Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Although a large number of Africans are in love with soccer, the Basketball Africa League is here to stay. As more efforts continue to go into basketball development in Africa, stakeholders are hopeful that this new venture will drive growth and investment across the continent. What are your thoughts about Masai Ujiri's court initiative? Let us know in the comment section below.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Returnee Spotlight: See How Ujiri Masai Wants To Make Africa World\u2019s Basketball Capital","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ujiri-masai-make-africa-worlds-basketball-capital","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=328348","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":324578,"post_author":"10053","post_date":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_date_gmt":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_324592\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"832\"] South Africa airways affected by the travel ban (Photo credit: sunnewsonline.com)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nProminent Africans\u2014including the AU\u2014have condemned what they termed the developed nations\u2019 rush to ban South Africa and other African countries. The travel ban was announced by several nations over the discovery of a new coronavirus variant classified as Omicron\u00a0<\/strong>(SARS-CoV-2) Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization.\n\nSouth Africa and Botswana first discovered the first cases of the Omicron variant in their respective countries and immediately informed the world. South Africa\u2019s health minister, Joseph Phaahla, during media briefing said South Africa was acting with transparency. He also said that travel bans were against the norms and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).\n ALSO READ:\u00a0Boston-Based Somali Basketballer Is Breaking The Cultural Limitations Facing Muslim Women<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although a large number of Africans are in love with soccer, the Basketball Africa League is here to stay. As more efforts continue to go into basketball development in Africa, stakeholders are hopeful that this new venture will drive growth and investment across the continent. What are your thoughts about Masai Ujiri's court initiative? Let us know in the comment section below.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Returnee Spotlight: See How Ujiri Masai Wants To Make Africa World\u2019s Basketball Capital","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ujiri-masai-make-africa-worlds-basketball-capital","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=328348","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":324578,"post_author":"10053","post_date":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_date_gmt":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_324592\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"832\"] South Africa airways affected by the travel ban (Photo credit: sunnewsonline.com)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nProminent Africans\u2014including the AU\u2014have condemned what they termed the developed nations\u2019 rush to ban South Africa and other African countries. The travel ban was announced by several nations over the discovery of a new coronavirus variant classified as Omicron\u00a0<\/strong>(SARS-CoV-2) Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization.\n\nSouth Africa and Botswana first discovered the first cases of the Omicron variant in their respective countries and immediately informed the world. South Africa\u2019s health minister, Joseph Phaahla, during media briefing said South Africa was acting with transparency. He also said that travel bans were against the norms and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).\n \"First of all, we have to give more Black people opportunity in our own institutions and organizations. We have to continue to figure out a way to be decision-makers, be in these boardrooms. It's not only hire an intern or hire a diversity and inclusion officer\u2014we have to be in positions where decisions are made. For me personally, there are a couple of projects that we are working on that I cannot speak too much about now that I am 100% excited about.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ALSO READ:\u00a0Boston-Based Somali Basketballer Is Breaking The Cultural Limitations Facing Muslim Women<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although a large number of Africans are in love with soccer, the Basketball Africa League is here to stay. As more efforts continue to go into basketball development in Africa, stakeholders are hopeful that this new venture will drive growth and investment across the continent. What are your thoughts about Masai Ujiri's court initiative? Let us know in the comment section below.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Returnee Spotlight: See How Ujiri Masai Wants To Make Africa World\u2019s Basketball Capital","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ujiri-masai-make-africa-worlds-basketball-capital","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=328348","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":324578,"post_author":"10053","post_date":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_date_gmt":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_324592\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"832\"] South Africa airways affected by the travel ban (Photo credit: sunnewsonline.com)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nProminent Africans\u2014including the AU\u2014have condemned what they termed the developed nations\u2019 rush to ban South Africa and other African countries. The travel ban was announced by several nations over the discovery of a new coronavirus variant classified as Omicron\u00a0<\/strong>(SARS-CoV-2) Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization.\n\nSouth Africa and Botswana first discovered the first cases of the Omicron variant in their respective countries and immediately informed the world. South Africa\u2019s health minister, Joseph Phaahla, during media briefing said South Africa was acting with transparency. He also said that travel bans were against the norms and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).\n In addition to the basketbal camps and courts, Ujiri is now looking to bring in more Africans into basketbal leadership. While talking to CNN, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"First of all, we have to give more Black people opportunity in our own institutions and organizations. We have to continue to figure out a way to be decision-makers, be in these boardrooms. It's not only hire an intern or hire a diversity and inclusion officer\u2014we have to be in positions where decisions are made. For me personally, there are a couple of projects that we are working on that I cannot speak too much about now that I am 100% excited about.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ALSO READ:\u00a0Boston-Based Somali Basketballer Is Breaking The Cultural Limitations Facing Muslim Women<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although a large number of Africans are in love with soccer, the Basketball Africa League is here to stay. As more efforts continue to go into basketball development in Africa, stakeholders are hopeful that this new venture will drive growth and investment across the continent. What are your thoughts about Masai Ujiri's court initiative? Let us know in the comment section below.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Returnee Spotlight: See How Ujiri Masai Wants To Make Africa World\u2019s Basketball Capital","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ujiri-masai-make-africa-worlds-basketball-capital","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=328348","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":324578,"post_author":"10053","post_date":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_date_gmt":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_324592\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"832\"] South Africa airways affected by the travel ban (Photo credit: sunnewsonline.com)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nProminent Africans\u2014including the AU\u2014have condemned what they termed the developed nations\u2019 rush to ban South Africa and other African countries. The travel ban was announced by several nations over the discovery of a new coronavirus variant classified as Omicron\u00a0<\/strong>(SARS-CoV-2) Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization.\n\nSouth Africa and Botswana first discovered the first cases of the Omicron variant in their respective countries and immediately informed the world. South Africa\u2019s health minister, Joseph Phaahla, during media briefing said South Africa was acting with transparency. He also said that travel bans were against the norms and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).