By John Otieno and Agencies, Nairobi.
27th April, 2020.
As the COVID-19 epidemic rages on in Africa and many leaders increasingly becoming desperate; the Tanzanian reform minded President Magufuli is innovating local solutions for anti-Covid-19 crusade.
The President, the only East African leader who has thus far defied the copy-cat tendency of imposing lockdown policies, is further departing from the thinking of his fellows in the region. Last week his remarks went abuzz in social media when he promoted steam inhalation therapies to fight Corona.
Western scholars may interpret Magufuli as being lackadaisical in fighting the pandemic, but the scientist/chemist specialist President, knows his way. This time around he has innovated another mechanism where through the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, Tanzania has introduced digital education system to help students who are at homes now to continue with their studies.
According to the Ministry Official officials in Dar es Salaam, the informal classes to keep the students at home busy have started through the state owned television and radio -the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) as well as in YouTube channels.
The programs is organized by the Ministry of Education, Ministry for Regional Administration and Local Government as well as the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) and Education Link, among other stakeholders.
According to an education expert Dr. Nooran Khimji: “COVID-19 school closures could have affected kids' mental health, but President Magufuli’s initiatives shall entirely free them from mental health effects”.
Dr. Khimji added that mental effects posed by school closure in Tanzania can be low compared to the neighbouring nations that have adopted total or strict lockdown measures.
According to Tanzania's Chief Government Spokesperson, Dr. Hassan Abbasi, since first coronavirus case was reported on March 16, the government has implemented over 40 measures and programs, including the closure of schools and colleges, to contain the spread of the virus. Tanzania has also suspended all chartered and non chartered international passenger flights and disallowed all sports and musical activities.
On the other development, Tanzania's National Hospital has started mass production of medical gowns that are used for protecting health workers on the Covid frontline worldwide. A Deusche Well TV
news bulletin has broadcasted that experts at the Hospital in Dar es Salaam have reduced the cost by ten times compared to importation of the same materials from abroad.
Last week the President directed local industries to focus on mass production of medical and other masks to fill the increasing demand.
"Absolutely way to go, I'm fascinated by the Tanzanian approach; African countries must embrace local innovative ways during this time of great hardship as everyone else in the rest of the world is flabbergasted by the pandemic," says Prof. A.M Korwa of the Kampala based Center for Tropical Diseases.
27th April, 2020.
As the COVID-19 epidemic rages on in Africa and many leaders increasingly becoming desperate; the Tanzanian reform minded President Magufuli is innovating local solutions for anti-Covid-19 crusade.
The President, the only East African leader who has thus far defied the copy-cat tendency of imposing lockdown policies, is further departing from the thinking of his fellows in the region. Last week his remarks went abuzz in social media when he promoted steam inhalation therapies to fight Corona.
Western scholars may interpret Magufuli as being lackadaisical in fighting the pandemic, but the scientist/chemist specialist President, knows his way. This time around he has innovated another mechanism where through the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, Tanzania has introduced digital education system to help students who are at homes now to continue with their studies.
According to the Ministry Official officials in Dar es Salaam, the informal classes to keep the students at home busy have started through the state owned television and radio -the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) as well as in YouTube channels.
The programs is organized by the Ministry of Education, Ministry for Regional Administration and Local Government as well as the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA) and Education Link, among other stakeholders.
According to an education expert Dr. Nooran Khimji: “COVID-19 school closures could have affected kids' mental health, but President Magufuli’s initiatives shall entirely free them from mental health effects”.
Dr. Khimji added that mental effects posed by school closure in Tanzania can be low compared to the neighbouring nations that have adopted total or strict lockdown measures.
According to Tanzania's Chief Government Spokesperson, Dr. Hassan Abbasi, since first coronavirus case was reported on March 16, the government has implemented over 40 measures and programs, including the closure of schools and colleges, to contain the spread of the virus. Tanzania has also suspended all chartered and non chartered international passenger flights and disallowed all sports and musical activities.
On the other development, Tanzania's National Hospital has started mass production of medical gowns that are used for protecting health workers on the Covid frontline worldwide. A Deusche Well TV
Last week the President directed local industries to focus on mass production of medical and other masks to fill the increasing demand.
"Absolutely way to go, I'm fascinated by the Tanzanian approach; African countries must embrace local innovative ways during this time of great hardship as everyone else in the rest of the world is flabbergasted by the pandemic," says Prof. A.M Korwa of the Kampala based Center for Tropical Diseases.
I also subscribe to Prof.Korwa's perception. Africans got minds too.
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