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Covid-19 is having “impressive secondary impacts” in Africa, a study concludes, revealing significant loss of income, food insecurity and serious disruptions in access to healthcare for other diseases.
The response to the covid-19 pandemic is preventing populations from accessing health services for other diseases, paralyzing treatment programs for diseases such as HIV / AIDS or tuberculosis, and threatening the scarce workforce in the sector. of health.
Treatments against malaria (15%), cardiovascular diseases (8%), diabetes (5%), prenatal care (5%), pediatric care for children under 5 years of age (5%) and vaccination (4%) were the programs of most affected in the six months that elapsed between the start of the pandemic and the date of the surveys.
The study, which involved 24,000 participants in 18 African countries, including Mozambique, was conducted between August 4-17, by the “Association for Evidence-Based Covid-19 Response” (PERC), an initiative that brings together Africa CDC, World Organization of Health, the World Economic Forum, the non-governmental organization “Resolve to Save Lives” and the opinion research firm Ipsos.
About half (44%) of respondents in need of medical care postponed or missed appointments, and a similar percentage (47%) reported having difficulty accessing medications.
Seven out of 10 respondents reported that their household income in the week before the study was lower compared to the same period last year (70%) and the same proportion reported problems with access to food (72%). Of these, only 14% received aid from governments.
For the public health doctor and president of “Resolve to Save Lives”, Tom Frieden, “in Africa, it is probable that these indirect impacts are much greater than the direct impacts of the virus that causes the covid-19”.
Therefore, urgent action is needed to protect healthcare professionals and systems, ”Frieden added, during the public presentation of the study.
The results of the PERC survey reveal, on the other hand, strong support for the measures to prevent and combat covid-19 adopted by governments, with the majority expressing themselves in favor of the use of masks, hand washing and social distancing .
Much less support and adherence has been given to measures that restrict economic activity and limit public gatherings.
Many African governments have begun easing the measures since June, and the study shows “tension between respondents’ desire to reopen the economy and anxiety about how it might affect their health.”
In an analysis of the epidemiological situation in Africa, the data shows that overall, the 55 member states of the African Union (AU) confirmed fewer cases ‘per capita’ compared to other regions of the world.
Reported cases peaked in late July and early August, fueled by the epidemic in South Africa, the study notes, indicating that they have since declined.
However, it warns, indications about testability indicate that many cases go undetected, with countries reporting COVID-19 data “infrequently or inconsistently” or registering a lack of equipment or even professionals to perform. tests. .
The COVID-19 fatality rate in Africa is lower than the global one, suggesting that the disease’s outcomes have been less severe among African populations, the study notes.
This is the second regional report in the series “Using data to find a balance” in the fight against covid-19 in Africa, a set of studies in which the PERC analyzes the responses to the surveys together with the social data, economic and epidemiological conditions of the countries. and makes recommendations to governments on the best way to respond to the pandemic.
“Nine months after the start of the pandemic, it is clear that the effects of the response will be long-term for health systems and the economy, but also for communities,” said Tom Frieden, thus highlighting the importance of the governments. make decisions based on credible and transparent data.
The covid-19 pandemic has already claimed at least 978,448 deaths and almost 32 million cases of infection worldwide, according to a report by the French agency AFP.
Half a thousand dead in the last 24 hours in Africa
Africa recorded 509 deaths from covid-19 in the last 24 hours, and now has 1,429,360 infected, plus 8,731, according to the most recent pandemic data on the continent.
According to the African Union Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in the last 24 hours the death toll in the 55 member states of the organization has risen to 34,836 and those recovered to 1,175,353 ( plus 6,909).
Southern Africa continues to record the highest number of cases of infection and deaths, with 17,425 deaths in a universe of 724,807 infected.
Only in South Africa, the most affected country on the continent, 665,188 cases and 16,206 deaths are reported.
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