Abdulkarim

WHAT IS CORONA VIRUS

The coronavirus family cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROMES (SARS) AND MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROMES(MERS).

According to WHO,the corona virus came from animals and its possible to be transmitted between animals and humans. The new coronavirus the seventh known to affect humans has been named COVID -19.

ORIGIN OF CORONA VIRUS

The virus was reported to have originated in Wuhan, China. So far Covid-19 has killed more than 1 million people and infected over 40 million Worldwide. COVID 19 is thought to have originated in a sea food market where wildlife was sold illegally.
On FEB 7 Chinese researchers said the virus could have spread from an infected animal to human through illegally trafficked pangolins prized in Asia for food and medicine. Scientist have pointed to either bats or snakes as possible sources.

In Kenya the first case was confirmed on 12th march 2020 since the beginning of the outbreak in China. The case was from a Kenyan citizen who travelled back to Nairobi from the United States of America via London, United Kingdom on the 5th march 2020.
She was confirmed positive by the National Influenza Centre Laboratory at the national public health laboratories of the ministry of health. On 15th march 2020 Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced that two other people who had sat next to the initial patient on the plain had also tested positive for the virus.
President Uhuru Kenyatta directed some measures to be implement so as to curb the spread of COVID-19

• Travel from any countries with any case of corona virus be restricted
• Only Kenyan citizens and any foreigners with valid residence permit will be allowed to come into the country provided they proceed on self-quarantine facility.
• All schools and higher learning institutions to be closed until further notice.
• Government and businesses people start working from home except essential services provider.
• No congregation meeting, especially in religious centres i.e Churches, Mosque, Shrines.
• Hospitals and shopping malls should provide alcohol based sanitizer, soap and water and regular cleaning of facilities.

On 16 march the government through its spokesman col Cyrus Oguna said on an update that there were another three people who were suspected to be carriers of the virus and their results were to be released soon. Covid-19 spread very first in Kenya due to ignorance and lack of enough education about the strange disease.

Health CS announce the first fatality from corona virus on 26th March. The patient was a 66 years old Kenyan man who had recently came back from a business trip in Eswatini. As the cases continued rising on July 6th President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the following:

 No movement in and out of Nairobi metropolitan area, Mombasa county, Kwale and Kilifi county for a period of 21 days
 Nationwide 6 pm to 4 am curfew for a period of 30 days
 Ban on social gathering and suspension on operation of bars for 21 days
 Restrictions of International and local flight

SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

1. Fever
2. Dry cough
3. Tiredness
4. Aches and pain
5. Sore throat
6. Diarrhoea
7. Headache
8. Difficulty breathing
9. Chest pain or pressure

STATISTIC OF THE VIRUS IN KENYA

Confirmed cases 45,076
Recovered cases 32,084
Deaths 839

REBUILDING YOUTH LEADERSHIP IN KENYA
The first of its kind event forum initiated last week Thursday 27th February 2020, student leaders from various universities and colleges in Kenya gathered at Moi University Nairobi Campus for training and discussions on how they can influence the youth they lead in this country. This has a come at a proper time as more youth need to be engaged in leadership and governance of this country.

As we need to see more youth in leadership and governance and the next general elections are approaching fast, these student leaders should hasten in influencing the youth adopt achievement of the country’s vision through good governance and leadership by engaging them to take up leadership and governance positions.
This kind of forum avails the student leadership with a platform for the industry players to participate and at the same time giving the youth leaders an opportunity to put their skills to practice through the training these leaders will be taken through.
The student leadership fraternity from different varsities will benefit and enlighten the young leaders in our country in terms of values and ethics and instil a sense of responsibility.
Given that 85 per cent of the Kenyan population is under 35 years old, the youth can change the voting image of this country. If they can craft a focused strategy that appreciatesthe fact that leadership is linked to their wellbeing.
Just having many youth in leadership position in the country is not enough. Today we have one of the most youthful parliament in the history of this country. Studies have shown that most of the leaders are not only young in age – but they have not spoorted the youth in their causes. Instead, they have continued to sink in patronage and meaningless sycophancybecause this is the environment in which they have socialized with and groomed into positons of power.
By setting clear and long term goals and agendas, the youth leadership fraternity should take action in making sure they elect future leaders who will pay attention to their needs and inspirations and implement policies that will fulfill their potential.
Today, official statistics show that Kenya’s unemployment rate stands at 40 per cent. Sadly, seven out of 10 people who are jobless are youth. We must therefore ensure the leaders work for us and not the other way round.