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Coronavirus: Kwara Group Calls For Palliatives For Poor Residents

Elites Network for Sustainable Development, a Kwara-based civil society organisation, has urged Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, to provide palliatives for poor people in the state.

The government has ordered residents to stay at home as part of efforts in curbing the spread of the pandemic in the country.

ENetSuD, in a letter jointly signed by its Coordinator, Dr Alagbonsi Abdullateef; and Secretary, Mahmud Usman Baba; noted that notwithstanding the laudable lockdown order, majority of Kwarans in the informal sector would be severely affected.

ENetSuD said the government should consider and approve the spending of one-month Internally Generated Revenue of the state for the provision of food items to people in the informal sector across Kwara.

It said, “Most of the people in this sector possibly cannot feed themselves and their family members without accessing their shops and rendering their daily services.

“The latest statement from the State Technical Committee on COVID-19 dated 27th March 2020 that the KWSG is considering palliatives for the poorest of the poor at this critical COVID-19 pandemic period.

“Thus, ENetSuD further suggested the following possible ways the government may wish to consider for the implementation of the proposed palliative measures: the measures should be mainly foodstuffs and agricultural items that will serve the purpose of feeding, but not hand-sanitisers or face masks.

“This is based on the fact that the lockdown order has already significantly prevented physical contacts of people as they are now unavoidably staying at home, and all households can efficiently practice hand washing with soap.

“The measures should only be for Kwara residents in the informal sector who are the most affected by this pandemic-induced lockdown.”

ENetSuD added that the measures should exclude the civil servants in the formal sector since the government had graciously continued to pay their salaries even during the period, which would remove hardship.

It also suggested that the government works with artisans, market and community associations to altruistically identify their members with a genuine need for the palliative, adding that the process should be transparent to the public.

It added, “We urge the government to strictly supervise the exercise collaboratively so that the impact could be truly felt by the people really in need of the measures.

“Distribution of items of this nature is best done by independent bodies, especially reputable nongovernmental organisations.”

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http://saharareporters.com/2020/03/28/coronavirus-kwara-group-calls-palliatives-poor-residents

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March 29, 2020
Covid-19: Chow Kit market remains busy, but with close monitoring

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of Movement Control Order (MCO) has not stopped people from visiting Chow Kit Wholesaler Market here although the authority has limited the number of visitors who can enter the market at a time.

A check by Bernama found that customers start queueing up patiently lining-up in very early in the morning while monitored by the police.

Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Mohd Fahmi Visuvanathan Abdullah said as of 10am today, about 700 visitors had already lined up to enter the market, which was allowed to operate from 6am until 1pm.

The police divided them accordingly into groups of between 30 and 40 and gave them 20 minutes to enter the market to buy essential goods.

“Customers need to register their names and undergo body temperature screening before they can enter the market. This is to ensure that they complied with the MCO,” he told reporters after monitoring the MCO implementation at the market today.

He said the police also set-up a special lane for the elderlies.

However, he regretted that some visitors did not practice one-meter social distancing or were not wearing face masks.

Mohd Fahmi Visuvanathan also reminded the people not to visit Chow Kit Market after 1pm.

“Action will be taken to those who refuse to comply,” he said.

To date, no arrests have been made by the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters in relation to MCO implementation.

Meanwhile, several customers at the market described the entry limit as a good measure to break the Covid-19 infection chain.

A homemaker Aminah Abdullah, 44, said the 20-minute limit to buy necessities would be sufficient if the customers made initial preparations by listing the items to be purchased.

“I’m a regular customer in this market … so when I came to the market, I already know my way to the items I need,” she said.

A civil servant, known as Amir, said he visited the market to buy necessities for his family.

“I came to buy goods in large quantities for my family because I need to go to Johor afterwards. My wife and children stay in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

A worker in a private sector, Abdullah Sidek, 44, said as the head of his family he is taking over the task of buying groceries from his wife during the MCO period.

“I didn’t encounter problems because my wife had prepared a good list of items she needed, everything is in this market,” he said. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/covid-19-chow-kit-market-remains-busy-but-with-close-monitoring-EG2190035

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March 27, 2020
Lessons from Gmail – 3 Tips to Improve Your Email Best Practices

If you haven’t heard by now, Gmail is rolling out a major change to how its users receive emails. Basically, Gmail will be sorting emails for their users and putting them in folders for them. Why would Gmail be doing this? I suspect at least part of the reason is because a common complaint from people who have an email address is “too much email.” Read on to learn how Gmail?s new practice could improve the way you currently use email in your marketing…

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http://www.associationofmarketing.org/articles/view.php?article_id=7932

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March 25, 2020
Coronavirus: Zamfara Governor Orders Closure Of Government Offices

Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has ordered the immediate closure of all government offices in the state.

