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COVID-19 Vaccination Improves Mental Health, Says Mimi Kalinda

Published

1 year ago

February 24, 2022

Business Echo Magazine

…“These changes have had a massive impact on our emotional well-being”

Olushola Okunlade Writes

The Covid-19 pandemic has arguably been one of the greatest challenges faced by many people in their lifetime.

There is no question that it has put enormous strain on public health systems and healthcare workers.

“It changed the way we live, socialise and work, disrupting vital aspects of our lives,” points out Mimi Kalinda, a seasoned communications professional. “These changes have had a massive impact on our emotional well-being. Bereavement, isolation, loss of income, and anxiety have triggered mental health conditions and exacerbated existing ones. Around the world, mental health started to become a growing concern for people irrespective of age, demographics or income groups.”

While Covid-19 has resulted in a growing need for mental health services globally, in Africa funding for much-needed mental health services was either disrupted or halted due to the pandemic. Mental health conditions on the continent are often not addressed due to the stigma attached to mental illness, coupled with a lack of government budget. Even before the pandemic, the continent had one of the lowest mental health public expenditure rates globally.

If the bad news is that Covid-19 exacerbated mental health, the good news is that a growing number of studies are pointing to the fact that receiving the Covid-19 vaccine results in significant improvements in mental health.

This is primarily because vaccinations have proved to reduce the risks associated with contracting Covid-19, which in turn lessens general anxiety. Those who are vaccinated are increasingly reporting reduced anxiety and depression compared to those who choose not to get vaccinated.

A US study found a 15% reduction in severe depression and a 4% reduction in mild depression once participants had received their first shot of the vaccine.

“After a period in which many people felt disempowered, getting the vaccine and knowing you have some protection against the risk of severe disease provides a sense of control and lessens feelings of anxiety. It also provides hope that your life will return to a semblance of normality,” says Kalinda.

“All indications are that when you reduce your health risks – through the vaccine, for example – mental distress will be similarly reduced.”

Around the world businesses, restaurants, airlines, and other public establishments are starting to check people’s vaccination status, with entry reserved for those who are vaccinated.

“In a highly unpredictable environment, vaccinations appear to be the only way in which society will see a return to a semblance of normality. It is looking increasingly likely that the civil liberties we took so for granted in a pre-pandemic world will only be returned to us if we are vaccinated,” concludes Kalinda.

This article is part of a series on COVID-19 in Africa brought to you by Africa CDC in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation under the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative. To learn more, visit The saving lives and livelihoods page or https://africacdc-comm.org/

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Related Topics:#COVID19 #mentalhealth #sociallife #vaccination

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Presidential Election: Keyamo writes SSS, Calls For Arrest, Prosecution Of Peter Obi, Datti Over “End Of Democracy” Comments

Published

6 hours ago

March 24, 2023

Business Echo Magazine

Mr. Keyamo said since the declaration of the presidential election results, the LP candidate and his running mate have been hopping from one media house to the other making incendiary comments and claims about the declaration of the President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Minister of Labour and Employment (State), Festus Keyamo, has written a letter to the State Security Services (SSS) calling for the arrest of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, over their comments on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

Mr. Keyamo, who served as the spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, in a letter dated 23 March and addressed to the director general of the SSS, accused Messrs Obi and Datti of making incendiary claims on the 25 February election capable of truncating the nation’s democracy.

He stated that the duo was making comments that are capable of causing insurrection against the government and the president-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Mr. Keyamo said since the declaration of the presidential election results, the LP candidate and his running mate have been hopping from one media house to the other making incendiary comments and claims about the declaration of the President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on 1 March declared Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 25 February presidential election.

Mr. Tinubu polled 8.8 million votes to defeat the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, who polled 6,984,520 votes and 6,101,533 respectively.

Messrs Atiku and Obi have rejected the outcome of the election and filed separate petitions at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

Mr. Keyamo, in the petition, stated that Messrs Obi and Datti’s recent comment crossed the red line because of the call for “outright truncation of democracy.”

He made reference to the interview granted by Mr. Datti to Channels TV, saying the LP Vice presidential candidate made a comment that threatened Nigeria’s democracy.