\n In addition to the basketbal camps and courts, Ujiri is now looking to bring in more Africans into basketbal leadership. While talking to CNN, he said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"First of all, we have to give more Black people opportunity in our own institutions and organizations. We have to continue to figure out a way to be decision-makers, be in these boardrooms. It's not only hire an intern or hire a diversity and inclusion officer\u2014we have to be in positions where decisions are made. For me personally, there are a couple of projects that we are working on that I cannot speak too much about now that I am 100% excited about.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ALSO READ:\u00a0Boston-Based Somali Basketballer Is Breaking The Cultural Limitations Facing Muslim Women<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although a large number of Africans are in love with soccer, the Basketball Africa League is here to stay. As more efforts continue to go into basketball development in Africa, stakeholders are hopeful that this new venture will drive growth and investment across the continent. What are your thoughts about Masai Ujiri's court initiative? Let us know in the comment section below.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Returnee Spotlight: See How Ujiri Masai Wants To Make Africa World\u2019s Basketball Capital","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"ujiri-masai-make-africa-worlds-basketball-capital","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_modified_gmt":"2024-08-29 23:43:59","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=328348","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":324578,"post_author":"10053","post_date":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_date_gmt":"2021-12-06 13:22:03","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_324592\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"832\"] South Africa airways affected by the travel ban (Photo credit: sunnewsonline.com)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nProminent Africans\u2014including the AU\u2014have condemned what they termed the developed nations\u2019 rush to ban South Africa and other African countries. The travel ban was announced by several nations over the discovery of a new coronavirus variant classified as Omicron\u00a0<\/strong>(SARS-CoV-2) Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization.\n\nSouth Africa and Botswana first discovered the first cases of the Omicron variant in their respective countries and immediately informed the world. South Africa\u2019s health minister, Joseph Phaahla, during media briefing said South Africa was acting with transparency. He also said that travel bans were against the norms and standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).\nWhat we know about the Omicron Variant so far<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization on Nov. 26, 2021, designated the variant B.1.1529 as a variant of concern and called it Omicron. The choice of name was from the advice of the WHO\u2019s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution<\/a> (TAG-VE). According to TAG-VE, Omicron has several mutations that may impact how the virus behaves, this includes the severity of the illness it can cause and the ease of spread.\n\n\n\nPreliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection. However, experts do not know if it will cause more or less severe COVID-19 compared to other strains. The WHO said, \u201c<\/em>The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all South African provinces\u201d<\/em>.\n\nAlso, preliminary evidence suggests that people with prior COVID-19 infection are at a higher risk of reinfection from the Omicron variant. WHO is working with technical partners to know if the currently available vaccines are effective against the Omicron variant. Thankfully, the PCR test currently in use can detect infections including from Omicron. See the emerging details from Omicron here<\/a>.\n
South African countries fume<\/strong><\/h2>\n[caption id=\"attachment_324593\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"814\"] President Cyril Ramaphosa (Photo credit: CGTN Africa)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSouth Africa\u2019s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called on every country that has imposed travel bans to reverse their decisions urgently. Also, the president urged these countries to lift the travel ban before it causes more economic damages. South African scientists first discovered Omicron, and President Ramaphosa commended their work. He said,\n\n\u201cSouth African scientists are world-renowned and deeply respected.<\/em> What we know about Omicron so far reflects their work. [South Africans are] deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from several Southern African countries following the identification of the Omicron variant.\u201d<\/em>\n\n\n\nHe mentioned that it is a completely unjustified departure from the commitment made at the meeting of G20 countries in Rome last month. Also noting that countries pledged at the G20 meeting to restart international travel safely and orderly.\n\nFurthermore, the G20 Rome Declaration acknowledged the predicament of the tourism sector in developing countries, and they promised to support a \u201crapid, resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery of the tourism sector\u201d. The President also said that the travel ban is \u201c<\/em>unjustified and unfairly discriminate against South Africa and its sister countries\u201d.\n
Should we condemn countries for shutting their borders?<\/h2>\nWhen the coronavirus pandemic was first discovered in China in 2019, the WHO was blamed for acting too slowly. The popular opinion then was that shutting down travels to and from China would have helped to stop the spread. However, the pattern of spread of COVID-19 since its discovery shows that travel ban, alone, is ineffective in stopping the spread.\n\nAccording to the South African resident,<\/i>\u00a0instead of prohibiting travel, developed countries need to support the efforts of developing economies to access and manufacture enough vaccine doses for their people without delay.\n\nIn a Facebook post<\/a>, Malawi\u2019s president, Lazarus Chakwera, has also described the travel ban as \u201cAfrophobia\u201d. He said that the whole world owes South African scientists an appreciation for identifying the new strain before anyone else, and South African countries shouldn\u2019t be punished.\n\n\n\nNevertheless, the governments placing a travel ban on South African countries acted with the intention of buying time to better understand the variant. Interestingly, emerging details show that the variant may have already been in circulation weeks before the announcement from South Africa. This discovery nullifies the intent of the travel ban.\n\nJohns Hopkins University infectious disease specialist Dr. Amesh Adalja says the travel restrictions only give the public a false sense of security. He also said imposing restrictions makes politicians \u201clook as if they are doing something\u201d but doesn\u2019t make sense when countries now have countermeasures such as rapid tests and vaccines.\n
Reactions trailing the travel ban on South African countries<\/h3>\nMany social media users continue to express their opinion on the Omicron variant as well as the travel ban. However, the majority of the opinions condemned the travel ban.\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/henruga\/status\/1465188765736050689\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/AslamBava\/status\/1466305835974410243\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/fiona_chembot\/status\/1466245689684504581\n\n\n
Global COVID-19 vaccine distribution<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe ban punishes countries that have not had the resources to vaccinate widely. South African countries may not have the infrastructure to distribute the vaccines quickly or, in some cases, store them at the necessary ultracold temperatures, forcing them to\u00a0turn down shipments<\/a>\u00a0of additional doses.\n\nAfrica lags behind other continents in COVID-19 vaccinations. However, WHO officials have attributed the vaccination gaps to the unequal distribution of vaccines. They noted that wealthier nations have acquired enough doses to offer booster shots. In contrast, citizens of poorer countries are struggling to get their first doses.\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\nEven though the WHO designated Omicron as a Variant of Concern, they recommend countries to undertake other measures instead of the travel ban. Such measures include enhancing surveillance and sequencing of cases and sharing genome progressions on publicly available databases.\n\n\n\nAccording to the WHO Director-General, \u00a0Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, more variants will continue to emerge until there is equitable distribution of vaccines. The WHO DG says the only way of stopping the emergence of new variants is to ensure at least 50% of the population of every country is vaccinated.\n\nSo do you think placing a travel ban on South African countries due to Omicron is right? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.\n
