Public Health Wednesdays- The M Word (Monkey Pox & Marbug Virus)

    MONKEY POX

Monkey Pox

Monkey Pox does not come from this guy or any of his 260 relatives. Monkey Pox comes from rodents. 

The United States and Monkey Pox

In 2003, local residents in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin had cases of Monkey Pox. Here is the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report(MMWR) for that incident. 

The United States banned six rodents to fight the infectious monkey pox in 2003

Monkey Pox Reported Cases in Africa

Small outbreaks of monkey pox have occurred in Sierra Leone, Congo, and Central African Republic. Nigeria has reported multiples cases of monkey pox throughout the country. The country of Cameroon's primate population experienced a monkey pox epidemic. Fatality rates are quite low and occur with younger populations and are rare. 

What is Nigeria doing about the outbreak?

How do you contract Monkey Pox? 

The monkey pox virus is transmitted to people from various wild animals but has limited secondary spread through human-to-human transmission.

Symptoms  

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion

Outbreaks can be controlled with a host of options

To understand more on the Monkey Pox
 

MARBUG VIRUS -UGANDA

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW?

A severe, highly fatal virus called Marburg has infected and killed three people in Uganda. While that's a small number of infections, any cases of Marburg are cause for concern given the virus' high fatality rates and similarities to the deadly Ebola virus. Here's what you should know.

WHO Report on the Marbug Virus

How is Uganda handling an outbreak?

They are doing well, they have one more mandatory cycle to complete and it should be declared under control. 

There are still reported cases of the Dengue Fever in Burkina Faso though reported cases are dropping. Madagascar is taking control of the plague, far from over but relief is on the way. 

See you next PHW-Public Health Wednesday

CASSAVA TUESDAYS: LIBYA KIF H'ALEK? (Are you okay?)

The Flag of Libya

Currency: Libyan Dinars

Capital: Tripoli
Population: +6.2 Million
Official Language Spoken: Arabic
Vernacular Languages: Varieties of Berber, Tedaga and Domari
*You can also speak Italian, English and French in the country. 
 Religion: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Judiasim

 

LIBYANS ARE AFRICANS, ARE WE CLEAR??

“If you dey chop fufu..Nah African you be...

Fufu by any other name nah Fufu”

— Water & Cassava

Proper African Child... (My dad eats fufu with cutlery, it really hurts my feelings..)

Asida "Boiled Pudding".... All North African countries eat Asida, maybe different styles but this is usually eaten in the morning.  SMH!!! FUFU IN THE MORNING, YOU ARE SO AFRICAN!!!

“Sub-Sahara African Countries know fufu in many ways, in Libya they say Asida. You know the drill, eat with your right hand and if you can use your index and middle fingers, you my friend are an AFRICAN. ”

— Water & Cassava

MAN MAY LIVE ON FUFU ALONE

Bazin, Libyan style. Barley Fufu. This could be lunch or dinner

Sub-Sahara African Cassava Fufu with Egusi and vegetables

what is north africa? what is sub-saharan africa?

There are some extremely disturbing answers to this question which is surrounded around my beautiful Sahara. Have you visited? I had the opportunity of visiting the entrance to the Sahara through Morocco. The most popular arguments are
 

North Africa is part of the Arab World

“We all understand that the Arabs colonized North Africa and took part in the slave trade, right? ”

— Water & Cassava

Imagine terms like “British West Africa”??Damn I forgot, my maternal grandfather was born in a space that no longer exists, that is another issue with words like country. He was born in British West Africa in a space known as British Cameroons. 

“My maternal grandfather is a Bakwerian from Cameroon”

— Njoku People

Geography as a Divider
The argument is around my beautiful Sahara! Do you know there are some folks out there that use terms like North Africa and Sub-Saharan based on the line of the Sahara? The Sahara is part of the following African Countries: - Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia. My visit to Morocco, I had the pleasure of meeting people from the Sahara that do not wish to be called Arab. They find it offensive and rude. 

Similarly, to people that listen to American Hip-Hop songs that mention the N* word. These people believe that ending it with -ga compared to -er towards any black person or anyone for that matter is perfectly okay. 

“Read this twice: I know many people that will beat the breaks out of your body for using the N* word, please do not let your favorite rapper send you to the hospital...”

— PSA from Water & Cassava

But in the words of X…..You don't know....Who We Be?

