Also recovered include one military shirt uniform, one Peace Corps ID Card belonging to one Mr Anyor Fidelis and some charms.

In another development, troops responded to a distress call from Zaki Biam on the activities of a notorious kidnap kingpin by name Kobo Ishor (aka Lesser) an associate of late Orjondu.

He was apprehended and currently undergoing interrogation, to be handed over to the Nigerian Police afterwards for prosecution.

The High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria congratulates the gallant troops of Operation Whirl Stroke for their dexterity and professionalism.

It encouraged them to remain resolute in curtailing the activities of criminals in the North Central Zone of the Country, he said.

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has affirmed commitment to ensure timely delivery of the landmark Ajakuota-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project.

The president said the project would be completed within budgetary allocation and specifications in 24 months.

Speaking at the virtual flag-off ceremony of the project at the Ajaokuta, Kogi and Rigachikun, Kaduna State camp sites simultaneously, Buhari said the project was very dear to the people of Nigeria and must succeed.

He, therefore, directed the NNPC and partners to remain focused, noting that the AKK project was part of the delivery of the present administrations Next Level Agenda for sustainable development, enhancement of economic prosperity and increase of the countrys infrastructure assets.

Governors Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna physically flagged off the commencement of works at Ajaokuta and Rigachikun sites, while the President watched remotely via video-conference from the Council Chamber in Abuja.

President Buhari said: we promised the Nation that we will expand the critical gas infrastructure in the country to promote the use of gas in the domestic market.

These include the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline System 2 (ELPS-2), Obiafu to Obrikom (OB3) pipeline and AKK.

These projects are fundamental to our desire to industrialize and energize the entrepreneurial spirit that is ever present in our population.

While enumerating the benefits of the project, billed to be completed in two years, the president said it would provide gas for generation of power and for gas-based industries which would facilitate the development of new industries.

He also expressed optimism that the project, when completed would ensure the revival of moribund industries along transit towns in Kogi, Abuja (FCT), Niger, Kaduna and Kano States.

According to him, the cascading effect and impact of the AKK, when operational, will be immeasurable.

It has significant job creation potential both direct and indirect, while fostering the development and utilization of local skills and manpower, technology transfer and promotion of local manufacturing, he said.

President Buhari announced that Nigeria had learnt invaluable lessons from the global COVID-19 pandemic and some oil rich countries that have used their crude as a pathway to economic and industrial diversification.

On COVID-19, the President said the pandemic had further underscored the drive of his administration for export substitution initiatives and projects that promote local manufacturing.

On diversification, the President said: Gulf countries that have similar levels of gas reserves as Nigeria, have a strategy centered around gas-industrialization as their foundation towards export diversification.

This has to be our guiding principle as we seek to attract investment and create opportunities for our people.

The President also used the occasion to challenge the private sector to lead the charge in maximising the nations gas resources.

According to him, the private sector can create a petrochemical hub that will resurrect the manufacturing industry and put the nation on the path to increased self-sufficiency.

As the world evolves, we owe our people the responsibility to prepare them for what the future holds. We, therefore, must be bold and fearless and can no longer be incremental in our approach.

Time is short, and our peoples zeal is strong and palpable. Infrastructure development although long, tedious and complex remains a cardinal objective of our Administrations drive towards ensuring a stable, sustainable and more prosperous future for our citizenry.

Today marks an important chapter in the history of our great Nation.

It marks the day when our domestic natural gas pipeline networks; from Obiafu in Rivers State, Escravos in Delta State and Lekki in Lagos State, are being connected through Kaduna to Kano States thereby enhancing national energy security, creating balanced development, and further integrating our nation, he said.

The President commended the Government of the Peoples Republic of China; the financiers the Bank of China and SINOSURE; and the two EPC Contractors (Brentex/China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau-CPP Consortia and Oilserve/China First Highway Engineering Company-CFHEC Consortia) for their support to deliver the important project.

He also congratulated the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC and all relevant stakeholders on the historic and epoch-making occasion, commending the resilience of the team to deliver on the project despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President appealed to Governors of Kogi, Niger, Kaduna and Kano States as well as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to provide the enabling environment and support for the project.