TAKE OUR POLL<\/h2>\n[totalpoll id=\"324768\"]\n\n<\/div>","post_title":"DISCUSSION: Do You Think The Travel Ban On South African Countries Due To Omicron Was Right?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"do-you-think-placing-a-travel-ban-on-south-african-countries-due-to-omicron-is-right","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=324578","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"1","filter":"raw"},{"ID":311059,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311060\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1067\"] Souadou Niang, director - Palms Luxury Hotel [Photo credit: Mazzaltov<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Across Africa, ambitious women are running successful businesses in different sectors. Female entrepreneurship in the continent is rising quickly as many African women continue to defy the odds and unleash their potential. In today\u2019s spotlight, we feature one of these fearlessly ambitious women. Her name is Souadou Niang. We will tell you her inspiring success story including how she moved from cleaning toilets to owning her own five-star hotel.\n
Who is Souadou Niang?<\/strong><\/h2>\nNiang is a Senegalese businesswoman and the owner of The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel. While pursuing studies in the United States, she held a toilet cleaner\u2019s job at one of the renowned hotels in Washington, DC.\n
A peek at Niang\u2019s Early Life<\/strong><\/h2>\nLittle is known about Souadou\u2019s background. But what we know is that she was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. Hospitality is one of the main values of the Senegalese culture. So, children are taught to be hospitable and welcoming right from a young age.\n\nPerhaps this is what inspired Souadou Niang to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. Right from a young age, she had a dream of becoming a hotel manager. She also knew that her only hope of achieving this dream was acquiring an education.\n
Souadou Niang\u2019s Journey to the US<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt the age of 18, she got an opportunity to travel to New York. Thereafter, she moved to Washington, DC. By this time, she had completed high school. With her good grades, she was eligible for higher education in the US. However, since she wanted to become a manager of her own business, she decided to pursue management studies.\n\n\n\nConsequently, she acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to become a successful manager. In a new country with no one to pay for her school fees, Niang started thinking about how she could fund her education. One day while Souadou was moving around the US capital, she spotted a classy hotel, the famous Ritz-Charlton<\/a>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311067\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1000\"] Ritz-Charlton, Washington, DC [Photo credit: DeSimone<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]The ambiance and magnificence of this establishment moved her greatly. Niang developed a burning desire to work in such a place. Considering that she was already looking for a job to help pay her fees, she felt this hotel was the right place for her.\n
From a Toilet Cleaner to a Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\nShe started cleaning toilets and also enrolled in hotel management studies. Juggling her studies and cleaning job wasn\u2019t easy. However, Souadou knew what she wanted and she was determined to work hard to achieve it. Souadou Niang recalls that people from different nationalities and races including Mexicans and African Americans frequented Ritz-Charlton.\n\nGiven this diversity, she believed that the luxury hotel had something for her as well. As time went by, Niang paid for her studies and completed the hotel management course. After graduating, she focused fully on her job. It didn\u2019t take long before the management started noticing Souadou\u2019s excellence in her work.\n
Reason for Souadou\u2019s Return to Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\nWorking with Ritz-Charlton's management team made the Senegalese entrepreneur develop a strong zeal for the hotel business. After learning the ropes in this sector, Niang felt that she wanted to run the same business on her own, not in the US but in Africa.\n\n\n\nAlthough she seemed to be already living her childhood dream of becoming a manager, she felt that offering the same services in Africa would be more impactful. Thus, Souadou made plans to return to her country and develop an establishment that would offer high-quality and luxurious services that she witnessed in the United States.\n
The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/strong><\/h3>\n[caption id=\"attachment_311065\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"950\"] The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel [Photo credit: Senpages<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Niang says that she achieved her dream after establishing The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/em> in 2017. This 5-star hotel is located in Dakar, Senegal. She runs the hotel with a workforce of 60 employees. Interestingly, 80% are women and the rest are men. The founder says, \u201cAs a woman, I knew what I was capable of and I saw it in African women\u201d.\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What we know about the Omicron Variant so far<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization on Nov. 26, 2021, designated the variant B.1.1529 as a variant of concern and called it Omicron. The choice of name was from the advice of the WHO\u2019s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution<\/a> (TAG-VE). According to TAG-VE, Omicron has several mutations that may impact how the virus behaves, this includes the severity of the illness it can cause and the ease of spread.\n\n\n\nPreliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection. However, experts do not know if it will cause more or less severe COVID-19 compared to other strains. The WHO said, \u201c<\/em>The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all South African provinces\u201d<\/em>.\n\nAlso, preliminary evidence suggests that people with prior COVID-19 infection are at a higher risk of reinfection from the Omicron variant. WHO is working with technical partners to know if the currently available vaccines are effective against the Omicron variant. Thankfully, the PCR test currently in use can detect infections including from Omicron. See the emerging details from Omicron here<\/a>.\n
South African countries fume<\/strong><\/h2>\n[caption id=\"attachment_324593\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"814\"] President Cyril Ramaphosa (Photo credit: CGTN Africa)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSouth Africa\u2019s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called on every country that has imposed travel bans to reverse their decisions urgently. Also, the president urged these countries to lift the travel ban before it causes more economic damages. South African scientists first discovered Omicron, and President Ramaphosa commended their work. He said,\n\n\u201cSouth African scientists are world-renowned and deeply respected.<\/em> What we know about Omicron so far reflects their work. [South Africans are] deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from several Southern African countries following the identification of the Omicron variant.\u201d<\/em>\n\n\n\nHe mentioned that it is a completely unjustified departure from the commitment made at the meeting of G20 countries in Rome last month. Also noting that countries pledged at the G20 meeting to restart international travel safely and orderly.\n\nFurthermore, the G20 Rome Declaration acknowledged the predicament of the tourism sector in developing countries, and they promised to support a \u201crapid, resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery of the tourism sector\u201d. The President also said that the travel ban is \u201c<\/em>unjustified and unfairly discriminate against South Africa and its sister countries\u201d.\n
