EBOLA GOES VIRAL ACROSS THE WORLD

International response towards Ebola has being very slow if not late since the outbreak earlier this year. With over 4000 confirmed reported death cases so far, this viral disease is turning into a plague consuming lives everywhere it goes. The governments of the worst affected regions in West Africa this week in a televised broadcast have appealed for pledges made by the international community to be fulfilled before their entire citizens are wiped out. So far experimental drugs promised to be delivered are yet to leave the shores of the West and make it way down here into West Africa.

With the disease crossing borders and making it way to as far as Spain, response towards finding a vaccine or cure need to be hastened. In the US since the first reported case of an infection which was traced to a medical officer from Liberia, efforts are being made to make the experimental drugs available in large quantities.

According to the WHO report the total number of reported cases stands at 8399 and a total of 4033 confirmed death. These cases came from Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal Sierra Leone, Spain and the United States. 

In Australia a nurse who arrived from Liberia after treating Ebola patients developed low-grade fever and test for Ebola have proven negative. Despite this results she has being placed under isolation whiles test is runned on her again later next week. So far 11 people in Australia showing symptoms of Ebola have all being proven negative.

Ashoka Mukpo, a freelance journalist being brought in

 (James R. Burnett, Associated Press)

In the United States, the Nebraska medical centre which had a bio-containment isolation ward set-up a decade ago had it put to real life use since two patients with Ebola symptoms were brought in. The medical unit is currently treating Ashoka Mukpo, 33 a freelance journalist who was airlifted from Liberia to Omaha and arrived on Monday. The journalist having being tested positive for Ebola is receiving an experimental drug, brincidofvir which is in the form of a pill. The patient is also receiving blood transfusion from an Ebola survivor who was released  in September at the center after three weeks of treatment.

In the UK steps are already underway to screen for Ebola at its airport and all entry points into the country. The country also conducted a nationwide drill for Ebola to test their preparedness towards containing the viral disease. Several actors who played showing symptoms of Ebola were placed under isolation whiles test was conducted on them.

In the US, their JFK airport has been the first in the country to start screening all international arrivals for symptoms of Ebola. Four more airports are expected to be added next week.

In efforts to find a cure or vaccine for the viral disease several companies have being developing drugs in an effort to find a safe haven for people to live. One such company is already in Mali, which share border with Sierra Leone, where patient zero is believed to have come from. Three health workers have already received the vaccine to test for any adverse effect according to the Guardian. If the test proves positive 37 more health workers will also receive this experimental drugs after which it will be deployed in regions which have being  hit  hardest by the viral infection. Despite these test on-going other companies in the US and Europe which have being developing vaccines have reported that their vaccines will be available in large quantities by the end of this year. Whiles we wait anxiously for the vaccines to made available in large quantities it is in our own best interest to observe all precautions to avoid being infected.

A few hours ago, news came in that a patient has developed symptoms of the disease in Brazil. However test is yet to prove any signs of the virus in the patients system. If proven positive it will mean another continent will be at risk of the infection.

Symptoms of the disease include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage. The viral disease spread mainly through bodily fluids such as blood and saliva. Since there have being no proven vaccine or cure, supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhea and vomiting can help recovery. Health workers believe that fruit bat is the natural host for the virus. The WHO and other health authorities in West Africa has advocated for people to stay away from consuming fruit bat and other forms of bush meat since the outbreak.

HOW EBOLA HAS EXPOSED OUR SICK HEALTH SYSTEM

A patient being carried by health officials for burial (thewestsidestory.net)

West Africa has caught the attention of the world as we all battle the Ebola viral disease. The disease has been spreading at an alarming rate far beyond the imagination of all. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 70% of infected people die from the disease when they contract this viral disease. So far the WHO has explained that the disease takes 21 days to incubate, which means people placed under quarantine can be determined safe to be released after 21 days. The diseases have claimed the life of over 3000 people since the outbreak in West Africa earlier this year.  Liberia has been hardly hit with 150 people reported dead in just two days according to WHO figures last Friday.

The disease according to the WHO is spreading at alarming rates due to the fact that most health facilities are inadequately prepared to screen and offer help to victims. This has exposed a lot of health workers to the disease with over 300 health workers reported to have contracted the disease in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the three most affected countries. Nearly half of them died from the disease. Access to necessary health-care supplies and equipment’s has being attributed partly to suspension of flights in and out of Ebola affected countries. In light of this phenomenon at an emergency meeting of the African Union (AU) on 8 September, regional travel hub, Senegal were ready to open a humanitarian corridor to affected countries. A terminal has being set up in Senegal purposely for receiving humanitarian flights where health workers will be thoroughly screened. Similarly in Accra, Ghana a special UN mission to fight Ebola will be headquartered.

