After three national lockdowns and numerous attempts at a tiered restriction system, it is fair to say we are no strangers to Boris Johnson’s unrealistic promises. With three vaccines now approved, and commencement of inoculation underway, the Prime Minister has suggested that restrictions will be eased gradually, starting as...
Ok, how do we talk about this? I mean, there is a generation who did not recognise or discuss mental health. Why would anyone? Back then, things were quite different. It was common to label people with mental health issues as “cuckoos”. At one point people were actually treated with electrocution...
2020 was a year many of us are happy to have left behind. Whatever mindset we are bringing into 2021, it is worth stopping for a second to reflect on how our everyday experiences have changed over a few months. After the first March lockdown came a happy, relaxed...
Cannabis is illegal in Nigeria. Its production, distribution and use are criminalised by local laws. Cultivated mostly in southern Nigeria, the drug is affordable and readily available through street drug-running. Cannabis users are also widely seen as social deviants, and are liable to arrest and imprisonment.
Despite the stigma and...
Nasarawa state in the north-central region of Nigeria is known for agriculture, salt mining and one of the higher waterfalls in Africa. It has also consistently registered one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in Nigeria with an HIV prevalence of 7.5% compared to the national average of 4.1%....
Since the pandemic’s onset almost a year ago, an array of COVID-19 related neurological symptoms have emerged. A neurological component to the virus is now widely accepted; however, the exact role that the virus plays in triggering neurological manifestations is yet to be understood. Given the ever-growing scale of...
For people working in South Africa’s live music sector, 2020 has been “devastating”. That was the term that researchers read most frequently in responses to the country’s largest-ever live music and COVID-19 survey, published in November. As one respondent put it:
I have lost everything. All income, accommodation – everything.
The...
The UK has become the first country to authorise the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for public use, with roll-out to start in the first week of 2021. This vaccine is the second to be authorised in the UK – following the Pfizer vaccine.
The British government has ordered 100 million doses...
I remember the day I conducted my first workshop on interpersonal skills, a couple of decades ago, and ‘oh boy’, it was fun’’. I was part of training and development then, and cordial behaviour and friendships featured on the agenda. Funnily enough, I have reached a place where I...
A love for reading can be hugely valuable for children. The benefits of leisure reading include increased general knowledge, a positive impact on academic achievement, enhanced reading ability and vocabulary growth.
Indeed, research suggests that time spent reading for pleasure could be a key indicator for the future success of...
