South African Institute of Physics
SAIP Webinar 04 December 2020: A study of COVID-19 data from African countries
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Speaker: Ann Njeri : University of Manchester – United Kingdom
https://zoom.us/j/95823647563?pwd=TWJHZ0NWWUNYTHY0RXBQNEk5ZWZsUT09
Abstract:
COVID-19 is a new pandemic disease that is affecting almost every country with a negative impact on social life and economic activities. The number of infected and deceased patients continues to increase globally. Mathematical models can help in developing better strategies to contain a pandemic. Considering multiple measures taken by African governments and challenging socio-economic factors, simple models cannot fit the data. We studied the dynamical evolution of COVID-19 in selected African countries. We derived a time-dependent reproduction number for each country studied to offer further insights into the spread of COVID-19 in Africa. In this talk, we present analysis of COVID-19 data of Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo and Zambia.
Brief CV:
I am an alumna of the African School of Physics (ASP 2016), taking part in the ASP's study of COVID-19 data from African countries. My contribution to the research is the synthesis and analysis of COVID-19 data from Kenya. Currently, I am a 3rd year PhD (Astrophysics) student at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester, UK. I use the radio interferometric and the very long baseline interferometry techniques to explore the faint high red-shifted radio source (extragalactic) population using the enhanced Multi-Element Remotely Linked Interferometer Network (e-MERLIN, UK), the European VLBI Network (EVN), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA, USA). This work is contributing towards a better understanding of the Star Formation History (SFH). Besides research work, I am also involved in STEM outreach and mentorship of young schoolgirls in rural Kenya under the programme "Elimisha Msichana Elimisha Jamii", (Swahili for 'Educate a Girl, Educate the entire Community'). This mentorship programme aims to ensure a 100% primary-secondary education transition for these schoolgirls.