The move was to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

No case of COVID-19 is yet to be confirmed in the state.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control had on Monday morning confirmed 36 cases of the virus with one death so far.

In his directive, Matawalle ordered all civil servants to stay at home.

However, he stated that health workers, firefighters and radio stations were exempted from the order.

He said, “I have ordered the immediate shutdown of all government offices, ministries, departments and agencies.

“Almajiri schools should also be closed. All state civil servants should remain at home.

“Gathering of more than 20 people is banned.

“Our hospitals, fire service and radio stations are not affected by this rule.”

The governor, who described the rapid increase of Covid-19 cases in the country as alarming, advised the people of Zamfara to practice social distancing, avoid large crowds and also take all necessary precautions as directed by the NCDC.

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http://saharareporters.com/2020/03/23/coronavirus-zamfara-governor-orders-closure-government-offices

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March 24, 2020
Adequate blood supply in the country: National Blood Centre

KUALA LUMPUR: The supply of blood in the country is still sufficient at a safe level so far, said National Blood Centre (PDN) director Dr Noryati Abu Amin.

However, she said PDN and other blood centres are still in need of blood donors to continue replenishing blood stock at an optimum level all the time.

According to her, blood donation is still available during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period as the activity is considered an essential service under the Health Ministry for the treatment of patients.

While it cannot be denied that blood donation throughout the country would be affected following Covid-19 and the enforcement of MCO, Dr Noryati said various efforts including stepping up promotions via social media as well as extending the operation hours at collection centres have been carried out.

“So far, the supply of all types of blood is sufficient, however many blood donation campaigns were cancelled over fears that the people maybe infected with Covid-19 which also caused a drop in the number of donors,” she told Bernama.

Dr Noryati added that several additional measures were taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19 when individuals came to donate blood, among them was limiting the number of donors at a location at any one time.

“Apart from that, measures such as social distancing and practice of good hygiene especially washing hands with soap and water as well as providing initial screening such as checking body temperature and inquiring the travel history of the donor, she said.

In this regard, she urged the people to continue donating blood regularly to ensure the supply of blood is always at a safe level.

“Having an adequate supply of blood at all time is very important to treat patients such as emergency victims, expecting mothers who may experience bleeding complications during delivery, cancer and thalassemia patients as well as patients undergoing major surgeries,” she said.

Members of the public can donate blood at three locations in the Klang Valley namely PDN in Jalan Tun Razak on Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 8pm and on Saturday and Sunday, from 8am to 6pm.

Besides that, the PDN Donation Suite in Midvalley Megamall starts daily from 10am to 5pm while the Puspanita Blood Donation Suite in Putrajaya operates from Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 7pm and on weekends from 9am to 6pm.

Meanwhile, the blood supply at the Blood Centre of Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital Seremban (HTJS) is also sufficient, said Negri Sembilan Health acting director Dr Mohammad Faid Abd Rashid.

Speaking to Bernama, he said the centre has enough blood for patients,

“During the MOC period, the centre is still operating on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 3pm and on Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4.30 pm.

“The supply of blood however depends on healthy and non-risky donors who have to adhere to the regulations of the hospital,” he said.

Dr Mohammad Faid said those who display Covid-19 symptoms or have just returned from abroad or have close contact with suspected Covid-19 cases would not be allowed to donate blood. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/adequate-blood-supply-in-the-country-national-blood-centre-BA2165883

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March 21, 2020
Remote work will stress-test the internet—and parts will need repair, expert says

With offices across the country shuttered and workers being asked to work remotely when they can, the nation is relying on the robustness of the internet and technology infrastructure as never before. To understand the issues in play, the Gazette spoke with Jim Waldo, chief technology officer for the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, professor of the practice of computer science there, and professor of technology policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Waldo, who spent three decades in the tech industry, discussed the likelihood that parts of the all-important internet will fail, and the equal likelihood that engineers will make repairs on the fly to keep people working.

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https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-remote-stress-test-internetand-expert.html

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March 19, 2020
Make better financial decisions despite volatility in the markets (or in your life)

Whether you’re worried about market volatility, personal expenses, or even your next career move, mindfulness practice can help.

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https://investornews.vanguard/make-better-financial-decisions-despite-volatility-in-the-markets-or-in-your-life/

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March 15, 2020
Covid-19: 1,000 housemen to assist government hospitals

JOHOR BARU: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will station 1,000 housemen at government hospitals nationwide to help smoothen the day-to-day operations following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (pix) said all the trainee doctors would undergo a five-day induction training starting from Monday including handling of Covid-19 elements.

Their immediate stationing at the hospitals is to relieve the burden of existing doctors who are focusing their attention on Covid-19 cases.

“They (trainees) have to undergo an induction course and we (MOH) will provide them with skills pertaining to Covid-19 elements before they enter the MOH system,“ he told reporters after hearing a briefing on the Covid-19 situation at Permai Hospital, here, today.