Should we condemn countries for shutting their borders?<\/h2>\nWhen the coronavirus pandemic was first discovered in China in 2019, the WHO was blamed for acting too slowly. The popular opinion then was that shutting down travels to and from China would have helped to stop the spread. However, the pattern of spread of COVID-19 since its discovery shows that travel ban, alone, is ineffective in stopping the spread.\n\nAccording to the South African resident,<\/i>\u00a0instead of prohibiting travel, developed countries need to support the efforts of developing economies to access and manufacture enough vaccine doses for their people without delay.\n\nIn a Facebook post<\/a>, Malawi\u2019s president, Lazarus Chakwera, has also described the travel ban as \u201cAfrophobia\u201d. He said that the whole world owes South African scientists an appreciation for identifying the new strain before anyone else, and South African countries shouldn\u2019t be punished.\n\n\n\nNevertheless, the governments placing a travel ban on South African countries acted with the intention of buying time to better understand the variant. Interestingly, emerging details show that the variant may have already been in circulation weeks before the announcement from South Africa. This discovery nullifies the intent of the travel ban.\n\nJohns Hopkins University infectious disease specialist Dr. Amesh Adalja says the travel restrictions only give the public a false sense of security. He also said imposing restrictions makes politicians \u201clook as if they are doing something\u201d but doesn\u2019t make sense when countries now have countermeasures such as rapid tests and vaccines.\n
Reactions trailing the travel ban on South African countries<\/h3>\nMany social media users continue to express their opinion on the Omicron variant as well as the travel ban. However, the majority of the opinions condemned the travel ban.\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/henruga\/status\/1465188765736050689\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/AslamBava\/status\/1466305835974410243\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/fiona_chembot\/status\/1466245689684504581\n\n\n
Global COVID-19 vaccine distribution<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe ban punishes countries that have not had the resources to vaccinate widely. South African countries may not have the infrastructure to distribute the vaccines quickly or, in some cases, store them at the necessary ultracold temperatures, forcing them to\u00a0turn down shipments<\/a>\u00a0of additional doses.\n\nAfrica lags behind other continents in COVID-19 vaccinations. However, WHO officials have attributed the vaccination gaps to the unequal distribution of vaccines. They noted that wealthier nations have acquired enough doses to offer booster shots. In contrast, citizens of poorer countries are struggling to get their first doses.\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\nEven though the WHO designated Omicron as a Variant of Concern, they recommend countries to undertake other measures instead of the travel ban. Such measures include enhancing surveillance and sequencing of cases and sharing genome progressions on publicly available databases.\n\n\n\nAccording to the WHO Director-General, \u00a0Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, more variants will continue to emerge until there is equitable distribution of vaccines. The WHO DG says the only way of stopping the emergence of new variants is to ensure at least 50% of the population of every country is vaccinated.\n\nSo do you think placing a travel ban on South African countries due to Omicron is right? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.\n
TAKE OUR POLL<\/h2>\n[totalpoll id=\"324768\"]\n\n<\/div>","post_title":"DISCUSSION: Do You Think The Travel Ban On South African Countries Due To Omicron Was Right?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"do-you-think-placing-a-travel-ban-on-south-african-countries-due-to-omicron-is-right","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=324578","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"1","filter":"raw"},{"ID":311059,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311060\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1067\"] Souadou Niang, director - Palms Luxury Hotel [Photo credit: Mazzaltov<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Across Africa, ambitious women are running successful businesses in different sectors. Female entrepreneurship in the continent is rising quickly as many African women continue to defy the odds and unleash their potential. In today\u2019s spotlight, we feature one of these fearlessly ambitious women. Her name is Souadou Niang. We will tell you her inspiring success story including how she moved from cleaning toilets to owning her own five-star hotel.\n
Who is Souadou Niang?<\/strong><\/h2>\nNiang is a Senegalese businesswoman and the owner of The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel. While pursuing studies in the United States, she held a toilet cleaner\u2019s job at one of the renowned hotels in Washington, DC.\n
A peek at Niang\u2019s Early Life<\/strong><\/h2>\nLittle is known about Souadou\u2019s background. But what we know is that she was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. Hospitality is one of the main values of the Senegalese culture. So, children are taught to be hospitable and welcoming right from a young age.\n\nPerhaps this is what inspired Souadou Niang to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. Right from a young age, she had a dream of becoming a hotel manager. She also knew that her only hope of achieving this dream was acquiring an education.\n
Souadou Niang\u2019s Journey to the US<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt the age of 18, she got an opportunity to travel to New York. Thereafter, she moved to Washington, DC. By this time, she had completed high school. With her good grades, she was eligible for higher education in the US. However, since she wanted to become a manager of her own business, she decided to pursue management studies.\n\n\n\nConsequently, she acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to become a successful manager. In a new country with no one to pay for her school fees, Niang started thinking about how she could fund her education. One day while Souadou was moving around the US capital, she spotted a classy hotel, the famous Ritz-Charlton<\/a>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311067\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1000\"] Ritz-Charlton, Washington, DC [Photo credit: DeSimone<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]The ambiance and magnificence of this establishment moved her greatly. Niang developed a burning desire to work in such a place. Considering that she was already looking for a job to help pay her fees, she felt this hotel was the right place for her.\n
From a Toilet Cleaner to a Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\nShe started cleaning toilets and also enrolled in hotel management studies. Juggling her studies and cleaning job wasn\u2019t easy. However, Souadou knew what she wanted and she was determined to work hard to achieve it. Souadou Niang recalls that people from different nationalities and races including Mexicans and African Americans frequented Ritz-Charlton.\n\nGiven this diversity, she believed that the luxury hotel had something for her as well. As time went by, Niang paid for her studies and completed the hotel management course. After graduating, she focused fully on her job. It didn\u2019t take long before the management started noticing Souadou\u2019s excellence in her work.\n
Reason for Souadou\u2019s Return to Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\nWorking with Ritz-Charlton's management team made the Senegalese entrepreneur develop a strong zeal for the hotel business. After learning the ropes in this sector, Niang felt that she wanted to run the same business on her own, not in the US but in Africa.\n\n\n\nAlthough she seemed to be already living her childhood dream of becoming a manager, she felt that offering the same services in Africa would be more impactful. Thus, Souadou made plans to return to her country and develop an establishment that would offer high-quality and luxurious services that she witnessed in the United States.\n
