Good news about the coronavirus in Africa

Opinions on Saturday, September 26, 2020

Columnist: Cameron duodu

2020-09-26

Good news is so rare in the world, but particularly in Africa, that we should breathe a sigh of relief (while crossing our fingers!) Because the World Health Organization (WHO) says that “social and environmental factors” have contributed to a relatively “low” number of COVID-19 cases in Africa.

According to the WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, “The transmission of COVID-19 in Africa has been characterized by relatively fewer infections. Furthermore, infections “have been declining in the last two months.” This is due to “a variety of socio-ecological factors, as well as the strong and early public health measures taken by African governments.”

The WHO report adds: QUOTE “The pandemic has occurred primarily in a younger age group and has been more pronounced in some countries, suggesting [that] Country specificities are driving the pattern of illness and death. Approximately 91% of COVID-19 infections in sub-Saharan Africa are among people under the age of 60, and more than 80% of cases are asymptomatic.

“… It is probable that the low density and mobility of the population, the hot and humid climate, the youngest age group, interact to accentuate their individual effects [to be] contributing to the pattern seen in Africa. Since July 20, the region has seen a steady decline in new COVID-19 cases. During the last four weeks, 77,147 new cases were reported, compared to 131,647 registered in the previous four weeks.

“Some of the worst affected countries, such as Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa, have seen infections decline every week for the past two months. Deaths attributed to COVID-19 have also remained low. “DO NOT QUOTE

The WHO explains that the “downward trend” observed in Africa during the last two months “is undoubtedly a positive development, and speaks of the solid and decisive public health measures adopted by the governments of the region.”

The figures given for the “downward trend” are almost miraculous: “77,147 new cases were reported, compared to 131,647 registered in the previous four weeks. That equates, in percentage terms, to a nearly fifty percent reduction in the infection rate in just four weeks. African governments and their people deserve a lot of credit for this spectacular reduction in the number of cases.

However, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, went out of his way to warn that “we must not become complacent. Other regions of the world “(he noted)” have experienced similar trends, only to find that as public health and social measures are relaxed, cases begin to rise again. “

“The region’s statistics on testing have been useful for policy, [because] they reflect infection patterns within a country, ”the report adds. The “missing cases of COVID-19,” he notes, “are due in large part to their asymptomatic. Also, there is no evidence of a miscalculation of the death figures, which are more difficult to statistically miss. “

Dr Moeti continued: “Africa has not witnessed an exponential spread of COVID-19, as many initially feared. … But the slower spread of the infection … means that we expect the pandemic to continue to burn for some time, with occasional outbreaks. “

For example (Dr Moeti revealed) Cameroon and Ivory Coast (which are among the countries that have seen a decline in infections since mid-July) have seen a slight increase in cases in recent weeks. Therefore, it is crucial that countries maintain public health measures that have helped curb the spread of COVID-19.

Dr. Moeti concluded: “The response in African countries must be adapted to the situation of each country, moving forward, as we see different patterns of infection even within a country. Specific and localized responses that are based on what works best in a given region of a country will be more crucial as countries ease restrictions and open up their economies. “

The WHO has reaffirmed that it is “continuing to support countries to scale up the public health response, particularly in high-risk settings.” As a testament to that commitment, the organization held a “virtual press conference” in which Dr. Moeti was joined by some of the best experts on COVID-19.

Among them were Professor Francisca Mutapi, Professor of Infections and Immunity in Global Health, University of Edinburgh; Professor Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh; and Dr. Sam Agatre Okuonzi from the Arua Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda.

While in Africa we must be careful not to lower our guard due to the good numbers we are recording on our fight against the virus, some of the world’s media are not holding their horses. Ghana’s President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in particular, has received high praise on the Internet. Medium.com says the leadership it has shown, not only in enacting measures to curb the disease, but also, in going to the trouble, in an election year, to broadcast a total of seventeen times (so far) to share with its people, the true COVID-19 situation, are noteworthy.

The article’s author said: “As The Lancet wrote, ‘According to the WHO, Africa is the least affected region globally, with 1.5% of COVID-19 cases reported in the world and 0.1% of deaths in the world ‘. This is not just luck. Yes, the mainland has some advantages (youth; being under a de facto travel ban). But those advantages only give you time … The main advantage Africa had was that Africans used their time wisely. Within the African Union, Ghana stands out …

[Ghana has proved that in this battle against Covid] “We just have our brains and our ability to cooperate. We have no cure. That’s why leadership is important. “

Therefore, we must ensure that the actions we take based on common sense continue. Because only in this way will Ghana be able to avoid a new “peak” in the onslaught of the pandemic.