“However, it appears the President and Vice-Presidential Candidates of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed are not prepared to toe this conciliatory path for the sake of peace and national cohesion, whilst exercising their rights to pursue duly laid down constitutional means of addressing their grievances. In this regard, since the declaration of the Presidential election results, they have been hopping from one media house to the other making incendiary comments and claims about the declaration of the President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“These comments and claims are made, not just within the boundaries of exercising their rights to freedom of speech and the freedom to air their grievances publicly, but they have since crossed the line to call for the outright truncation of democracy by insisting on the adoption of other processes outside the contemplation of our Constitution. In some cases, their privies have even called for the establishment of an Interim Government.

“The latest of such are the comments made by Datti Baba-Ahmed on behalf of himself and Mr. Peter Obi on Channels TV on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, wherein he threatened that if the President-Elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023, it would “signal the end of democracy”. Posing as an accuser, a judge, and a jury all by himself, he unilaterally declared the duly elected President-elect as “unconstitutional” and, in a subliminal manner, threatened mayhem if the President-Elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023,” he said.

He called on the SSS to invite/arrest, interrogate, and after investigation, if necessary, charge both individuals to court.

Read the full text of Mr. Festus Keyamo’s petition

The Director General,

Department of State Services,

Aso Drive,

Abuja.

Dear Sir,

PETITION AGAINST MR. PETER OBI AND DATTI BABA-AHMED FOR MAKING INCENDIARY COMMENTS AND CLAIMS CAPABLE OF CAUSING AN INSURRECTION OR REBELLION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT-ELECT.

I write this petition with the full realisation that in a post-election period such as this, there is a need to soothe frayed nerves, lower the temperature and begin the healing process. The President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a statement to this effect a few days ago.

However, it appears the President and Vice-Presidential Candidates of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed are not prepared to toe this conciliatory path for the sake of peace and national cohesion, whilst exercising their rights to pursue duly laid down constitutional means of addressing their grievances. In this regard, since the declaration of the Presidential election results, they have been hopping from one media house to the other making incendiary comments and claims about the declaration of the President-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These comments and claims are made, not just within the boundaries of exercising their rights to freedom of speech and the freedom to air their grievances publicly, but they have since crossed the line to call for the outright truncation of democracy by insisting on the adoption of other processes outside the contemplation of our Constitution. In some cases, their privies have even called for the establishment of an Interim Government.

The latest of such are the comments made by Datti Baba-Ahmed on behalf of himself and Mr. Peter Obi on Channels TV on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, wherein he threatened that if the President-Elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023, it would “signal the end of democracy”. Posing as an accuser, a judge, and a jury all by himself, he unilaterally declared the duly elected President-elect as “unconstitutional” and, in a subliminal manner, threatened mayhem if the President-Elect is sworn in on May 29th, 2023.

I also have it on good authority that Mr. Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed have camped some youths in a popular hotel in Abuja with the sole aim of instructing them to push out inciting messages every day on social media in order to cause panic and fear within the federation and to incite people to riot and social unrest.

It is noteworthy that Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed have submitted Elections Petitions to the courts for adjudication, but their conducts and utterances amount to subversion of the processes they have instituted in court and a subversion of our Constitution and the laid-down processes for addressing disputes and grievances. These conducts and utterances are a build-up to something more sinister and it is important you rein them in NOW!

In this circumstance, I submit this petition in my personal capacity as a patriotic Nigerian to invite/arrest, interrogate, and after investigation, if necessary, charge both individuals to court for their conduct which amounts to incitement and treasonable felony.

Yours most trusted,

FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)

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News

Naira Scarcity: NLC Declares Nationwide Strike, Protests At CBNs’ Offices

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2023

Business Echo Magazine

Naira Scarcity: NLC Declares Nationwide Strike, Protests At CBNs' Offices

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday officially declared a nationwide strike over the scarcity of cash in the country.

The national president of the union, Joe Ajaero, gave the directive during a media briefing in Abuja.

He also directed that affiliate unions constituting the NLC should be on standby for picketing exercises across all branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria nationwide.

NLC had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to end the petrol and cash scarcity being experienced in the country.

Speaking with journalists, Ajaero said the industrial action became the last resort of the NLC following the expiration of the ultimatum.

He said the decision to picket the CBN branches became necessary as the federal government and the CBN had failed to show any commitment to addressing the situation.

Ajaero lamented that despite the Supreme Court order that the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023, the situation kept getting worse.

He said workers could not access cash to pay fares to work nor buy food for their families. He also criticized the pricing irregularities in the petroleum sector.

“Last week, we gave an ultimatum for the review of the cash crunch bedeviling the country, but we have discovered to our dismay that as of this moment, not much effort has been made to ameliorate the situation. Government is still foot-dragging on these issues we raised,” Ajaero said.

