Thirty four African countries have on Friday confirmed 600 cases of
coronavirus; since its outbreak last December in Wuhan, China.
The increases of 453 cases were recorded this week, including that of
Nigeria that shot up to 12 confirmed ones in Lagos.
“There are still fewer cases than in other parts of the world,”
declared World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa,
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti in statement released Friday in Maiduguri, Borno
state.
She disclosed that African countries; can still change the course of
the CONVID-19 pandemic, despite the claiming of a few lives.
While lamenting on spread of virus into continent, she said: “The
rapid evolution of COVID-19 in Africa is deeply worrisome and a clear
signal for action.
“But we can still change the course of this pandemic. Governments must
draw on all of their resources and capabilities and strengthen their
responses.”
She said 12 countries in the Africa are now experiencing local transmission.
“It is crucial that governments prevent local transmission from
evolving into a worst case scenario of widespread sustained community
transmission,” she warned.
Such a scenario, according to her, will present a major challenge to
countries with weak health systems.
Moeti noted that Africa can learn from the experiences of other
countries which have seen a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases through
rapidly scaling up testing.
She insisted that isolating cases and meticulously tracking contacts
should be maintained in fighting the deadly virus.
On how to eradicating the disease, she said: “Understanding how the
COVID-19 pandemic will evolve in Africa is still a work in progress.
“The eradicating response will need to be adapted to the African
context – the demographics on the continent are very different from
China, Europe and the USA.
“Africa has the world’s youngest population and it appears that older
people are more vulnerable to COVID-19.”
Dr. Moeti noted that; preliminary analysis finds that people with
underlying conditions are at higher risk. She said across the region,
nearly 26 million people are living with HIV, while Over 58 million
children have stunted growth due to malnutrition.
According to her, it is possible that younger people will be more at
risk in Africa than in other parts of the world.
WHO has been supporting governments with early detection by providing
COVID-19 testing kits to countries in African communities, training
lab technicians, and strengthening surveillance.
Forty-five countries in Africa, including Nigeria can now test for
COVID-19: at the start of the outbreak only two could do so.
WHO is also providing remote support to affected countries on the use
of electronic data tools, so national health authorities can better
understand the outbreak in their countries.
While personal protective equipment, she disclosed has been shipped to
24 countries, and a second shipment is being prepared for countries
with confirmed cases.
Her words: “COVID-19 is one of the biggest health challenges Africa
has faced in a generation.
“We can only stop this virus through solidarity. And the world is
coming together.
“Donors are stepping up to the plate and providing funding while
private sectors in many countries are offering their support as well.”
She said the lessons learnt in addressing previous epidemics are being
used as a foundation to respond.
This was why she said basic preventative measures by individuals and
communities remain the most powerful tool to prevent the spread of
COVID-19.
The global health agency, according to her, is helping local
authorities craft radio messaging and TV spots to inform the public
about the risks of COVID-19 and what measures should be taken.
“We’re conducting rumour management in all affected countries, and is
guiding countries on setting up call-centres and hotlines to ensure
the public is informed,” she said.
