In Africa, the fear of a COVID-19 epidemic is growing. The economy is also in turmoil and no one knows precisely how big the economic damage caused by the little-researched coronavirus will be on the young continent.
At least eight flights a day operated between China and African nations before the novel coronavirus outbreak, which is centred on China’s Hubei region and its provincial capital of Wuhan.
About USD 675 million will be required just to execute the global preparedness and response plan from now through April 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Sub-Saharan African countries like Ghana, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, South Africa, Gabon and Nigeria would be impacted heavily by the Coronavirus outbreak.
As confirmed cases in Africa 15 countries are now 147 and there have been four COVID-19-related deaths.
Nature of the Disease
The disease is a common virus that causes an infection in your nose, sinuses, or upper throat. Coronaviruses, which include some of the viruses responsible for the common cold and flu, can show something called seasonality that is, they peak and wane depending on the season.
Experts believe that tropical countries are not immune from seasonality, with the flu peaking in the dry season in countries like Cameroon. The continent’s hot and humid weather may protect it from the coronavirus more than its governments ever could.
Economic Impact
African economy is feeling the impact of the coronavirus.The impact is already visible in the domestic market. Besides oil, the base metals export to Africa such as iron ore and copper has also seen a sharp decline in recent weeks.
It is unfortunate that the exporters are forced to sell commodities in the domestic market, the commodity prices have fallen significantly. The ripple effect of the virus could also be felt in tourism and manufacturing.
Things won’t return to normal at least until China resumes the export of essential factory goods at the same level as before. On the other hand, it is also important that China resumes its role as an important consumer market.
The broad sell-off that rattled global stock markets on Monday due to growing investor anxiety over the fallout from the rapidly escalating coronavirus crisis in China highlights Africa’s economic vulnerability in this rapidly escalating crisis, particularly in those countries where China is the largest trading partner.
The weaker countries in Africa are more vulnerable to the adverse economic impact of Coronavirus as well as its spread. If the situation continues for long, several African countries are likely to submerge in financial crises which will further weaken their capability to handle the imminent epidemic of Coronavirus.
The Challenge
Taking the right measures is the most difficult thing in an outbreak response. Reducing fear and panic and engaging the communities are some of the sample things.
Experts warn that the pandemic could overrun already-strained health systems could likely lead to a higher mortality rate and deeper crisis that would have global impact.
However, data are weak, and little is known about how people in the region perceive their health or their health care. Access is still the greatest challenge to health care delivery in Africa. Fewer than 50% of Africans have access to modern health facilities. The continent healthcare systems and leadership are not well developed enough for modern challenge and many Africans don’t trust the health system.
Combatting the Killer Disease
Forty-five experts have been deployed in 14 countries, with 20 more expert deployments being processed, according to the WHO. The report indicates that WHO is sending COVID-19 testing kits to countries.
Presently, 29 countries including Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia and Sierra Leone, have the capacity to test for coronavirus disease, compared to the beginning of February, when only two laboratories one in Senegal and the other in South Africa had diagnostic capacity.
Technology is transforming how health care is delivered in Africa, giving more people in remote areas there and around the world access to better care. African countries have an opportunity to be the trailblazers of a 21st century paradigm of care.
Already, countries on the continent are heavily focused on preventive care. Think mass drug administration for parasitic diseases, malaria chemoprophylaxis and prophylactic antiretroviral medication to prevent HIV infection.
Africa already uses technology to manage human resource constraints, such as text services that enable doctors to support Trained Birth Assistants at a distance. Across the continent, mobile phone-based services like SMS For Life have transformed supply chains for malaria drugs and other medications, substantially reducing treatment stock-outs.
But not all smart solutions are hi-tech. Rwanda’s capital Kigali has a car-free day every month to promote prevention and wellness through walking and cycling. Few European or American cities have been able to achieve this.
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