Best of DMX: https://goo.gl/LVLFFu Subscribe here: https://goo.gl/RLFjLM Music video by DMX performing Who We Be. (C) 2001 The Island Def Jam Music Group

---

HISTORICAL BACKDROP OF NORTH & EAST AFRICA SLAVERY 

TIPPU TIP:  THE AFRICAN SLAVE RUNNER

Slave runner or in my books a SOB but his parents named him Hamad bin Muhammad bin Juma bin Rajab el Murjeb. My primary school teacher referred to this man as Tippu Tip, a name forever stamped in African History. He was born in modern day Zanzibar, owner to 10,000+ slaves and sold people throughout North and East Africa. 

Let us use his name in a sentence: -
Hamad bin Muhammad bin Juma bin Rajab el Murjebi be tip man!  

.. THE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE WAS NOT THE SAME AS THE ARAB TRADE??

“These are the folks in the plantation, please avoid them... RUN AWAY”

— Daughter of Bantu Folk

STUDY YOUR MAPS, PAY ATTENTION TO DATES....

You know about this story....

EXHIBIT A- EGYPTIAN SLAVE MERCHANT

Slave merchant, Cairo, c 1865 - National Maritime Museum. Slave sellers. (Pinterest)

Read that date as many times as you need to wash that disease of colonialism. 

exhibit b-COLONIAL TRAUMA ON AFRICAN SEXUAL LIBERTIES

The Arab slavemasters refer to some of those stolen men from the map above as Chamba. Chamba are Eunuchs. Now with your new map, see those spaces and let them stay in your brain. These men from those African spaces, had their penis sliced off their bodies.

 After slicing the penis from the body, hot coals were pressed on to the fresh wound. You can guess many of those men did not survive such injury. The female slaves were kept for the sick depraved sexual privileges from Arab colonial masters.  

Do you understand now why we argue African Sexual Liberties and our Sexual Ontology is thoroughly corrupted? We spoke of this topic on our Public Health Wednesdays entries. 
 

“...Before we discuss the modern day slavery in Libya, we need to be aware of certain issues. We are not
Believers in Historical Revisionism but......
”

LEADERSHIP IS COMPLICATED IN LIBYA...

There is a version of this story that begins with a young boy born in a colonial space, known as Italian Libya. Child to a camel and goat herder in the arms of economic oppression and a minority twice from foreign invaders and as a reality. Italian Libya previously colonized by the Ottoman Empire, a young boy growing up in a colony as his illiterate father’s father.
As a young man he would admire champions against colonialism such as Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein and in a very short time, he would be an associate to his hero.

“Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was a G.O.A.T. ”

— Water & Cassava

This man will be celebrated as a leader/hero to those from occupied spaces particularly in North Africa. However, for others, this man was a monster and nightmare that lasted for decades. 

“Redistribution of Wealth or Buying Loyalty??
Free Healthcare, Electricity, Interest free loans, push gifts for mothers, newlyweds got money for homes and citizens got some money from the oil sales of Libya.” ”

— Asking for a friend...

“Push Gifts: Your partner gives this to you after you push the child.....Apparently, he gave out $5k a push!”

— Water & Cassava

Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi is now dead and long gone. However Libya is left with a plate of complications.

This is the Prime Minister Fayiz Al-Saraj of Libya but depending on whom you ask.....it is complicated

HOW THE HELL DID LIBYA GET HERE?

On this day five years ago, a NATO-led coalition began its military intervention in Libya. French fighter jets were deployed over the African country on March 19th, 2011. The operation triggered a series of events that changed the face of Libya. RT LIVE http://rt.com/on-air Subscribe to RT!

ABOUT THE ARAB SPRING AND LIBYA.......

DEAD BODIES ON THE SHORES OF LIBYA

The bodies of migrants headed across the Mediterranean desperate for a better life wash up on the shorelines of Garabulli, Libya. Christiane Amanpour reports.

AUCTION, AUCTION

Smugglers in Libya are auctioning migrants off as slaves. At a property outside Tripoli, CNN's Nima Elbagir witnessed a dozen men go under the hammer in the space of minutes.

EXPLOITATION

Hundreds of African refugees and migrants passing through Libya are being exposed to harsh realities in their quest to reach Europe. Many are held for ransom or subjected to forced labour or sexual exploitation. Leslie Mirungu now brings us the story of returnees from Gambia.

MALTREATMENT AND CHILDREN

Sky's Alex Crawford uncovers evidence of beatings and poor treatment inside overcrowded detention centres which house thousands of migrants moving through Libya to try to get to Europe.

“Slaves in 1850 cost on average $400 -$1600, currently in Libya a slave is sold for $400”

“Our Top 7 Reasons for Modern Day Slavery in Libya”

— Water & Cassava

1.   Civil War & Isis

Shit is bad in Libya and there are no ways to mince words about this very clear fact that some wish to be in denial about.