The CDC have warned that if proper measures are not put in place to address this current situation in West Africa, reported cases could surge to 21,000 in Liberia and Sierra Leone by September 30 and an alarming rate of 1.4 million by late January, next year. Canada has promised to donate $2.5M for protective equipment in light of this. However 1000 doses of an experimental drugs developed by Canada is yet to leave their shore six weeks after it was promised. This has being attributed to the fact that, the vaccines needs to be shipped under certain conditions if it is to work upon arrival. Also there are questions about where to ship them as a facility to receive them in West Africa is unavailable.

News from Liberia shows that less than an hour ago (8:00 PM Ghana Local time, 27 September), their Chief Medical Officer, Bernice Dahn has placed herself and staff under quarantine after one of her assistant contracted and died from the disease. She has being representing her country at international Ebola conferences. According to the BBC, Liberia has just 51 doctors to serve the country’s 4.2 million people. Hospital beds have being on shortage in Liberia since the outbreak.

Dr. Gobee Logan. (image courtesy of newsnextbd.com)

The unavailability of a proven vaccine is really frustrating for health workers. In Liberia a doctor in the rural area resorted to treating his Ebola patients with HIV drugs, claims that mortality rate in his hospital has dropped to just 7%. Doctor Gobee Logan told CNN that, he had to try this in a bid to save his patients. So far only two out of 15 patients that received the HIV drug treatment have died. 

In areas where there is yet to be a confirmed cases of Ebola, health officials have being put at great risk when trying to confirm cases. In Ghana for instance reports by Joy Fm shows that a health facility at Dominase, a suburb of its second capital Kumasi had the doctor at post improvising when a suspected case of Ebola was reported at his facility. They had no access to protective clothing.

Symptoms of the disease include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage. The viral disease spread mainly through bodily fluids such as blood and saliva. Since there have being no proven vaccine or cure, supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhea and vomiting can help recovery. Health workers believe that fruit bat is the natural host for the virus. The WHO and other health authorities in West Africa has advocated for people to stay away from consuming fruit bat and other forms of bush meat since the outbreak

ENERGY CRISES IN AFRICA: THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE CONTINENT

Africa is indeed blessed with vast and untapped sources of energy that if taken into consideration by so called government and leaders will help solve one of the continents dying needs. Whiles most government has continually invested in hydro-electric power, which falls heavily on rain pattern, the project has worked and failed in some countries. For instance Ghana recently put to use its 400 MW Bui Power project which is a dam constructed to generate electricity by means of hydro-electric power after their Akosombo Dam project became in danger after water levels dropped due to irregular rainfall pattern.

The country also invested in the $1 billion West African Gas Project which promised to deliver 4000 MW to it partner countries is yet to realize its full potential. In light of this it will be much prudent for government to explore other avenues of bring an end to the continents energy crises.

Ghana is currently experiencing one of its worst energy crises, which industry experts says could become worst if measures are not taken in place to address this curtailing problem. Already industries and businesses are feeling the pressure of the country’s economic challenges which has brought on told hardship to its citizens and on top of it is this energy crises, most businesses may have to adopt cost cutting measures to remain in business. Already the nation President, Mr. John D. Mahama and its government has come under serious criticism after he promise in its state of the nation address and end to the dumsor issues that the country has faced over the years after Nigeria reportedly increase gas supply to the country to power its country growing energy need . Political opponents were waiting to take a pound of flesh on the President, and this came when Nigeria had to cut down its gas supply due to generation problems after the president’s promise. This situation is not only prevalent in Ghana but other West African countries that are constantly looking for avenues to find solution to its power generation capacity. It is high time they take a look at solar energy which some so called energy experts will argue that is not viable despite the continents unlimited free supply of sun. it is no doubt that they are just making unnecessary arguments whiles their sister nations in Africa are making serious investment into the venture. Even a partnership with some European nations and North Africa to build the world’s largest concentrating solar power plant (CSP) using just 0.3% of the Saharan Desert.

