LEADING FIGURES have expressed concern about the rising spread of COVID-19 in Africa.

With more than 6000 COVID-19 cases reported in Africa, the virus is threatening fragile health systems on the continent. Infections are increasingly spreading not only between African countries but within different localities in the hardest-hit countries.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa said: “Case numbers are increasing exponentially in the African region. It took 16 days from the first confirmed case in the region to reach 100 cases.

“It took a further 10 days to reach the first thousand. Three days after this, there were 2000 cases, and two days later we were at 3000.”

Restricted gatherings

To contain COVID-19, many countries in Africa are implementing measures, which restrict gatherings and the movement of people. 

Nationwide lockdowns are in effect in Kenya, Uganda, the Republic of the Congo and other nations on the continent. 

However, figures such as Moeti say that governments must use these measures in a considered, evidence-based manner, and make sure that people can continue to access basic necessities.

As many people in the region live in crowded conditions or work in the informal sector and need to earn money daily to survive, it is important that countries make provisions to ensure that people can still access essential services. 

WHO officials say they are working closely with national governments and United Nations partners including the World Food Programme (WFP) to plan for these needs.

Targeted public health measures

Dr Moeti said: “For socially restrictive measures to be effective, they must be accompanied by strong, sustained and targeted public health measures that locate, isolate, test and treat COVID-19 cases.”

Lola Castro, the WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa said: “It’s vital that ports continue to operate to receive food and other essential humanitarian cargo; that borders and roads stay open so it can be moved where it is most needed; and that distributions to vulnerable people are conducted safely.” 

It’s crucial that the international community promptly provide the considerable funding needed to maintain and scale up assistance programmes

Dr Matshidiso Moeti

She added: “It’s also crucial that the international community promptly provide the considerable funding needed to maintain and scale up assistance programmes.”

Innovative solutions

As well as ensuring basic needs are met, WHO is pursuing innovative solutions to the region’s pressing public health problems. 

Yesterday (April 1) WHO hosted an online training session on the clinical management of COVID-19 cases. 

Nearly 500 attendees from across Africa logged in to learn about issues including case characterization and triage, treating severely ill cases, infection prevention and control, and how to quarantine and manage cases in the community. 

WHO also hosted a three-day ‘hackathon’, bringing together Africa’s brightest minds to find solutions to some of the problems COVID-19 has presented.