The Government House of Representatives were democratically elected in 2014, while the global community accepts this as fact, in Libya it is just complicated. The rival party General National Congress (AKA, National Salvation Government) in addition to countless rival groups that rule different regions of Libya will not come together as one government.

This is the definition of insanity and madness. The same people killing each other came together to kill Gaddafi but cannot come together for their country.
Well as the Libyan people are slaughtering each other, ISIS is enjoying the oil reserves of the country.

A couple of days ago, there was an issue with Tobruk airport and the Government House of Representatives not allowing the plane to land

2.   Academia

During the days of Gadaffi, Libya had the highest literacy rates in Africa. Schools and Universities were completely free because of all that oil! After his death, infrastructures of schools and constant bombings made it very difficult for students to access education. It is very difficult to understand your instructor as bombs drop around you or as classmates and teachers get killed daily.

3. Banking
Constant robbing and bombing around the bank makes it difficult to conduct business. The inflation rates are so high in Libya and there are barely any foreign investors trying to invest in the country.

Central Bank of Libya Governor Saddek Omar El-Kaber speaks to Capitol Intelligence/CI MENA using CI Glass during IMF World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, DC. October 14. 2017

4. Oil Production

The country of Libya is home to one of the largest reserves on our big blue planet with over 45 billion oil barrels. During the reign of Gadaffi, the country produced over 1.6 million barrels of oil a day but now that has dropped to 260,000 barrels.

5. Liquor and Drugs

Alcohol consumption in Libya is now a norm and people are making their own stronger versions of vodka, this is also killing the people.

6.  Who oversees Libya?

There are no governing bodies and no agreed legal frameworks!... We have two “governing bodies" again I use governing bodies very loosely as they cannot agree on anything. Ministers and Government officials at anytime can be killed, kidnapped or assaulted. There are no functioning hospitals or staff members to treat the people. These dysfunctions with daily bombings is just a brewing pot for the current issue.

7. Slavery/Human Trafficking

The new thriving economic despicable nauseating industry since the death of Gadaffi. Proximity to Europe makes it a popular passage for immigrants from Libyan’s southern neighbors: Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. Smugglers can enjoy their new business because there is not a functioning government in the country.

THIS IS THE FAULT OF ALL MENTIONED COUNTRIES AND LIBYA.

 On Monday we discussed the Blue Economics of Africa, but we also discussed the need for agreed frameworks which would prevent such tragedies.

See you next Cassava Tuesday

Muldays-Blue Economics & Africa: OverFishing

Institute of Security Studies(ISS)

Our topic for the day

“What is Blue Economics?
All that comes from the (Maritime Sector) that is used for economic development (Sustainable or not)”

— Water & Cassava

Try not to fall for greenwashing arguments that make this two seem the same. 

“What is greenwashing?
Think of all the lieeeeeeeeeeeeees, gloss and shiny companies use to promote “enviormental safe or friendly products””

— Water & Cassava

“What is Green Economics?
These are economies that have a primary focus to push for sustainable development by reducing environmental risks and scarcities. ”

— Water & Cassava

Africa Blue Economics might sound like another cool term that so called environmentalist or millennials have coined to simply describe the Ocean Economy but the current dynamics of Africa Blue Economics is truly deeply concerning. 

“Did you know that 70% of African countries have coastlines?”

— -Water & Cassava

The term Cassava Economics used under Cassava Diplomacy is based on African countries looking inwards for innovation and sustainability. The African Blue Economics surrounding the fishing sector with Africa Coastline countries could contribute to not just innovation and sustainability but also improve economic and social stability. 

“So between 2000 and 2011, 64 percent of China’s average annual catches, valued at more than $7 billion, came from West Africa?????
#WTF”

— The Pew Chritable Trust

“So we have to feed all of you because you will not invest in birth control?

I argue the same of Africa States that do not want to speak about birth control?

There are about 15 different ways to go about Birth Control!! ”

— ABI LEF WA FISH OOO

SOLUTIONS...NOT PROBLEMS???

AFRICAN UNION SOLUTION 

The African Union Solution has a strategy that for sure by 2050 will be in effect. The AU is quite depressing but anyway, please take a look below.

“The “2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy)” consists of the overarching, concerted and coherent long-term multilayered plans of actions that will achieve the objectives of the AU to enhance maritime viability for a prosperous Africa.”

— So when we are the fish have died....

