39TH Twitter Chat on The Relationship Between Covid -19 and Weather With Tajudden Idris, Lecturer, Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kano

Ever since the arrival of the deadly virus called Covid19; a member from Corona virus family, there have been lots of disinformation and misinformation in circulation regarding the pandemic. According to World Health Organization (WHO) Covid-19 pandemic is accompanied by over abundance of information some of which are accurate and some are not from truth worthy sources, this makes it hard for people to find a reliable guidance they need.  Infodemic is term coined by WHO to describe high float of misinformation at the time of pandemic.

WHO and fact checking organizations across the globe warned that information speeds very fast on internet, but infodemic spreads faster than Covid – 19 viruses and poses greater thread in the fight against the pandemic.  In its series of twitter chats initiated to help fight Covid – 19, the Centre for Information and Development (CITAD) invited Tajudden Idris Wawo, a lecturer from the department of Geography, Sa’adu Rimi College of Education, Kano to clear air on the relationship between weather and Covid – 19 .

He began the discussion by explaining what whether and climate are, the relationship between the virus and weather and justify claims that cold regions in the world have high tendencies to catch the virus while hotter regions are at lesser risk.

Below is the thread of the chat as extracted:

Hello everyone,

Do join me in welcoming our today’s twitter chat guest, @TWawu, a lecturer with Department of Geography, SCOE who is going to discuss on the Relationship between Covid19 and Weather. Welcome ir

 

Thank you

My Name is Tajuddeen Idris Wawo from Saadatu Rimi College of Education Kano department of Geography I’m here to discuss on the Topic relationship between Weather and  Coronavirus

 

 

@a_sabo12 @TWawu @ICTAdvocates Doc. One of the reasons ppl mentioning on low effect of Covid 19 in African Countries is hot weather. What is the real fact on this? @hamzaish

 

This is very true because African countries lies very close to equator and receive high amount of sunshine which makes the temperature to be high

 

Weather has some important components such as follows

a Elements of Weather

b Factors of Weather and Climate

  1. Weather and Climate regions in the world

These are some of the important sub topics which comprises weather and Climate

 

Sir @TWawu Will warm weather really kill off Covid-19?

 

Of course yes because we Africans lives in Tropical regions which have high temperature

 

 

There are six weather regions of the world

Tropical regions

Temperate regions

Mediterranean regions

Arid regions

Polar regions

Continental regins

 

Dr, @TWawu Pls, will climate change make the COVID-19 pandemic worse or not?

 

Tropical regions are xterised with high temperature

Temperate regions are xterised wit mild temperature

Polar regions are xterised with ice

Arid means desert region

 

@TWawu is there any relationship between Temperature vs. Case Numbers

 

 

 

Yes as I explained that Asian Countries like China, India are among the countries having the higher number of infected persons because the have low temperature while African countries have the low number of infected persons because the temperature conditions high

 

 

What is the seasonal bahaviour of diseases?

 

Low temperature contributes to the spread of the visus that is why you see that areas having low temperature experience high number of infected persons while area having high temperature like African countries having low infected persons

 

These are some basic issues about weather while COVID 19 is a pandemic diseases which affects all part of the world

 

 

There is Strong correlation between Weather and COVID 19 Pandemic

 

@TWawu Do weather conditions influence the transmission of the coronavirus?

 

Yes of course the variables of Weather which influences the transmission include Temperature, Wind and Humidity

 

 

#CITADActionAgainstCOVID19

Sir @TWawu, some people are relating #Covid19 resistant of most Africa nations to high temperature. Can you please shade more light on this; whether or not the claim is right.

 

@TWawu it is true that cool weather increases the virus. @ICTAdvocates

 

Yes of course because if you look at the areas having the high number of infected persons you will see that they have low temperature that is why the Virus doesn’t kill and spread much in Africa

 

 

@TWawu @ICTAdvocates @a_sabo12 #CITADagainstCovid19 At this point we come to the end of today’s Twitter chat. With this we are saying BIG THANK you Doctor. We hv short of words to express our gratitude 4 your participation. Happy New Hijri Year 1442.

 

You’re highly welcome I’m ready to give you support and contributions as the need arises.

 

 

Corona virus originates from Wuhan in China this is an area where by the temperature is relatively low and going by what has happened as regard to the number of infected people you will find out that the area having cold temperature eg China, India, USA, Brazil Russia  etc

 

Of course yes because we Africans lives in Tropical regions which have high temperature

 

 

 

 

@TWawu Coronavirus seasonality: Is the spread likely to vary?

as occurs with other respiratory diseases such as influenza.