The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/strong><\/h3>\n[caption id=\"attachment_311065\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"950\"] The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel [Photo credit: Senpages<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Niang says that she achieved her dream after establishing The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/em> in 2017. This 5-star hotel is located in Dakar, Senegal. She runs the hotel with a workforce of 60 employees. Interestingly, 80% are women and the rest are men. The founder says, \u201cAs a woman, I knew what I was capable of and I saw it in African women\u201d.\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What we know about the Omicron Variant so far<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization on Nov. 26, 2021, designated the variant B.1.1529 as a variant of concern and called it Omicron. The choice of name was from the advice of the WHO\u2019s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution<\/a> (TAG-VE). According to TAG-VE, Omicron has several mutations that may impact how the virus behaves, this includes the severity of the illness it can cause and the ease of spread.\n\n\n\nPreliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection. However, experts do not know if it will cause more or less severe COVID-19 compared to other strains. The WHO said, \u201c<\/em>The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all South African provinces\u201d<\/em>.\n\nAlso, preliminary evidence suggests that people with prior COVID-19 infection are at a higher risk of reinfection from the Omicron variant. WHO is working with technical partners to know if the currently available vaccines are effective against the Omicron variant. Thankfully, the PCR test currently in use can detect infections including from Omicron. See the emerging details from Omicron here<\/a>.\n
South African countries fume<\/strong><\/h2>\n[caption id=\"attachment_324593\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"814\"] President Cyril Ramaphosa (Photo credit: CGTN Africa)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSouth Africa\u2019s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called on every country that has imposed travel bans to reverse their decisions urgently. Also, the president urged these countries to lift the travel ban before it causes more economic damages. South African scientists first discovered Omicron, and President Ramaphosa commended their work. He said,\n\n\u201cSouth African scientists are world-renowned and deeply respected.<\/em> What we know about Omicron so far reflects their work. [South Africans are] deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from several Southern African countries following the identification of the Omicron variant.\u201d<\/em>\n\n\n\nHe mentioned that it is a completely unjustified departure from the commitment made at the meeting of G20 countries in Rome last month. Also noting that countries pledged at the G20 meeting to restart international travel safely and orderly.\n\nFurthermore, the G20 Rome Declaration acknowledged the predicament of the tourism sector in developing countries, and they promised to support a \u201crapid, resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery of the tourism sector\u201d. The President also said that the travel ban is \u201c<\/em>unjustified and unfairly discriminate against South Africa and its sister countries\u201d.\n
Should we condemn countries for shutting their borders?<\/h2>\nWhen the coronavirus pandemic was first discovered in China in 2019, the WHO was blamed for acting too slowly. The popular opinion then was that shutting down travels to and from China would have helped to stop the spread. However, the pattern of spread of COVID-19 since its discovery shows that travel ban, alone, is ineffective in stopping the spread.\n\nAccording to the South African resident,<\/i>\u00a0instead of prohibiting travel, developed countries need to support the efforts of developing economies to access and manufacture enough vaccine doses for their people without delay.\n\nIn a Facebook post<\/a>, Malawi\u2019s president, Lazarus Chakwera, has also described the travel ban as \u201cAfrophobia\u201d. He said that the whole world owes South African scientists an appreciation for identifying the new strain before anyone else, and South African countries shouldn\u2019t be punished.\n\n\n\nNevertheless, the governments placing a travel ban on South African countries acted with the intention of buying time to better understand the variant. Interestingly, emerging details show that the variant may have already been in circulation weeks before the announcement from South Africa. This discovery nullifies the intent of the travel ban.\n\nJohns Hopkins University infectious disease specialist Dr. Amesh Adalja says the travel restrictions only give the public a false sense of security. He also said imposing restrictions makes politicians \u201clook as if they are doing something\u201d but doesn\u2019t make sense when countries now have countermeasures such as rapid tests and vaccines.\n
Reactions trailing the travel ban on South African countries<\/h3>\nMany social media users continue to express their opinion on the Omicron variant as well as the travel ban. However, the majority of the opinions condemned the travel ban.\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/henruga\/status\/1465188765736050689\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/AslamBava\/status\/1466305835974410243\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/fiona_chembot\/status\/1466245689684504581\n\n\n
Global COVID-19 vaccine distribution<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe ban punishes countries that have not had the resources to vaccinate widely. South African countries may not have the infrastructure to distribute the vaccines quickly or, in some cases, store them at the necessary ultracold temperatures, forcing them to\u00a0turn down shipments<\/a>\u00a0of additional doses.\n\nAfrica lags behind other continents in COVID-19 vaccinations. However, WHO officials have attributed the vaccination gaps to the unequal distribution of vaccines. They noted that wealthier nations have acquired enough doses to offer booster shots. In contrast, citizens of poorer countries are struggling to get their first doses.\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\nEven though the WHO designated Omicron as a Variant of Concern, they recommend countries to undertake other measures instead of the travel ban. Such measures include enhancing surveillance and sequencing of cases and sharing genome progressions on publicly available databases.\n\n\n\nAccording to the WHO Director-General, \u00a0Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, more variants will continue to emerge until there is equitable distribution of vaccines. The WHO DG says the only way of stopping the emergence of new variants is to ensure at least 50% of the population of every country is vaccinated.\n\nSo do you think placing a travel ban on South African countries due to Omicron is right? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.\n
TAKE OUR POLL<\/h2>\n[totalpoll id=\"324768\"]\n\n<\/div>","post_title":"DISCUSSION: Do You Think The Travel Ban On South African Countries Due To Omicron Was Right?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"do-you-think-placing-a-travel-ban-on-south-african-countries-due-to-omicron-is-right","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=324578","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"1","filter":"raw"},{"ID":311059,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311060\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1067\"] Souadou Niang, director - Palms Luxury Hotel [Photo credit: Mazzaltov<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Across Africa, ambitious women are running successful businesses in different sectors. Female entrepreneurship in the continent is rising quickly as many African women continue to defy the odds and unleash their potential. In today\u2019s spotlight, we feature one of these fearlessly ambitious women. Her name is Souadou Niang. We will tell you her inspiring success story including how she moved from cleaning toilets to owning her own five-star hotel.\n
Who is Souadou Niang?<\/strong><\/h2>\nNiang is a Senegalese businesswoman and the owner of The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel. While pursuing studies in the United States, she held a toilet cleaner\u2019s job at one of the renowned hotels in Washington, DC.\n
A peek at Niang\u2019s Early Life<\/strong><\/h2>\nLittle is known about Souadou\u2019s background. But what we know is that she was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. Hospitality is one of the main values of the Senegalese culture. So, children are taught to be hospitable and welcoming right from a young age.\n\nPerhaps this is what inspired Souadou Niang to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. Right from a young age, she had a dream of becoming a hotel manager. She also knew that her only hope of achieving this dream was acquiring an education.\n