The Desertec Foundation Project

The Desertec Foundation made up of scientists, businesses and government executives lead the project which is now on hold due to issues being worked out among partners. This however means other nations cannot embark on their own projects in their back yards. This however needs a lot of support from government instead of spending huge amounts on issues that will yield no positive results.

An example is Morocco’s Solar Plan Project which has being regarded as one of the world’s largest and ambitious solar energy project. This project when completed will put them towards a path of secure and sustainable energy supply. Already the country is the largest importer of fossil fuels in North Africa to generate energy. The aim of the project is to generate 2 Giga Watts of solar energy by 2020 by building five solar power plants with modern solar thermal, photovoltaic and concentrated solar power mechanism. The country is also investing in the largest wind farm in Africa. Located near Tangiers is Morocco’s wind farm which will provide a generation capacity to save 126,000 metric tons of oil each year.

 

In Ghana a British Energy firm has being issued a license to begin a solar project. The giant 155-megawatt Nzema project will be one of the biggest in the world if completed. Mere Power Nzema Limited a subsidiary of Mere Power UK and Blue Energy is embarking on the project which plans to begin operation in 2015. The project will see the installation of about 630,000 photovoltaic panels making it the sixth largest in the world. 

Ghana's Nzema project site

 The company has secured the government of Ghana consent to begin and been awarded a generation license and a feed-in tariff for the plant’s 20 year operational life. The project will cost $400-million dollar.

The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power is also embarking on a 10 Mega Watt Katsina Wind Farm Project to boost electricity supply in the country which is one of the worst in West Africa. The wind farm which will consist of 37 wind turbines with a power of 275 kilo watt each was awarded to French company, Vergnet S.A as the EPC contractor.

Democratic Republic of Congo government is also attempting to harness the potential of the Congo River by building the world’s largest hydroelectric project dubbed the Grand Inga. It is expected to generate 40 Giga Watt of energy potentially lighting up the continent from Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt is yet to receive any firm financial commitments.

In Central Namibia Soitec has installed a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) demonstrated plant in its isolated rural village of Usib near Rehoboth. The 25 kilo watt installation has been connected to the grid of national power utility, NamPower and provides power to users including a school in its remote region.

There are other solar projects ongoing in other parts of Africa including South Africa’s project Eskom project in Upington, Africa.

Ethiopia is also developing its own renewable energy. The country which is one of the largest in Africa is also one of the driest. Due to this most of its land is unsuitable for agricultural production, causing the government to shift its focus to biodiesel crops that flourish under the harsh climatic conditions of Ethiopia. 
 

The jatropha curcas plant

Castor bean plant and jatropha curcas which are popular biodiesel plants are being grown in partnership with companies from India, Europe, Israel and United States.

There are more than 62 million acres of land available in Ethiopia suitable for biodiesel crop farming, which if fully developed, would make Ethiopia the largest biodiesel producer in the world.

In recent years, we have seen efforts to increase clean energy output, with the North African nations leading in solar and wind categories, Kenya in geothermal, and Ethiopia in bio-crops. Once developed, the alternative energy output from Africa could supply all of Europe and the African continent with clean inexpensive energy.

The continent of Africa is endowed with vast untapped clean energy sources if funded and given needed attention will put an end to the continents constant growing population and need of energy. With major companies in US, Europe and Asia seeking to have a bite of the last economic frontier it will be prudent for African government takes an initiative to invest in power projects rather than wait for these foreign companies to invest solely or much of the funds into such projects which they will later sell back to us at exorbitant prices.

More information on clean energy in Africa

1. http://www.desertec.org/fileadmin/downloads/DESERTEC-WhiteBook_en_small.pdf

2. http://www.irena.org/DocumentDownloads/2013/January/Workshop/country%20Case%20Study%20-%20South%20Africa.pdf

3. http://twnside.org.sg/title2/par/Unmasking.the.green.revolution.pdf

REFERENCING

1.      Alternate Energy eMagazine- Africa, the Untapped Potential for Clean Energy; Len. (http://www.altenergymag.com ) retrieved on 22September 2014

2.      The West African Gas Project (http://www.wagpco.com/ ) retrieved on 24 September, 2014

3.      PennEnergy- Ghana to house Africa’s largest utility scale solar power plant ; Dorothy Davis Ballard, 4^th March, 2014 (www.pennyenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2014/03/ghana-to-house-africa-s-largest-utility-scale-solar-power-plant.html ) retrieved on 24 September, 2014