 

 

Yes of course the variables of Weather which influences the transmission include Temperature, Wind and Humidity

 

Low temperature contributes to the spread of the visus that is why you see that areas having low temperature experience high number of infected persons while area having high temperature like African countries having low infected persons

 

 

 

 

38TH Twitter Chat on How Civil Society Organizations Can Promote Transparency In the Fight Against Covid19 In Nigeria With Rabi’u Shamma on the 18TH of August, 2020

Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) initiated a sensitization program on COVID19 in Nigeria. This week twitter chat which makes it the 38th edition held on the 18th August, 2020 with Comrade Rabi’u Shamma, Founder, Centre for Awareness on Good Governance and Development. The guest discussed on How Civil Society Organizations can Promote Transparency in the Fight against Covid19 in Nigeria. Here is how the discussions went.

 

*Welcome remarks*

@a_sabo12

Hello everyone Please join me in welcoming our today’s guest on @ICTAdvocates ‘s twitter chat on #CITADagainstCovid19, @R_Shamma who is going to discuss on How CSOs can Promote Transparency in the Fight against Covid19 in Nig. Welcome sir.

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Welcome Mr. @R_Shamma! We are all excited to be here with you this afternoon!

 

@mukhtars_s

My pleasure, @R_Shamma maraba! lale!! marhabun!!!

 

@ R_Shamma Response

Thanks, I am glad to be here.

 

Q 1. @ChiromaHope:

 

Mr. @R_Shamma, can you please start the conversation by briefing us on ways civil actors can promote transparency and accountability in the fight against #COVID19 in Nigeria.

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma:

 

Civil society the world over are known to be great pushers of transparency in government spending, transparency is one of the important tenets of good governance

 

Q 2

@ChiromaHope:

 

Mr. @R_Shamma, can you please enumerate the ways these actors employ in achieving their common mandates.

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma:

 

People for example have complained of spending over hundreds of millions of naira on feeding school children, when the children were actually at home

 

3

@mukhtars_s

 

My Chairman @R_Shamma In Nigeria, Private sector and the international community has contributed money and materials to support the fight against COVID-19.

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma:

 

With the increase as a result of donations of funds from the private sector and the international

community and the presidential task force, there is an urgent need to promote transparency in the collection and disbursement of these funds

 

Q 4

@a_sabo12:

 

What ways do you think are best to follow to ensure govt MDAs have become more transparent in way they handle this

pandemic especially in the area of their

spending?

 

*Response*

@ R_Shamma:

Sadly, the roughly more than 500 billion so far spent by government and the donations generated have been marred by secrecy

 

Q5

@a_sabo12

 

Comrade what do you think is the reason behind govt secrecy in this fight?

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma:

 

Certainly there is always the factor of corruption, which has been a cankerworm that

has eaten deep into the fabric of governtment parastatals in Nigeria

 

Q 6

@a_sabo12

 

@R_Shamma What ways do you think are best to follow to ensure govt MDAs have become more transparent in way they handle this pandemic especially in the area of their

spending?

 

*Response*

@ R_Shamma:

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for example have said to distribute billion of naira palliatives but so far there have been no breakdown of how these spendings were carried out, they usually give a sweeping statement

 

Q 7

 

@ a_sabo12

 

Can we say the money is possibly being diverted for other activities looking at how public requesting the Ministry to provide them with

necessary info but the Ministry has refused to do so?

 

8

 

@a_sabo12

 

What ways do you think are best to follow to ensure govt MDAs have become more transparent in way they handle this pandemic especially in the area of their spending?

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma

 

There is the need to ensure periodic release that can be verified by anyone, their spendings need to also be publish online, the Civil Society groups

must also be incorparated in distributions that has to do with communities

 

9

 

@mukhtars_s

 

In whatever doing there must be a challenge`s.

@R_Shamma In Nig., What challenges do CSOs facing in their effort to promote transparency in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic?

 

*Response*

@ R_Shamma

 

There have been challenges certainly, many of the MDAs have not been responding to request for information even after applying the Freedom of information law, CSOs have also not been carried along in the formation of distribution committees, especially during the COVID19 pandemic

 

Q 10

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Mr. @R_Shamma, there are a number of cries by concern citizens and CSOs over mismanagement of #CovidFunds , the recent been the findings by @CivicHive that N37.

06m spent on the purchase of just 1808 pieces of ordinary face masks.