Souadou Niang\u2019s Journey to the US<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt the age of 18, she got an opportunity to travel to New York. Thereafter, she moved to Washington, DC. By this time, she had completed high school. With her good grades, she was eligible for higher education in the US. However, since she wanted to become a manager of her own business, she decided to pursue management studies.\n\n\n\nConsequently, she acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to become a successful manager. In a new country with no one to pay for her school fees, Niang started thinking about how she could fund her education. One day while Souadou was moving around the US capital, she spotted a classy hotel, the famous Ritz-Charlton<\/a>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311067\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1000\"] Ritz-Charlton, Washington, DC [Photo credit: DeSimone<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]The ambiance and magnificence of this establishment moved her greatly. Niang developed a burning desire to work in such a place. Considering that she was already looking for a job to help pay her fees, she felt this hotel was the right place for her.\n
From a Toilet Cleaner to a Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\nShe started cleaning toilets and also enrolled in hotel management studies. Juggling her studies and cleaning job wasn\u2019t easy. However, Souadou knew what she wanted and she was determined to work hard to achieve it. Souadou Niang recalls that people from different nationalities and races including Mexicans and African Americans frequented Ritz-Charlton.\n\nGiven this diversity, she believed that the luxury hotel had something for her as well. As time went by, Niang paid for her studies and completed the hotel management course. After graduating, she focused fully on her job. It didn\u2019t take long before the management started noticing Souadou\u2019s excellence in her work.\n
Reason for Souadou\u2019s Return to Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\nWorking with Ritz-Charlton's management team made the Senegalese entrepreneur develop a strong zeal for the hotel business. After learning the ropes in this sector, Niang felt that she wanted to run the same business on her own, not in the US but in Africa.\n\n\n\nAlthough she seemed to be already living her childhood dream of becoming a manager, she felt that offering the same services in Africa would be more impactful. Thus, Souadou made plans to return to her country and develop an establishment that would offer high-quality and luxurious services that she witnessed in the United States.\n
The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/strong><\/h3>\n[caption id=\"attachment_311065\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"950\"] The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel [Photo credit: Senpages<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Niang says that she achieved her dream after establishing The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/em> in 2017. This 5-star hotel is located in Dakar, Senegal. She runs the hotel with a workforce of 60 employees. Interestingly, 80% are women and the rest are men. The founder says, \u201cAs a woman, I knew what I was capable of and I saw it in African women\u201d.\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What we know about the Omicron Variant so far<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization on Nov. 26, 2021, designated the variant B.1.1529 as a variant of concern and called it Omicron. The choice of name was from the advice of the WHO\u2019s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution<\/a> (TAG-VE). According to TAG-VE, Omicron has several mutations that may impact how the virus behaves, this includes the severity of the illness it can cause and the ease of spread.\n\n\n\nPreliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection. However, experts do not know if it will cause more or less severe COVID-19 compared to other strains. The WHO said, \u201c<\/em>The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all South African provinces\u201d<\/em>.\n\nAlso, preliminary evidence suggests that people with prior COVID-19 infection are at a higher risk of reinfection from the Omicron variant. WHO is working with technical partners to know if the currently available vaccines are effective against the Omicron variant. Thankfully, the PCR test currently in use can detect infections including from Omicron. See the emerging details from Omicron here<\/a>.\n
South African countries fume<\/strong><\/h2>\n[caption id=\"attachment_324593\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"814\"] President Cyril Ramaphosa (Photo credit: CGTN Africa)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSouth Africa\u2019s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called on every country that has imposed travel bans to reverse their decisions urgently. Also, the president urged these countries to lift the travel ban before it causes more economic damages. South African scientists first discovered Omicron, and President Ramaphosa commended their work. He said,\n\n\u201cSouth African scientists are world-renowned and deeply respected.<\/em> What we know about Omicron so far reflects their work. [South Africans are] deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from several Southern African countries following the identification of the Omicron variant.\u201d<\/em>\n\n\n\nHe mentioned that it is a completely unjustified departure from the commitment made at the meeting of G20 countries in Rome last month. Also noting that countries pledged at the G20 meeting to restart international travel safely and orderly.\n\nFurthermore, the G20 Rome Declaration acknowledged the predicament of the tourism sector in developing countries, and they promised to support a \u201crapid, resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery of the tourism sector\u201d. The President also said that the travel ban is \u201c<\/em>unjustified and unfairly discriminate against South Africa and its sister countries\u201d.\n
Should we condemn countries for shutting their borders?<\/h2>\nWhen the coronavirus pandemic was first discovered in China in 2019, the WHO was blamed for acting too slowly. The popular opinion then was that shutting down travels to and from China would have helped to stop the spread. However, the pattern of spread of COVID-19 since its discovery shows that travel ban, alone, is ineffective in stopping the spread.\n\nAccording to the South African resident,<\/i>\u00a0instead of prohibiting travel, developed countries need to support the efforts of developing economies to access and manufacture enough vaccine doses for their people without delay.\n\nIn a Facebook post<\/a>, Malawi\u2019s president, Lazarus Chakwera, has also described the travel ban as \u201cAfrophobia\u201d. He said that the whole world owes South African scientists an appreciation for identifying the new strain before anyone else, and South African countries shouldn\u2019t be punished.\n\n\n\nNevertheless, the governments placing a travel ban on South African countries acted with the intention of buying time to better understand the variant. Interestingly, emerging details show that the variant may have already been in circulation weeks before the announcement from South Africa. This discovery nullifies the intent of the travel ban.\n\nJohns Hopkins University infectious disease specialist Dr. Amesh Adalja says the travel restrictions only give the public a false sense of security. He also said imposing restrictions makes politicians \u201clook as if they are doing something\u201d but doesn\u2019t make sense when countries now have countermeasures such as rapid tests and vaccines.\n
Reactions trailing the travel ban on South African countries<\/h3>\nMany social media users continue to express their opinion on the Omicron variant as well as the travel ban. However, the majority of the opinions condemned the travel ban.\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/henruga\/status\/1465188765736050689\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/AslamBava\/status\/1466305835974410243\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/fiona_chembot\/status\/1466245689684504581\n\n\n
Global COVID-19 vaccine distribution<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe ban punishes countries that have not had the resources to vaccinate widely. South African countries may not have the infrastructure to distribute the vaccines quickly or, in some cases, store them at the necessary ultracold temperatures, forcing them to\u00a0turn down shipments<\/a>\u00a0of additional doses.\n\nAfrica lags behind other continents in COVID-19 vaccinations. However, WHO officials have attributed the vaccination gaps to the unequal distribution of vaccines. They noted that wealthier nations have acquired enough doses to offer booster shots. In contrast, citizens of poorer countries are struggling to get their first doses.\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\nEven though the WHO designated Omicron as a Variant of Concern, they recommend countries to undertake other measures instead of the travel ban. Such measures include enhancing surveillance and sequencing of cases and sharing genome progressions on publicly available databases.\n\n\n\nAccording to the WHO Director-General, \u00a0Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, more variants will continue to emerge until there is equitable distribution of vaccines. The WHO DG says the only way of stopping the emergence of new variants is to ensure at least 50% of the population of every country is vaccinated.\n\nSo do you think placing a travel ban on South African countries due to Omicron is right? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.\n