4.      Africa’s largest solar(PV) power plant, 8^th February, 2012 (www.blue-energy.com/africas-largest-solar-pv-power-plant/ ) retrieved on 24 September, 2014

GHANA AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

By now it is no news that Ghana is seeking a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund. This will not be the first time the nation has being at the doorsteps of the IMF for a financial bailout. However how much do we really know about the IMF and its bailout programmes that are designed specifically for its members? In this first of many to come writing on Ghana and the IMF bailout, I seek to find answers. 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization that was initiated in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference and formally created in 1945 by 29 member countries. The IMF's stated goal was to assist in the reconstruction of the world's international payment system post–World War II. Countries contribute funds to a pool through a quota system from which countries with payment imbalances temporarily can borrow money and other resources. As of the 14th General Review of Quotas in late 2010 the fund stood at SDR476.8bn, or about US$755.7bn at then-current exchange rates. Through this fund, and other activities such as surveillance of its members' economies and the demand for self-correcting policies, the IMF works to improve the economies of its member countries.

Member states of the IMF

  IMF member states

  IMF member states not accepting the obligations of Article VIII, Sections 2, 3, and 4

The IMF is a self-described "organization of 188 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.” The organization's objectives are stated in the Articles of Agreement and can be summarized as: to promote international economic co-operation, international trade, employment, and exchange-rate stability, including by making financial resources available to member countries to meet balance of payments needs. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C., United States.

Aside these the IMF perform some functions. These are surveillance of the global economy, conditionality of loans which comes with structural adjustments and benefits.

Surveillance of the global economy

The IMF is mandated to oversee the international monetary and financial system and monitor the economic and financial policies of its 188 member countries. This activity is known as surveillance and facilitates international co-operation. The responsibilities of the Fund changed from those of guardian to those of overseer of members’ policies.

The Fund typically analyses the appropriateness of each member country’s economic and financial policies for achieving orderly economic growth, and assesses the consequences of these policies for other countries and for the global economy.

Conditionality of loans

IMF conditionality is a set of policies or conditions that the IMF requires in exchange for financial resources.  The IMF does not require collateral from countries for loans but rather requires the government seeking assistance to correct its macroeconomic imbalances in the form of policy reform. If the conditions are not met, the funds are withheld.  Conditionality is perhaps the most controversial aspect of IMF policies. The concept of conditionality was introduced in an Executive Board decision in 1952 and later incorporated in the Articles of Agreement.

Conditionality is associated with economic theory as well as an enforcement mechanism for repayment. Stemming primarily from the work of Jacques Polak in the Fund's research department, the theoretical underpinning of conditionality was the "monetary approach to the balance of payments."

Structural adjustment

Some of the conditions for structural adjustment can include:

• Cutting expenditures, also known as austerity.
• Focusing economic output on direct export and resource extraction,
• Devaluation of currencies,
• Trade liberalization, or lifting import and export restrictions,
• Increasing the stability of investment (by supplementing foreign direct investment with the opening of domestic stock markets),
• Balancing budgets and not overspending,
• Removing price controls and state subsidies,
• Privatization, or divestiture of all or part of state-owned enterprises,
• Enhancing the rights of foreign investors vis-a-vis national laws,
• Improving governance and fighting corruption.

These conditions have also been sometimes labeled as the Washington Consensus

The IMF is led by a managing director, who is head of the staff and serves as Chairman of the Executive Board. The managing director is assisted by a First Deputy managing director and three other Deputy Managing Directors. Historically the IMF's managing director has been European and the president of the World Bank has been from the United States. However, this standard is increasingly being questioned and competition for these two posts may soon open up to include other qualified candidates from any part of the world. The current head of the IMF is Christine Largarde, who was voted on 28 June 2011, replacing Dominique Strauss-Kahn

In the next part of Ghana and the IMF Bailout, I seek to find out criticisms of countries against the IMF and its bailout programmes and its likely impact on the country.

REFERENCING

1.      IMF Publications page

2.      World Economic Outlook - quarterly staff periodical

3.      "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Monetary_Fund&oldid=625821595"

Categories:

·         International Monetary Fund

·         International finance institutions

·         United Nations specialized agencies

·         Global policy organizations

·         International development

·         United Nations Development Group

·         United Nations Economic and Social Council

·         Organizations established in 1945

·         Organizations based in Washington, D.C.