 

 

@ChiromaHope

 

And the purchase of Prado Jeep at the cost of 39.75m and the description of what the vehicle will be used for is not stated. Plus many

others. And we have not seen any thing beyond having the figures trending on media.

 

*Response*

@ R_Shamma

 

The Covid19 pandemic is another opportunity that the corrupt leadership in Nigeria have used to further milk the country dry, CSO have therefore a very big challenge to demand for transparency in all

government spendings in order to effectively deal

with this global chall enge

 

 

11

 

@ChiromaHope

 

@R_Shamma, what other action can we take aside making this figures known to the public?

 

*Response*

@R_Shamma

 

There is the need for CSOs to track all funds said to be spent on COVID19, either in terms of palliatives or provision of necessary healthcare facilities and if we found anything fishy then we can petition the relevant anti corruption agencies, EFCC and ICPC to

demand for account

 

13

*Conclusion:*

 

@ChiromaHope

 

Mr. @R_Shamma, we have come to the end of this chat. On behalf of our E.D., @YZYau and the entire management of @ICTAdvocates, we

thank you so much for honoring our invitation.

It has been an interesting session

 

@ R_Shamma

 

Thank you very much, it is my pleasure, may we all

rise up to the challenge of ensuring transparency in

governance during and after the covid19 pandemic.

@ICTAdvocates you are doing great, cheers!

 

37TH Twitter Chat on the Race for the Production of Covid-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries With Abduljalal Nadabo (RPH) on the 13TH of August, 2020

Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) initiated a sensitization program on COVID 19 in Nigeria. The twitter chat with Abduljalal Nadabo makes it 37th edition of the Twitter Chat on the 13th August, 2020.

The guest was Abduljalal Nadabo (RPH), a Production Pharmacist at RHG Health Pharmaceuticals Limited, He discussed on The Race for the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries. He started by saying, The COVID 19 Pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and disabilities of even some of the most developed nations on earth. The discussion reminds him of a statement from Chapter 2 of the book “The “Lizard Shape” No Nation can effectively control what it does not produce. Mr. Nadabo defined developing Countries as a country having a standard of living or level of industrial production well below that possible with financial or technical aid, a country that is not yet highly industrialized. He went further to respond to question on developing vaccines, he said it is an extremely tedious process involving many years and stages of research (experimental and clinical) technicalities, intricacies, risky undertakings and copious amount resources. He made reference to Madagascar produced vaccine some months back and it cured COVID 19. He also reference to China, produced a traditional medicine to cure the disease.

 

In responding to another question, he said developing countries have no control over these vaccines because most can neither develop nor produce them nor can they afford to make huge financial deals with Big Pharma corporations, their fate is filled with uncertainties. Africa is far from vaccine race, all efforts are dependent on WHO and other International Organisations. It either you develop the vaccine yourself or invest with Big Pharma if you have the resources.

 

At the end, he summarized the outcome of developing nations with regards to the vaccine race; developing countries should rely on World Health Organisations and other institutions like CEPI, GAVI to be considered for cheaper people’s vaccine, await the controversial Gate’s charity vaccine like the ID2020 conspiracy4, become victims of vaccine hoarding as it has happened in the past. Finally, he said the quest for COVID 19 Vaccine in play is but interplay of international politics and financial interest of pharma corporations, hopes and lots of uncertainties, leaving the developing nations with very limited options available to select at their own peril. This calls for the coming together of the countries to come up with a particular multilateral goal. It is also a wakeup call for developing countries to invest heavily in science if they want to survive through the next century.

 

Engagements:

 