TAKE OUR POLL<\/h2>\n[totalpoll id=\"324768\"]\n\n<\/div>","post_title":"DISCUSSION: Do You Think The Travel Ban On South African Countries Due To Omicron Was Right?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"do-you-think-placing-a-travel-ban-on-south-african-countries-due-to-omicron-is-right","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=324578","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"1","filter":"raw"},{"ID":311059,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311060\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1067\"] Souadou Niang, director - Palms Luxury Hotel [Photo credit: Mazzaltov<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Across Africa, ambitious women are running successful businesses in different sectors. Female entrepreneurship in the continent is rising quickly as many African women continue to defy the odds and unleash their potential. In today\u2019s spotlight, we feature one of these fearlessly ambitious women. Her name is Souadou Niang. We will tell you her inspiring success story including how she moved from cleaning toilets to owning her own five-star hotel.\n
Who is Souadou Niang?<\/strong><\/h2>\nNiang is a Senegalese businesswoman and the owner of The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel. While pursuing studies in the United States, she held a toilet cleaner\u2019s job at one of the renowned hotels in Washington, DC.\n
A peek at Niang\u2019s Early Life<\/strong><\/h2>\nLittle is known about Souadou\u2019s background. But what we know is that she was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. Hospitality is one of the main values of the Senegalese culture. So, children are taught to be hospitable and welcoming right from a young age.\n\nPerhaps this is what inspired Souadou Niang to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. Right from a young age, she had a dream of becoming a hotel manager. She also knew that her only hope of achieving this dream was acquiring an education.\n
Souadou Niang\u2019s Journey to the US<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt the age of 18, she got an opportunity to travel to New York. Thereafter, she moved to Washington, DC. By this time, she had completed high school. With her good grades, she was eligible for higher education in the US. However, since she wanted to become a manager of her own business, she decided to pursue management studies.\n\n\n\nConsequently, she acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to become a successful manager. In a new country with no one to pay for her school fees, Niang started thinking about how she could fund her education. One day while Souadou was moving around the US capital, she spotted a classy hotel, the famous Ritz-Charlton<\/a>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311067\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1000\"] Ritz-Charlton, Washington, DC [Photo credit: DeSimone<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]The ambiance and magnificence of this establishment moved her greatly. Niang developed a burning desire to work in such a place. Considering that she was already looking for a job to help pay her fees, she felt this hotel was the right place for her.\n
From a Toilet Cleaner to a Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\nShe started cleaning toilets and also enrolled in hotel management studies. Juggling her studies and cleaning job wasn\u2019t easy. However, Souadou knew what she wanted and she was determined to work hard to achieve it. Souadou Niang recalls that people from different nationalities and races including Mexicans and African Americans frequented Ritz-Charlton.\n\nGiven this diversity, she believed that the luxury hotel had something for her as well. As time went by, Niang paid for her studies and completed the hotel management course. After graduating, she focused fully on her job. It didn\u2019t take long before the management started noticing Souadou\u2019s excellence in her work.\n
Reason for Souadou\u2019s Return to Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\nWorking with Ritz-Charlton's management team made the Senegalese entrepreneur develop a strong zeal for the hotel business. After learning the ropes in this sector, Niang felt that she wanted to run the same business on her own, not in the US but in Africa.\n\n\n\nAlthough she seemed to be already living her childhood dream of becoming a manager, she felt that offering the same services in Africa would be more impactful. Thus, Souadou made plans to return to her country and develop an establishment that would offer high-quality and luxurious services that she witnessed in the United States.\n
The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/strong><\/h3>\n[caption id=\"attachment_311065\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"950\"] The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel [Photo credit: Senpages<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Niang says that she achieved her dream after establishing The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/em> in 2017. This 5-star hotel is located in Dakar, Senegal. She runs the hotel with a workforce of 60 employees. Interestingly, 80% are women and the rest are men. The founder says, \u201cAs a woman, I knew what I was capable of and I saw it in African women\u201d.\n
Masai Ujiri's Future Plans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What we know about the Omicron Variant so far<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe World Health Organization on Nov. 26, 2021, designated the variant B.1.1529 as a variant of concern and called it Omicron. The choice of name was from the advice of the WHO\u2019s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution<\/a> (TAG-VE). According to TAG-VE, Omicron has several mutations that may impact how the virus behaves, this includes the severity of the illness it can cause and the ease of spread.\n\n\n\nPreliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection. However, experts do not know if it will cause more or less severe COVID-19 compared to other strains. The WHO said, \u201c<\/em>The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all South African provinces\u201d<\/em>.\n\nAlso, preliminary evidence suggests that people with prior COVID-19 infection are at a higher risk of reinfection from the Omicron variant. WHO is working with technical partners to know if the currently available vaccines are effective against the Omicron variant. Thankfully, the PCR test currently in use can detect infections including from Omicron. See the emerging details from Omicron here<\/a>.\n
South African countries fume<\/strong><\/h2>\n[caption id=\"attachment_324593\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"814\"] President Cyril Ramaphosa (Photo credit: CGTN Africa)<\/em>[\/caption]\n\nSouth Africa\u2019s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called on every country that has imposed travel bans to reverse their decisions urgently. Also, the president urged these countries to lift the travel ban before it causes more economic damages. South African scientists first discovered Omicron, and President Ramaphosa commended their work. He said,\n\n\u201cSouth African scientists are world-renowned and deeply respected.<\/em> What we know about Omicron so far reflects their work. [South Africans are] deeply disappointed by the decision of several countries to prohibit travel from several Southern African countries following the identification of the Omicron variant.\u201d<\/em>\n\n\n\nHe mentioned that it is a completely unjustified departure from the commitment made at the meeting of G20 countries in Rome last month. Also noting that countries pledged at the G20 meeting to restart international travel safely and orderly.\n\nFurthermore, the G20 Rome Declaration acknowledged the predicament of the tourism sector in developing countries, and they promised to support a \u201crapid, resilient, inclusive and sustainable recovery of the tourism sector\u201d. The President also said that the travel ban is \u201c<\/em>unjustified and unfairly discriminate against South Africa and its sister countries\u201d.\n