Also present were Johor Health and Environment Committee Chairman R. Vidyananthan and Johor Health Director Dr Aman Rabu.

On the tabligh members who attended a gathering at the Sri Petaling Jamek Mosque, Kuala Lumpur, from Feb 27 to March 1, he said 508 participants from the state who attended the programme had volunteered to have health checks on Covid-19.

“Ninety-four patients were treated at the Permai Hospital with 21 of them positive for Covid-19.

“There are 73 others who are Persons Under Investigation (PUI) for Covid-19 including 13 who are tabligh members who had attended the gathering,“ he said, calling on those who had attended the gathering to volunteer for health examination.

At the same time, the Tenggara Member of Parliament called on the public to respect the government’s decision that all gatherings including international meetings, sports, social and religious events be postponed or canceled accordingly until April 30.

“Concerning the limit of a mass gathering, we have heard the Prime Minister’s (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) message that there should be no gathering in the current situation, I urge the people not to hold a public gathering of more than 50 people at any one time,“ he said, advising the public to practice good hygiene. especially washing their hands.

At the same time, he said MOH also urged private hospitals to limit visiting hours as done in government hospitals to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection.

“We have called for the co-operation of private hospitals to be more stringent in this regard and, the latest, we have reached an understanding with private hospital in dealing with Covid-19,“ he said. — Bernama

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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/covid-19-1000-housemen-to-assist-government-hospitals-XC2127473

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March 14, 2020
The unmet need for social context in family planning

New evidence on the relationship between sexual health and social context finds a strong association between gender equality, education and family planning

Twenty-five years ago, two global events – the International Conference on Population and Development and the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing – formally recognized that women’s health and reproductive choices cannot be separated from the social context of their lives.

Now, researchers have created a dataset which brings together national surveys from 74 countries, representing 3 million women. For the first time, it allows them to describe trends in demand/use of modern contraceptives alongside social and economic indicators.

The data is published in The Lancet Global Health and is authored by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the World Health Organization.

It shows that, over time, women are more likely to have their demand for modern contraception met in countries where gender equality and their educational opportunities improve.

Gender equality and education increases access to modern contraception

Trends in sexual activity and demand for use and use of modern contraceptive methods in 74 countries: a retrospective analysis of nationally representative surveys finds that met need for modern contraception is strongly correlated with positive shifts in social structures.
For every 0.1-point increase in a country’s gender development index, it found a 6.7% rise in women who were sexually active and did not want to conceive. Of those women, an additional 13.5% used modern methods to prevent a pregnancy.

Expectations of every girl’s right to education also made a difference. Each extra year in schooling is linked to an increase of 2.3% in demand, and a 4.7% increase in use of modern contraceptive methods.

“This study shows how every woman must negotiate her reproductive autonomy within the social framework in which she lives, responding to barriers and opportunities as they emerge,” says Dr Lale Say, one of the authors of the study and Unit Head at WHO and HRP.

“Gender equality is both a precondition and a driving force for securing women’s reproductive health and rights – as well as the sustainable development targets, which are our best chance for delivering health and well-being for all.”

Global trends reveal new challenges in family planning

Overall, the data reinforce global trends: more time spent sexually-active and single, postponement of parenthood, and the near-universal desire for smaller families.

The study also highlights where action is needed at country-level to avoid family planning services falling behind demand.

Out of the 74 countries analyzed, 42 showed an increase in demand for contraception. Only 37 countries show an increase in use of a modern method to prevent pregnancy.

Although unmet need for contraception declined in 34 countries, it increased in 14 countries. Significantly more progress is needed, and faster, to ensure each girl and woman is able to access the sexual and reproductive health services she needs.

Barriers and solutions to reproductive health and rights

Gender equality can affect contraceptive use in many ways. From the personal and political degree to which women are free to choose their sexual activity, to accessing family planning services it can also shape any power imbalances within personal relationships. This study supports recent efforts by WHO to adopt a broader, integrated concept of sexual and reproductive health – and to translate it into a framework for policy and practice.

The authors argue that family planning targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will not be met without a profound shift: from focus on ‘access to contraception’, to broader aspects of sexual health and social context.

Since reproductive health and women’s empowerment are intertwined, trends in contraceptive use can also reveal progress towards another global target: progress towards gender equality.

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https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/10-03-2020-the-unmet-need-for-social-context-in-family-planning

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March 11, 2020
Why deep networks generalize despite going against statistical intuition

Introductory statistics courses teach us that, when fitting a model to some data, we should have more data than free parameters to avoid the danger of overfitting—fitting noisy data too closely, and thereby failing to fit new data. It is surprising, then, that in modern deep learning the practice is to have orders of magnitude more parameters than data. Despite this, deep networks show good predictive performance, and in fact do better the more parameters they have. Why would that be?

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March 2, 2020