  1. Join @ICTAdvocates on its 37th edition of Twitter Chat on Covid19 as it hosts Abduljalal Nadabo (RPh), Production Pharmacist at RHG Health & Pharmaceutical LTD who is going to discuss on The Race for the Production of Covid19 Vaccines & the Fate of Developing Countries @ICTAdvocates have assigned me with the task of discussing this very interesting, yet sensitive topic as it deals with international politics and public health. I’ll try to do justice to it. so follow us…
  2. Thank you very much. I’m honoured to be here.
  3. The COVID 19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and disabilities of even some of the most developed nations on earth. The topic of discussion is an interesting one but not a pleasant one if the blatant truth about the situation is to be discussed.
  4. The topic of discussion reminds me of a statement from Chapter 2 of the book “The Lizard Shape,” authored by my Professor and Boss, @ProfATMora  “No Nation can effectively control what it does not produce.”
  5. I think it provides an inkling of the outcome of developing countries with regards to the race of COVID 19 vaccine. What is a Developing Country anyways?
  6. Dictiorary.com defines a developing country as a country having a standard of living or level of industrial production well below that possible with financial or technical aid; a country that is not yet highly industrialized. No examples needed.
  7. Developing vaccines is an extremely tedious process involving many years and stages of research (experimental and clinical), technicalities, intricacies, risky undertakings and copious amount resources.
  8. Even so, the process is full of uncertainties as only a small fraction of preliminary vaccines (7%) reach human trials and only about 17% pass human clinical trials. Still not a 100% guarantee it will work
  9. These uncertain figures give an edge to rich countries, endowed with the advanced technologies to engage in these processes and the resources to sign multibillion-dollar vaccine deals with the Big Pharma corporations
  10. But it is also filled with peril for poor countries, which lack the resources to sign these deals, or middle-income states that risk gambling on a small number of tentative vaccines.
  11. Now before I discuss firsthand the possible fate of these developing nations with regards to the vaccine race, let’s discuss ‘Political Multilateralism and The Quest for Vaccine Nationalism’
  12. When I say “Vaccine Nationalism,” I mean every nation for itself and when I say “Multilateralism, I mean all nations coming unbiased coming together of all the nations to confront the vaccine challenge.
  13. Ever since the early stage of the pandemic, many advanced countries, including the US, China, Russia, UK, France, Germany, and Italy, have been making moves, intellectually, politically & financially to either develop or secure a vaccine for the virus.
  14. A few days ago, the Russian President announced the registration of the first Corona Virus vaccine. The Chinese are also at the forefront of this race with over 5 experimental vaccines with one already approved for limited use by their military.
  15. Carolyn and Eva of the Washington Post in an article, described this race between US and China as this generation’s Sputnik moment as it echoes technological dominance just like the space race after the launch of Sputnik in 1957.
  16. In return, of course, the 1st 100 million doses produced will be secured for the Britons. Meanwhile, the same Big Pharma Company had made a separate agreement to make 300 million doses available for the US once it is available.
  17. The EU also not left out as in the race because, amongst other individual efforts to develop vaccines, in June they made their own vaccine deals through Inclusive Vaccine Alliance forged by Germany, France, Italy & Netherlands to also secure 400 million doses.
  18. Many other countries including Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea are also in their own races. These are just a few examples. But the big question here is where do most developing countries fit in this global quest?
  19. So, let’s not deceive ourselves about multilateralism is only a political display, it’s every nation for itself out there!
  20. The way I see it since developing countries have no control over these vaccines because most can neither develop nor produce them nor can they afford to make huge financial deals with Big Pharma corporations, their fate is filled with uncertainties.
  21. On June 18th Aljazeera published a worrisome article ‘the race for the virus vaccine could leave poor countries behind.’ Clearly, the rise of this “vaccine nationalism” threatens the future of developing nations once a vaccine is found!
  22. Sir, now that a vaccine is claimed to be registered by Russia. What’s the fate of Developing countries? Are we going to fall our hand waiting anything from them, or there’s still hope about our research
  23. @AJNadabo What Is the World Doing to Create a COVID-19 Vaccine? Most countries in the advanced world are busy using every available technology and pumping an enormous amount of resources to secure vaccine deals for its people. The WHO is tracking most efforts on its end.
  24. Dr. @AJNadabo, what is your comment on claims by some medical practitioners that Chlorine cures #COVID19 patients?
  25. @AJNadabo  Is Covid 19 share similar vaccine with maleria? And Why all treatment given to the Covid 19 patients is similar with that of maleria fever? NO. COVID and Malaria are two different diseases requiring different approaches and treatments. they are nothing alike, I think the only link is the Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine
  26.  is there any procedure or procedures before producing any vaccine? Yes. developing a vaccine is a very tedious process involving many intricacies. There are several procedures to it and it requires a minimum of 6 phases over many years. Many are being overlooked due to the urgent global need in terms of COVID’s.
  27. Madagascar some months back product vaccine and it cure Covid 19, China has a product from it’s traditional medicine to cure the disease and just last week Russian govt produced it’s own. Why the differences in a single disease?
  28. @AJNadabo what efforts does Nigerian pharms are doing to ensure they try to produce vaccine for the control of Covid 19.
  29. Many governments have warned that daily life cannot return to normal until their populations have built up antibodies to fend off the virus. So pls, What is the status of a COVID-19 vaccine?
  30. @AJNadabo some people have been saying that politics is playing an important role with regards to production of covid-19 vaccine, is that true? This is actually very true, there is a lot of politics with regards to COVID-19 vaccine development. Exemplified by the US, a COVID 19 vaccine can serve as a very good tool for the campaign against next election.
  31. The Race for the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries
  32. Interesting discussion going on with @AJNadabo, this young & resourceful professional is leading a discourse on the “Race Towards Getting a Vaccine for #COVID19 & the Fate of Developing Countries”. Drop your questions/comments here on the theme of the discussion @YZYau @a_sabo12
  33. I’d like to summarize the outcome of Developing Nations with regards to the vaccine race:
  34. 1.Rely on WHO and Other International Institutions like CEPI, GAVI (COVAX) to be considered for cheaper ‘People’s Vaccine 2.Reluctantly wait for the Chinese Vaccine with a Latent Price 3. Await The Controversial Gate’s Charity Vaccine linked to ID2020 Conspiracy4. 3.Become Victims of Vaccine Hoarding as it has happened in the past with other infectious diseases like H1N1, or swine flu, pandemic. The quest for Covid19 vaccine in play is but an interplay of international politics, financial interests of pharma corporations, hopes and lots of uncertainties, leaving the developing nations with very limited options available to select at their own peril. This calls for the coming together of the countries to achieve this particular multilateral goal. It is also a wake-up call for developing nations to invest heavily in science if they are to survive through the next century. #CITADagainstCovid19 Thank you!
  35. Here we come to end of this discussion with Pharmacist Abduljalal Nadabo (@AJNadabo) who discussed on The Race for the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines and the Fate of Developing Countries. Thank you so much Pharm for taking your time to educate on this topic #CITADagainstCovid19. Thank you very much for having me. I’ll respond to some of the individual questions at my leisure.
  36. Dr. Good afternoon, Is African countries part of this race or they should wait for the super power countries? Frankly, Africa is far from the vaccine race. All efforts are dependent on WHO and other International Organizations. It’s either you develop the vaccine your self or you invest in BigPharma if you have the resources.