Should we condemn countries for shutting their borders?<\/h2>\nWhen the coronavirus pandemic was first discovered in China in 2019, the WHO was blamed for acting too slowly. The popular opinion then was that shutting down travels to and from China would have helped to stop the spread. However, the pattern of spread of COVID-19 since its discovery shows that travel ban, alone, is ineffective in stopping the spread.\n\nAccording to the South African resident,<\/i>\u00a0instead of prohibiting travel, developed countries need to support the efforts of developing economies to access and manufacture enough vaccine doses for their people without delay.\n\nIn a Facebook post<\/a>, Malawi\u2019s president, Lazarus Chakwera, has also described the travel ban as \u201cAfrophobia\u201d. He said that the whole world owes South African scientists an appreciation for identifying the new strain before anyone else, and South African countries shouldn\u2019t be punished.\n\n\n\nNevertheless, the governments placing a travel ban on South African countries acted with the intention of buying time to better understand the variant. Interestingly, emerging details show that the variant may have already been in circulation weeks before the announcement from South Africa. This discovery nullifies the intent of the travel ban.\n\nJohns Hopkins University infectious disease specialist Dr. Amesh Adalja says the travel restrictions only give the public a false sense of security. He also said imposing restrictions makes politicians \u201clook as if they are doing something\u201d but doesn\u2019t make sense when countries now have countermeasures such as rapid tests and vaccines.\n
Reactions trailing the travel ban on South African countries<\/h3>\nMany social media users continue to express their opinion on the Omicron variant as well as the travel ban. However, the majority of the opinions condemned the travel ban.\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/henruga\/status\/1465188765736050689\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/AslamBava\/status\/1466305835974410243\n\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/fiona_chembot\/status\/1466245689684504581\n\n\n
Global COVID-19 vaccine distribution<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe ban punishes countries that have not had the resources to vaccinate widely. South African countries may not have the infrastructure to distribute the vaccines quickly or, in some cases, store them at the necessary ultracold temperatures, forcing them to\u00a0turn down shipments<\/a>\u00a0of additional doses.\n\nAfrica lags behind other continents in COVID-19 vaccinations. However, WHO officials have attributed the vaccination gaps to the unequal distribution of vaccines. They noted that wealthier nations have acquired enough doses to offer booster shots. In contrast, citizens of poorer countries are struggling to get their first doses.\n
Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\nEven though the WHO designated Omicron as a Variant of Concern, they recommend countries to undertake other measures instead of the travel ban. Such measures include enhancing surveillance and sequencing of cases and sharing genome progressions on publicly available databases.\n\n\n\nAccording to the WHO Director-General, \u00a0Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, more variants will continue to emerge until there is equitable distribution of vaccines. The WHO DG says the only way of stopping the emergence of new variants is to ensure at least 50% of the population of every country is vaccinated.\n\nSo do you think placing a travel ban on South African countries due to Omicron is right? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.\n
TAKE OUR POLL<\/h2>\n[totalpoll id=\"324768\"]\n\n<\/div>","post_title":"DISCUSSION: Do You Think The Travel Ban On South African Countries Due To Omicron Was Right?","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"do-you-think-placing-a-travel-ban-on-south-african-countries-due-to-omicron-is-right","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_modified_gmt":"2024-10-04 06:26:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.africanvibes.com\/?p=324578","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"1","filter":"raw"},{"ID":311059,"post_author":"10056","post_date":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2021-09-25 13:00:00","post_content":"\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311060\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1067\"] Souadou Niang, director - Palms Luxury Hotel [Photo credit: Mazzaltov<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Across Africa, ambitious women are running successful businesses in different sectors. Female entrepreneurship in the continent is rising quickly as many African women continue to defy the odds and unleash their potential. In today\u2019s spotlight, we feature one of these fearlessly ambitious women. Her name is Souadou Niang. We will tell you her inspiring success story including how she moved from cleaning toilets to owning her own five-star hotel.\n
Who is Souadou Niang?<\/strong><\/h2>\nNiang is a Senegalese businesswoman and the owner of The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel. While pursuing studies in the United States, she held a toilet cleaner\u2019s job at one of the renowned hotels in Washington, DC.\n
A peek at Niang\u2019s Early Life<\/strong><\/h2>\nLittle is known about Souadou\u2019s background. But what we know is that she was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal. Hospitality is one of the main values of the Senegalese culture. So, children are taught to be hospitable and welcoming right from a young age.\n\nPerhaps this is what inspired Souadou Niang to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. Right from a young age, she had a dream of becoming a hotel manager. She also knew that her only hope of achieving this dream was acquiring an education.\n
Souadou Niang\u2019s Journey to the US<\/strong><\/h2>\nAt the age of 18, she got an opportunity to travel to New York. Thereafter, she moved to Washington, DC. By this time, she had completed high school. With her good grades, she was eligible for higher education in the US. However, since she wanted to become a manager of her own business, she decided to pursue management studies.\n\n\n\nConsequently, she acquired the necessary knowledge and expertise to become a successful manager. In a new country with no one to pay for her school fees, Niang started thinking about how she could fund her education. One day while Souadou was moving around the US capital, she spotted a classy hotel, the famous Ritz-Charlton<\/a>.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_311067\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1000\"] Ritz-Charlton, Washington, DC [Photo credit: DeSimone<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]The ambiance and magnificence of this establishment moved her greatly. Niang developed a burning desire to work in such a place. Considering that she was already looking for a job to help pay her fees, she felt this hotel was the right place for her.\n
From a Toilet Cleaner to a Manager<\/strong><\/h3>\nShe started cleaning toilets and also enrolled in hotel management studies. Juggling her studies and cleaning job wasn\u2019t easy. However, Souadou knew what she wanted and she was determined to work hard to achieve it. Souadou Niang recalls that people from different nationalities and races including Mexicans and African Americans frequented Ritz-Charlton.\n\nGiven this diversity, she believed that the luxury hotel had something for her as well. As time went by, Niang paid for her studies and completed the hotel management course. After graduating, she focused fully on her job. It didn\u2019t take long before the management started noticing Souadou\u2019s excellence in her work.\n
Reason for Souadou\u2019s Return to Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\nWorking with Ritz-Charlton's management team made the Senegalese entrepreneur develop a strong zeal for the hotel business. After learning the ropes in this sector, Niang felt that she wanted to run the same business on her own, not in the US but in Africa.\n\n\n\nAlthough she seemed to be already living her childhood dream of becoming a manager, she felt that offering the same services in Africa would be more impactful. Thus, Souadou made plans to return to her country and develop an establishment that would offer high-quality and luxurious services that she witnessed in the United States.\n
The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/strong><\/h3>\n[caption id=\"attachment_311065\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"950\"] The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel [Photo credit: Senpages<\/a>]<\/em>[\/caption]Niang says that she achieved her dream after establishing The Palms Luxury Boutique Hotel<\/em> in 2017. This 5-star hotel is located in Dakar, Senegal. She runs the hotel with a workforce of 60 employees. Interestingly, 80% are women and the rest are men. The founder says, \u201cAs a woman, I knew what I was capable of and I saw it in African women\u201d.\n