Cape Town — “This is one of the biggest health challenges Africa has faced in a generation. Adopting approaches which are adaptable to the African context is key to containing the spread.”
These are the words of Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa who says the COVID-19 pandemic is a reality we must face up-front.
As of March 19, 34 African countries reported more than 600 cases and 17 deaths due to COVID-19, with the Gambia, Mauritius, Zambia having announced their first cases.
Speaking at the WHO Africa Media Leader briefing on COVID-19, Moeti said the reasons the virus has not spread as quickly in Africa, as it has in the Northern hemisphere, are not yet clear. But indicated that, although WHO is still monitoring and analysing what has been done in different regions, it encourages strong early precautionary measures to halt the circulation of the novel coronavirus.
“Our main interest is to help the countries contain this and delay or prevent local community spread of the virus. It is true that the socio-economic circumstance of many African people particularly in urban areas, makes social distancing the way it is recommended quite a challenge. Sometimes families live in houses where you don’t have a bedroom for every family member. Some do not have running water which makes frequently handwashing with soap a challenge under those circumstances,” Moeti said. Read more…
