Tag Archive for: Immigration

Sisipho Ntsabo
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African countries introduce travel restrictions on India

Africa’s global mobility continues to suffer as the world watches the COVID-19 crisis in India. Several African countries have introduced travel restrictions, and some have temporarily banned travel from India. This comes as India’s coronavirus cases skyrocket and new infection numbers reach record numbers.

Africa is largely dependent on India for their vaccine supply as India, whose Serum Institute is the source of the AstraZeneca vaccines delivered by the global COVAX project. India has placed an export ban on vaccines due to the increased domestic demand. This has adversely affected Africa’s rollout of its vaccination programs.

Countries in Africa have introduced new travel restrictions in response to India’s COVID-19 crisis:

  • Malawi – Malawi’s Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has also announced a ban on travellers from India.
  • Nigeria – Nigeria’s chairman of the presidential steering committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, announced in a statement that the country will ban travellers coming from India from May 4.
  • Tanzania – Tanzania’s health ministry announced that Tanzania has suspended flights to and from India amid the Covid-19 surge in India.
  • Kenya – Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has announced that flights to and from India will be temporarily banned for the next two weeks from May 1st.
  • Uganda – Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng reported that Uganda has so far recorded one case of the Indian strain of the coronavirus. “Further to the existing Covid-19 control measures, all travellers and passengers originating from India shall not be allowed into Uganda starting at midnight of May 1, 2021,” she said.

 

Not only is the COVID-19 a threat to Africa’s vaccine supply but also global economic growth. India is the world’s sixth-largest economy and is a contributor to economic growth. These new strict travel restrictions affect the airlines and airports, and businesses dependent on the travel industry.

One of the industries heavily dependent on the travel industry is the global mobility industry. PWC reports that “40% of companies told us the pandemic has had a moderate or significant impact on the ability of mobile employees to continue with business as usual. Two-thirds of companies who had employees on secondment or transfer at the outset of the pandemic had offered them the option of returning home. As for future relocations, many have been postponed, but 58% of surveyed companies said they were allowing employees to start new roles from their home country.”

This is an adverse effect for the global mobility industry in Africa, as smaller African economies depend on the mobility of employees from large transnational companies. The ripple effect on smaller economies is much to think about. As Relocation Africa, a global mobility and immigration company, we know have seen and felt the struggles of this pandemic. We can only hope that in the near future, things will look up. In our next article, we speak in greater detail about the COVID-19 impact on global mobility.

At Relocation Africa, we specialise in mobility, research, immigration and remuneration. Feel free to contact us. We are always happy to help.

Sisipho Ntsabo
,

Taking Care of The Caregiver: Some Tips

This article was first published by Vivian Chiona of Expat Nest.

Being caregiver to a loved one is not for the faint of heart. It’s often an act of hard work, sacrifice and altruistic love, with emotional highs and lows. We share some tips for looking after yourself, if you’re looking after someone else. . .

Caregiving offers the opportunity to show your love to the person in need, but it can also be extremely stressful and exhausting. And if you’re not looking after yourself, there’s a very real risk of burnout.

The most effective caregivers share common habits to keep paddling through rough waters:

Prioritize your self-care

Taking care of your own needs is vital when taking care of a loved one. Stay on top of your healthcare needs, eat as healthily as possible and get plenty of sleep. Try to include some exercise in your day, even if it’s just 10 minutes at a time. Only by taking care of your needs, can you do your best at taking care of others.

Seek out information

The more you learn about your loved one’s illness, symptoms and treatment process, the more empowered you will feel around what to expect and how to cope with potential extra needs. Educating yourself on the illness empowers you to face future challenges as a caregiver and to provide the appropriate help on time.

Searching for solutions

Be honest about problems as they arise, look for effective solutions and take action. Keep in mind that you are an expert by experience when it comes to your loved one, so look for solutions that are suitable both for you and the person who needs you.

Acknowledge your own feelings

Identify your strengths and your weaknesses. Be honest about your emotions; you have the right to all of them.