The primary victims here are the coastal communities that are bearing the beatings from the overfishing and acidification of the ocean, but the African Union is aiming for 2050. These communities are never considered during the development and design of such policies. There is also the issue with pollution coupled with the overfishing, you get real security concerns and migration movements that can only best be described as chaotic. African coastal countries should focus on their unique eco-systems by researching what works best for their unique communities. 

“Hollistic route towards the coastal communities”

— Water & Cassava

UGALI DIPLOMACY OF KENYA & BLUE ECONOMICS

Kenya has decided to be proactive in their commitments and not reactive by having policies within their blue economics that aim for better options. The Kenyan Government in September 2016 established The Department of Fisheries and Blue Economy in the Ministry of Agriculture. This is exactly why Kenya will always maintain regional hegemony, other countries go towards a reactive approach, Kenya relies on frameworks, science and policy.

“The Africa Maritime Industry is located in 38 coastal states including Cape Verde, Sao Tomé and Principe, Mauritius, Seychelles and the Comoros profits $1 trillion per year”

— Water & Cassava

President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed the new Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Africa signed Saturday in Lome Togo during the extra-ordinary summit on maritime security. Kenyatta termed the move by Africa to entrench the charter as the continent's commitment to international peace and security.

To know more, this link will take you to the Kenya Institute of Public Research

SEYCHELLES WILL NOT BE IGNORED

Read below to understand  more on the Seychelles Blue Economy Strategic Roadmap

SOUTH AFRICA, WHAT SAY YOU?

South Africa has adopted a policy, Operation Phakisa that focuses on four primary areas: marine transport and manufacturing, offshore oil and gas exploration, aquaculture and marine protection services.

“Captain Nemo would not like this....”

— Sci-Fi lover here, I had to plug in the Captain

 

 

What are African Countries Lacking?

Polices & Governance
Teamwork makes the dream work! Unified frameworks would help such as mulitlateral agreements. 
 

Coastal Law Enforcements
Look, I am not suggesting shooting to kill people. Heaven you should restrain from killing, however if deadly force must be applied….

United States
Take a trip to Alaska and just start overfishing and attempt hostility, Go on and try….
 

International & National Law
These laws are here for a reason!

Mandatory Registration, Permits for Fisheries
This is not a drive thru fast food joint, you are not going to have it your way

Surveillance
 CCTV for the Seas & Up to date technologies
 

CORRUPTION
I will let Uncle Bob speak on this to you

"Build your penitentiary, we build your schools" now can you hear "Build your coastlines, Build your communities"..

. 

Bob Marley - Crazy Baldhead (Live)

MORE SOLUTIONS PLEASE!

African Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa (Lomé Charter)

The Committee of Permanent Representatives (PRC) of the African Union on Tuesday adopted the Lome Charter on Safety, Security and Development in Africa; ahead of the summit of Heads of State on maritime safety planned this Saturday in the Togolese capital.

“Blue Economics also includes: Offshore oil and Gas Production”

— It ain't about just the Fish......-Water & Cassava

“Africa looses $2 billion to illegal fishing
”

— Speechless all 54 states

There is also the Yaounde Code of Conduct for West Africa and Djibouti Code of Conduct aimed to curb the criminality behaviors of the seas.

Enjoy this article on China and West Africa Fisheries

Africa must be responsible for her oceans not other state actors. No blame game here just the dyanamics. 

From all of us at ESE & SEGYE, handle your antibiotics with  care

To Watch Educational Videos and understand the imporatance of this week

See you next Mulday!

Friday Ramblings- The One About Uncertainty

Rambling is defined by Webster as:

·      passing from one topic to another

·      using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea

Reality is defined by Webster as:

·      the quality or state of being real

·      a real event, entity, or state of affairs

·      totality of real things and events

·      something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily

-Isms are just my own colloquialisms .

What did you miss so far?

On the Stage

Introducing the Audience to: African Gastrodiplomacy and Soft Power

In many ways that I say “YESSSSSSSSSSSSS”....I feel so unaccomplished like NADA. I arrived here the last week of April and this makes me 6 months old in the city of Seoul. I am like a 6-month-old unable to communicate verbally, I still do not speak Korean. Yet with a strange WTF form of assimilation, I understand the following Korean:

Coffee Shop Korean
Grocery Store Korean
Cab Driver Korean

I would not know how to tell you how I got here. I HONESTLY do not know. I think not knowing but understanding that I have nothing to fall towards drives me and honestly scares me to pieces. I was told that I looked so good, few days back and I thought to myself

“I AM NOT TO SURE HOW YOU SAY THAT, I AM BARELY SURVIVING HERE. I DO NOT NETWORK QUICK AND FAST ENOUGH. I CAN’T HANG OUT BECAUSE WELL I HAVE NO MONEY. ALL I HAVE ARE MY DREAMS.… DREAMS DO NOT PAY RENT”

— Person behind Water & Cassava

THE CASE OF $%^K BOYS....

