The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed worry that African health systems may be ill-equipped to respond to the rapid COVID-19 outbreak.
The director general of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom, who stated during a meeting of ‘African health ministers’ emergency meeting on the coronavirus disease outbreak’ held in Ethiopia at the weekend expressed concern about the global spread of the virus and the need for African countries to prepare for possible outbreak.
“Our biggest concern continues to be the potential for COVID-19 to spread in countries with weaker health systems. We have to take advantage of the window of opportunity we have, to attack the virus outbreak with a sense of urgency.
“If COVID-19 starts to spread on the continent, African health systems will struggle to treat patients suffering from symptoms such as respiratory failure, septic shock and multi-organ failure. “These patients require intensive care using equipment such as respiratory support machines that are, as you know, in short supply in many African countries and that’s a cause for concern,” he said.
Although there have been more than 200 suspected cases in the WHO’s AFRO region, nearly all have been confirmed negative.
So far, there has been one confirmed case in Africa.
However, health officials warned that the spread could be deadly in countries with already-strained health systems.
The WHO Africa Regional Director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said in his remarks that in the last three weeks, the number of African countries capable of conducting tests for COVID-19 jumped from two to 26, but WHO finds critical gaps in readiness for countries across the continent.
“We need urgently to prioritise strengthening the capacities for countries to investigate alerts, treat patients in isolation facilities and improve infection, prevention and control in health facilities and in communities.
“The threats posed by COVID-19 have cast a spotlight on the shortcomings in health systems in the African Region. Countries must invest in emergency preparedness. This investment is worthwhile when you consider the cost of responding to outbreaks, which for the 2014 Ebola outbreak was estimated at close to $US 3 billion.
In his remarks, the chairman of AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat said “African nations should take drastic preventive and control measures. Our dear continent, Africa, is particularly at risk, given its relatively fragile health systems.”
In the end, African ministers agreed to prepare and potentially respond to COVID-19 through close collaboration between WHO and the African centres for disease control.
They agreed to enhance surveillance at ports of entry, ensure effective communication on COVID-19, empower the public, develop and finance strategic plans for national preparedness and collaborate with partners, including the private sector.
They also agreed to harness regional resources and stockpile critical medical supplies, including laboratory materials and personal protective equipment and conduct cross-border responses.
Meanwhile, the federal government has released the sum of N386 million to strengthen preparedness and response for COVID-19 in the country.
The permanent secretary in the ministry of health Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi Abdulaziz said the money was released in two batches.
“While the first batch of N71 million was released at the end of January to facilitate activities of the port health services department of the ministry, the second batch was released after the minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the government had budgeted N620 million to curtail the virus from entering Nigeria when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Health.
“It is true that intervention was sought from the presidency and the ministry of finance and budget planning.
“Because of the level of the emergency, I can confirm to you that N71million was released to the port health services division of the (health) ministry.
“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) was also given N315 million directly. Other requests are in the pipeline and yet to be released,” he said.With Vanguard report