 

33rd Twitter Chat on How Corruption is Undermining the Fight against Covid19 Pandemic with Dr. Jide Ojo

In continuation of its educative programs on Covid19 in Nigeria, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held its 33rd twitter chat on the 30th of July, 2020. The guest was Dr. Jide Ojo, a development consultant, author and a public affairs analyst on the topic “How Corruption is Undermining the Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria”. Dr. Jide started the chat by responding to the question on how deeply corruption has interfere with fight against Covid19 in Nigeria. According to him, the issue of corruption during this COVID-19 pandemic is very heart rending. He said Even Nigerians have queried the FG’s spending on this COVID-29 palliatives especially the homegrown school feeding program. He further stated that if you have been following the news, you would have heard of the N1.32bn NDDC claimed to have spent on COVID-19 palliatives. He went further to cited some examples of states with Covid 19 related cases, among the examples was a case of a Councilor in Niger State who diverted 6 bags of rice and other grains given to him for distribution to personal use.

 

Another one was, few days ago, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly decided to probe over N500m allegedly spent by the State Task Force on COVID-19 headed by the Deputy Governor. He also talked about some allegations level against the federal government, he said all manner of breach of procurement processes were committed due to the emergency nature of containment of COVID-19. Till date, none can say categorically how much cash and in-kind donations have been received by the FG or States on this COVID-19. Yet a lot of donations were received.

 

Another corruption allegations levelled  against the FG is how the Social Register for the 3.6m beneficiaries were compiled and why the distribution across the states was lopsided in favor of some northern states. He said it is also believed that cash disbursement to the beneficiaries of N20, 000 conditional cash transfer is prone to corruption and that payment should have been made via their bank accounts. He also highlights that is it not shocking that Federal Ministry of Agriculture is allegedly doing the procurement for the Federal Ministry of Health. He said this was brought to his attention during a radio program, if this is true, he said it is sad!

 

In answering a question on what strategies can support civil society anti-corruption and social accountability initiatives during & after the pandemic, he responded by saying that  “We need to document and follow through some of the public announcement on donations and make an independent compilation”

He stated that in fairness to the FG, Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 was more forthcoming with information on donations than many of their state counterparts.

 

He also faulted the government by saying that all manner of breach of procurement processes were committed due to the emergency nature of containment of COVID-19.

 

He made some recommendations which include:

The civil society and the media owe it a duty to follow through some of the alleged sharp practices and malpractices that have been committed during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Secondly we need to document and follow through some of the public announcement on donations and make an independent compilation.