In his remarks, Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mele Kyari, explained that the AKK gas pipeline project is part of the Trans-Nigeria gas pipeline project.

According to him, the project involves the establishment of a connecting gas pipeline network that will integrate the Northern region of the country with the Niger Delta, Eastern and Western regions of the Country.

He said the EPC contract for the 614km AKK gas pipeline project was awarded at a total contract sum of 2.592 billion dollars to Messrs. Oilserv Plc/China First Highway Engineering Company (Oilserv/CFHEC Consortium) for the first segment covering 303km.

According to the GMD NNPC, Messrs Brentex Petroleum Services/China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (Brentex/CPP Consortium) got the contract for the second segment covering 311km under a debt-equity financing model with loan from Bank of China and SINOSURE.

He said the loan would be repaid through the pipeline transmission tariff and supported by a sovereign guarantee.

We are confident that the EPC contractors will deliver the project on time, within budget and to quality/specifications, he said.

Kyari added that upon completion, the project would enable the injection of 2.2bscf/d of gas into the domestic market and facilitate additional power generation capacity of 3,600MW.

Source: NAN News

The Senate on Tuesday suspended plenary in honour of late Sen. Adebayo Osinowo, who died on June 15, after a brief illness.

The resolution of the Senate to adjourn until July 1, followed the adoption of a motion brought by the Senate Leader, Abdulahi Yayaya (APC Kebbi) and seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Enyinaya Abaribe (PDP Abia).

Senate also observed a minute silence in honour of the departed colleague.

Osinowo, who until his death represented Lagos East Senatorial District, first made his mark at the Lagos Civil Service and also at the Lagos State House of Assembly, where he served four terms before his election to the Senate in 2019.

Paying tribute to the late Senator, shortly after signing the condolence register, Deputy President of Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, said Osinowo was a great nationalist.

According to him, the late Senator devoted most of his adult life fighting for Nigerians to have a better life.

He was a very stablishing factor in the Lagos State House of Assembly, he has been here with us in the Senate, a patriot who also provided stability and gave support to the leadership.

His contributions were very impactful and we are going to miss him, he said.

Late Osinowo was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Industry.

Source: NAN News

The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), has pledged continued provision of nutrition supplies and technical support to Kaduna State Government in boosting nutrition services to women and children.

Dr Zakari Adam, Chief of Field of Office, UNICEF Kaduna, made the pledge on Tuesday at the opening of a one-day review meeting with Local Government Areas (LGAs) Nutrition Focal Persons.

Adam, who was represented by UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs Chinwe Ezeife, said that the technical support was critical to providing quality nutrition services to women and children.

He said that the agency had already supplied adequate quantities of Vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets for the forthcoming Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS) in July.

Adam said that in addition to the matching grant for Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), UNICEF had also supplied 300 cartons of RUTF worth about N5 million.

According to him, this is to increase coverage of treatment of children from six to 59 months with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), especially with the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic.

He noted that the agency had also been providing technical support to nutrition focal persons and officers in-charge in health facilities for quality service delivery.

In spite the significant improvement recorded in the last five years, the state has remained among the 14 out of the 36 states with disturbing nutrition indices.

In response to this poor nutrition indices, the government has been implementing cost effective, high impact, preventive and curative nutrition programmes.

These programmes are Community Infant and Young Child Feeding (CIYCF), Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), VAS and deworming of children across the 23 LGAs in the state, the chief of field said.

Adam further said that CIYCF programme was being implemented in 20 LGAs in collaboration with development partners, civil society organisations and NGOs, stressing the need for statewide coverage.

He said that the emphasis of CIYCF was on early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and adequate complementary feeding from six months while continuing breastfeeding.

The CMAM approach emphasises the importance of the community in the management of severe acute malnutrition.

The key components include early detection of cases of malnutrition in communities and treatment at health facilities with full participation of mothers and other care givers.

Currently, the CMAM programme is fully operational in 15 out of the 23 LGAs of the state while providing full-fledged Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) services.

There is the need to scale up these services in all the 23 LGAs to ease access to treatment and improve the health status of women and children. Adam said.

The UNICEF boss also said that the bi-annual VAS and deworming of children implemented during the Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week, was significantly reducing childhood illnesses.