I have dealt with so called men that are made not of heart, drive and soul but of misogyny and chauvinism. I was told by a #$%* boy that I should get married and have children. My husband would take care of me and I guess my degrees and professional background would just collect dust. However, after trying to oppress me, he wanted me to hear about the oppression “his people” are currently facing. 

He shared why I could not make in Korea in this order:-

I am not married to a Korean
I do not have a Korean boyfriend

“I DID NOT LEAVE THIS GREAT LAND”

— So I was born in Texas...

“OR THIS LAND THAT BIRTH THIS BLUE BOOK”

— Made of Corn Bread, Blue Corn and Beans

For a penis
 

“What does it say about the value of a woman in your society, if just their p&#$ is of value. I hope you did not think that was a bit harsh.. After all this guy here said.....”

— Water & Cassava

Anyway…..

The Better Together 2017 Event

I really cannot stress how moved I felt that I was invited. I spoke about Africa soft power within the context of Gastrodiplomacy. I was put in a hotel room!!!! How could this be?? ME????? I met some good people like set your soul on fire good. I have one more event coming up and I will be done for this year. I will post that on ESE & SEGYE this Sunday.

I get scared so many times because again, I left a job for uncertainty …..I really believe this could work, I mean really work you know?

The Korea Peninsula & Me

What can I say?. Honestly, I am more scared of Washington, D.C than the major players over here. I feel safer here than I do in the states, I know that makes no sense to someone not over here or invested in Asian affairs. I love Asia like people hold on to the idea that Jesus was not a colored man killed while unarmed. I am on a roll so just keep reading…

Beauty & Uncertainty

I am not to sure why some men think complimenting my or any woman’s aesthetics is the way to go. It makes me want to punch someone in the face…. I am not impressed by your aesthetics, I never asked you to be pleased or even compliment mine.  I do not say, “Oh you are so handsome and tall”. I am here for business, I do not care if you are handsome or tall.
 

Okay, I compliment tall people, everywhere I go. This is because I am tall, and I am awesome. I am 5ft 11inches and I feel my fellow tall people should see each other and acknowledge our height. I am also aware that there is a chance, I have a reverse napoleon complex. I just personally always saw myself as a giraffe. I was always complimented as a child on just how my neck was like a giraffe. I wanted to grow up just like giraffe!

While people might think giraffes are gentle giants, which they are so gentle and beautiful. Please understand a giraffe will kill you or any mammal with one kick. I grew up in Africa, what in the hell did you want me to be? Barbie????

Survival & Uncertainty

I do not know how I eat, pay rent and just live. Ahh to be fair, I really live on coffee and a bagel. I love Coffee, I do not understand the logic of people that believe Coffee can not be food. 

High in antioxidants and just makes the whole world better!

I am so scared of failure and just everything in between and sideways of my journey right now. I believe in #cassavadiplomacy with my heart and soul and I just know this could work!!

Shit I need to figure out rent and…….

See you next Friday Ramblings…..

Silk Road Thursdays: Cool Japan and Africa

……MISSING IN ACTION

African Lab- The 1st Young Asian Africanist Camp

Better Together 2017 -World Culture Open Korea

....BACK TO COOL  JAPAN

We will discuss the soft power assets and possibilities of Japan in two series: Cultural Diplomacy and Aid.

You do understand how soft power works by now right? With this song by the Disco Gods...

Soft Power is understanding that attraction is key to get what you want and not by force. Countries are only as attractive to others based on culture, policies, and ideologies the country holds dear. 

EXPECTATIONS

Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)

We will touch on an incident that involved TICAD & the U.N Security Council. This is very important to understand the piece of Aid in our series as a soft power tool. While this is a strong soft power tool for the country, it is also a challenge for Japan.

Cultural Diplomacy

Japan does not have a strategic plan in this area for Africa. There is no fluidity in cultural diplomacy of Africa countries and Japan, but this is not unique to Japan. However, this could be the golden ticket of applying “Cool Japan Diplomacy” to Africa. Anime and Manga in Africa is not cool but infused some of African Myth and Folklore, I got you your Cool Japan!

See you next Silk Road Thursdays