“Based on this, we met again this morning to review our position and resolved that by Wednesday next week, all CBN branches will be picketed. Workers are directed to stay at home too because people cannot eat, workers can no longer go to the office, and we have been pushed to the wall.

“We have decided to take our destiny into our hands, we have mobilized our workers on this exercise.”

The NLC has no fewer than 43 affiliate unions which include, but are not limited to, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, among others.

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News

Sanwo-Olu Has Done So Well, Deserves Second Term – Osoba

Published

3 weeks ago

March 6, 2023

Business Echo Magazine

SANWO-OLU TO WOULD-BE INVESTORS: LAGOS READY FOR YOU

…Urges Lagos, residents, to re-elect Governor based on performance, laudable achievements

Olushola Okunlade Writes

Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has appealed to all Lagos State residents, especially the electorate to re-elect Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the forthcoming gubernatorial poll, saying the Governor has done so well and deserved to be re-elected.

Speaking during the Journalist Hangout Programme on Television Continental (TVC) on Sunday, Osoba, a renowned journalist and former Editor and Managing Director of Daily Times Newspaper, said Governor Sanwo-Olu has done so much in Lagos State and based on his performance he deserved to be voted for en-masse on Saturday.

Osoba, who expressed his displeasure over the voting pattern against APC in Lagos State, especially at Ikoyi, Eti-Osa Local Government Area during the last presidential elections, urged Lagos residents to redeem themselves by voting for a performing government, saying “Lagos has given so much to all of us, let us pay back by showing gratitude to a Governor (Sanwo-Olu) who I believe has done his best.”

The former Ogun State governor also appealed to Lagos residents, especially youths, Ndigbo in the State, and religious leaders not to allow ethnicity and religion to be a dividing factor in the forthcoming governorship election in Lagos State.

He said: “In Lagos, it hurts me and it gives me sleepless nights when educated people and others voted against APC in Ikoyi for example. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has done so well in Ikoyi. Ikoyi was totally run down; it was almost becoming a slum. And when Sanwo-Olu came in, he did so much renewal in Ikoyi. He has done a lot to fix Glover Road and McPherson Avenue with heavy drainage to address the flooding. He has also worked on Lateef Jakande, McDonald all the way down to Cooper Road, Alexander, and Queen Drive.

“He (Governor Sanwo-Olu) has done so much renewal and yet some of us elites whose property value had gone almost 50 percent voted blindly. I thought we would vote according to performance. Anywhere in the world, you assess a government and vote based on performance. I hope they will redeem their image. How can the Ikoyi voting pattern be against a government that performed?

“They voted against APC. What is their reason? Tunji Bello used to tell me about the efforts they always make to pump water every flooding period to save us from heavy flooding. So, it devises all reasonable logic the way people; educated people voted in Ikoyi for example, where I lived.”

Osoba, who governed Ogun State during the aborted Third Republic and was also elected as the first Ogun State governor in the present Fourth Republic, appealed to all Lagos residents, especially the youths to vote for Governor Sanwo-Olu and APC candidates in the March 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections.

“Why should anybody be looking for a change in Lagos? I have spoken about the assessment and performance of Sanwo-Olu in Ikoyi where I live. This is not hearsay. The monorail that Jakande started was canceled over 40 years ago, he has restored it with the Blue line rail. I can go on and on giving you examples of his performance.

“I went to campaign in Agbado on Friday and when coming back, I google my way to my house, and all throughout Agege and neighbouring areas between Ogun State and Lagos were all dualised. How do you say a man like that should not continue?

“I will urge our people, especially the youths not to make the same mistake that they made in Eti-Osa where they voted blindly out of frustration, which I appreciate. And the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, told them he will address their frustration.

“I appeal to my Igbo brothers and sisters, don’t let us make this an ethnic issue. Anywhere in the world where ethnicity has become an issue, it becomes destructive. I will plead that the youth, our religious people, and our Igbo brothers and sisters in Lagos should think of the past. Nnamdi Azikwe, the father figure of Igbo land, started all his political life in Lagos. The first Igbo lawyer, Sir Louis Mbanefo went to Methodist Boys High School and King’s College; he had his education in Lagos.

“We have been working together. Let us sustain the relationship. Lagos is the most liberal state in this country. Lagos has given so much to all of us, let us pay back by showing gratitude to a Governor who I believe has done his best,” Osoba appealed.

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