He pointed out that the success of any programme was dependant on quality supervision, monitoring, data quality, supplies and provision of critical commodities.

He therefore urged the state and local governments to allocate and release funds for procurement of critical nutrition commodities and supplies.

Source: NAN News

GMD OF NNPC, MALAM MELE KYARI

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), says the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project will inject 2.2 billion standard cubic feet per day of gas to the domestic market.

Malam Mele Kyari, NNPC Group Managing Director disclosed this at the ground breaking ceremony of the project on Tuesday in Ajaokuta.

Upon completion, the project will enable the injection of 2.2bscf per day of gas into the domestic market and facilitate additional power generation capacity of 3,600MW.

The realisation of this project will therefore, bring about the needed transformation in power generation and industrial growth in the Country, he said

The NNPC boss commended the support of President Muhammadu Buhari on the project, adding that the event would not have been possible without his full and unflinching support.

The current administration under the leadership of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari has made it a priority to ensure revenues from oil and gas resources are utilised to support the emergence and growth of other non-oil sectors of the economy, he said.

The GMD said that NNPC was transitioning toward becoming an Integrated Energy Company to support the Presidents economic diversification efforts.

According to him, one of such efforts is the expansion of the corporations domestic gas footprint.

He said this was with the delivery of the Trans-Nigeria Pipeline Project which include the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) 2, the Obiafu,-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.

Construction of these critical enablers is in line with NNPCs responsibility of implementing the National Gas Infrastructure Blueprint which is part of the Nigerian Gas Master Plan.

The master plan is meant to leverage on the nations huge natural gas reserve base to stimulate unprecedented economic growth and enable Nigerias migration from the current mono-economy into a diversified economy.

The AKK gas pipeline project, which is part of the Trans-Nigeria gas pipeline project, involves the establishment of a connecting gas pipeline network that will integrate the Northern region of the country with the Niger Delta, Eastern and Western regions, he said

Kyari further said that all the required conditions precedent for closing the debt financing had been provided and the process of obtaining internal approvals by the Lenders was in progress to enable financing close by August.

He said that as part of the agreement, NNPC would utilise the equity contribution to commence execution of the project to recover lost time and put the project back on track.

We are confident that the EPC contractors will deliver the project on time, within budget and to quality, the GMD said.

Earlier, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, said that the project was a good move for economic growth of the nation.

Bello said that it would go a long way to solve energy challenge in country.

I commend the President for this project and we look forward to the completion in the near future, he said.

Also speaking, Sen. Bassey Akpan, Chairman Senate committee on petroleum Upstream said the AKK gas pipeline project remained key to economic growth of the nation.

Akpan said that the financing pattern of the project made it possible to come up immediately.

I have confident in the effort of the NNPC and all partners. I am sure that the project will be delivered at the time frame.

Nigerians and the economy will be happy at the end of the day, this project is already projecting indigenous effort with oilserve as key player.

it will create a lot of employment and development, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 40-inch x 614km AKk gas pipeline which would originate from Ajaokuta, in Kogi and traverse Abuja (FCT), Niger, Kaduna and terminate at Kano.

Source: NAN News

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

The Ministry of Education Technical Inspection Team has approved the temporary site for establishment of a new Federal College of Education (FCE), Jamaare in Bauchi State.

Mr Joel Ojo, Director, Tertiary Education of the ministry gave the certification during inspection of the proposed site of the college, on Tuesday in Jamaare Local Government Area of the state.

Ojo said that work to provide structure in the school would commence soon, just as the delegation expressed satisfaction when they inspected facilities at the temporary campus.

The facilities on the ground are okay; the site is good. Our duty is to inspect and report to our principal, he said,assuring that the newly established college would take off soon.

Mr Sani Gidado, Chairman Jamaare Development Forum, who responded on behalf of Jamaare Emirate Council, lauded the Federal Government for siting the college in the area.

Gidado said that the establishment of the institution would lead to social and economic development in the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the technical inspection team for the establishment of new institution comprised of senior staff of Federal Ministry of Education and National Commission of the Colleges of Education (NCCE).

Source: NAN News