Embrace your support network

Caregivers often feel alone and believe that others cannot fully understand what they are going through. Building or leaning on your support network helps to prevent burnout and the feelings of guilt that can emerge when negative emotions arise. An expat caregiver might feel especially lonely, as most of our loved ones live far away. In that case, take advantage of technology to stay in touch with your support network abroad and those involved with the care – this way, you have the opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings with the people that care most about you. Alternatively, support groups for caregivers provide a safe space to share your concerns and get advice. Whenever possible, have open, honest conversations with your loved ones or the person you take care of regarding your personal needs, so that everyone has the same expectations; this will minimize misunderstandings.

Choose gratitude

Gratitude for what you and your loved ones already have or have accomplished can help to find acceptance and some measure of peace. Start gently, by noticing small pleasures and joys. Consider creating a gratitude journal to capture these moments of appreciation. You may not be able to control everything that your loved one is going through, but you can have some control over how you respond to the challenges.

Take a break

Caregiving is a demanding task. Once in a while, give yourself a rest and participate in activities you enjoy, like reading a good book, meeting a friend, take a warm bath or watching a great movie.

Practise mindfulness

Try not to focus on what is presumably coming, since no one knows if tomorrow will be better or worse than today. Living in the present can help you stay out of anticipatory fear, worry or grief.

Seek professional help

Caregiving is hard work and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed as you try your best to support for your loved one. If you feel exhausted, irritated, tired, constantly stressed or forgetful, do not hesitate to seek professional help. If these warning signs of caregiver burnout arise, take action and don’t hesitate to let a professional support you. Feel free to get in touch with us for a free 15-minute call. An experienced psychologist or coach can help you develop skills and strategies to deal with challenging emotions in a safe place, where your thoughts and feelings will be understood.

 

Remember, it’s not “selfish” to prioritize yourself when someone you care about is in need. It’s a smart strategy! By staying healthy and balanced, you’ll feel more resilient in the long run (and more able to take on your care duties).

 

Photo: Sơn Bờm/Pexels

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sisipho Ntsabo
,

EU and ACP seal a new agreement: Post-Cotonou Agreement

European Union (EU) and Organisation African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) have sealed a new agreement.

The EU and ACP (which consists of 79 states) have both come to the end of negotiations for a new treaty that will replace the current legal framework – the Cotonou agreement. The Cotonou Agreement is a treaty between the EU and ACP that provides several innovative approaches to cooperation, all of which aim to address more effectively the pressing and varying challenges in the development of ACP countries.

The EU-ACP partnership focuses on the eradication of poverty and sustainable development. The new post-Cotonou agreement includes a broader range of policy areas such as democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development etc. The agreement will include three regional protocols for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific concentrating on the individual regions’ specific needs.

Photo Source: European Union, 2018

The negotiators of the deal reported that brokering the deal was a long process, and not an easy one.  “We mainly disagreed on migration, human rights issues and sexual orientation,” said Negotiator Robert Dussey. The reason for the long process was due to trying to reconcile the EU and ACP countries and their individual perspectives on this matter.

The EU and the ACP hope that the new agreement would strengthen the cooperation on an international field. The OACPS and the EU represent over 1.5 billion people and more than half of the seats at the United Nations. As the protocol of negotiations of the agreement lists migration management as a high priority area, there sets to be a promotion of legal migration.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

 

 

Sisipho Ntsabo
,

India COVID-19 Crisis: A Wake-Up Call for Africa

India COVID-19 Crisis: A Wake-Up Call for Africa

Africa’s top health officials and the African Union have deemed the Indian COVID-19 crisis as a wake-up call for Africa. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the public health agency of the African Union has issued a warning to African governments and citizens to be cautious.

The resurgence in India’s COVID-19 cases is particularly concerning as India and Africa have roughly the same population. Furthermore, the fragile health systems of Africa could ultimately result in the same scenario as in India. Director of Africa CDC, John Nkengasong, warns that the African continent must be very, very prepared. He further highlights the lack of health care workers and oxygen in the continent. Nkengasong urges African countries to avoid mass gatherings.

Africa’s vaccine supply is heavily dependent on India as the AstraZeneca vaccines that are distributed by the global COVAX, is manufactured by the Serum Institute in India. This will adversely affect the rollout of vaccination programs in Africa. Africa has already suffered a setback as India decided to cut back on supply and reduced exports to address domestic needs.

As the world watches the COVID-19 crisis in Indian in disbelief, the Africa CDC has convened with the African Union an emergency meeting on May 8 to devise a collective action plan.

 

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.