TY - JOUR
T1 - Response to the Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic Across Africa
T2 - Successes, Challenges, and Implications for the Future
AU - Ogunleye, Olayinka O.
AU - Basu, Debashis
AU - Mueller, Debjani
AU - Sneddon, Jacqueline
AU - Seaton, R. Andrew
AU - Yinka-Ogunleye, Adesola F.
AU - Wamboga, Joshua
AU - Miljković, Nenad
AU - Mwita, Julius C.
AU - Rwegerera, Godfrey Mutashambara
AU - Massele, Amos
AU - Patrick, Okwen
AU - Niba, Loveline Lum
AU - Nsaikila, Melaine
AU - Rashed, Wafaa M.
AU - Hussein, Mohamed Ali
AU - Hegazy, Rehab
AU - Amu, Adefolarin A.
AU - Boahen-Boaten, Baffour Boaten
AU - Matsebula, Zinhle
AU - Gwebu, Prudence
AU - Chirigo, Bongani
AU - Mkhabela, Nongabisa
AU - Dlamini, Tenelisiwe
AU - Sithole, Siphiwe
AU - Malaza, Sandile
AU - Dlamini, Sikhumbuzo
AU - Afriyie, Daniel
AU - Asare, George Awuku
AU - Amponsah, Seth Kwabena
AU - Sefah, Israel
AU - Oluka, Margaret
AU - Guantai, Anastasia N.
AU - Opanga, Sylvia A.
AU - Sarele, Tebello Violet
AU - Mafisa, Refeletse Keabetsoe
AU - Chikowe, Ibrahim
AU - Khuluza, Felix
AU - Kibuule, Dan
AU - Kalemeera, Francis
AU - Mubita, Mwangana
AU - Fadare, Joseph
AU - Sibomana, Laurien
AU - Ramokgopa, Gwendoline Malegwale
AU - Whyte, Carmen
AU - Maimela, Tshegofatso
AU - Hugo, Johannes
AU - Meyer, Johanna C.
AU - Schellack, Natalie
AU - Rampamba, Enos M.
AU - Visser, Adel
AU - Alfadl, Abubakr
AU - Malik, Elfatih M.
AU - Malande, Oliver Ombeva
AU - Kalungia, Aubrey C.
AU - Mwila, Chiluba
AU - Zaranyika, Trust
AU - Chaibva, Blessmore Vimbai
AU - Olaru, Ioana D.
AU - Masuka, Nyasha
AU - Wale, Janney
AU - Hwenda, Lenias
AU - Kamoga, Regina
AU - Hill, Ruaraidh
AU - Barbui, Corrado
AU - Bochenek, Tomasz
AU - Kurdi, Amanj
AU - Campbell, Stephen
AU - Martin, Antony P.
AU - Phuong, Thuy Nguyen Thi
AU - Thanh, Binh Nguyen
AU - Godman, Brian
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2020 Ogunleye, Basu, Mueller, Sneddon, Seaton, Yinka-Ogunleye, Wamboga, Miljković, Mwita, Rwegerera, Massele, Patrick, Niba, Nsaikila, Rashed, Hussein, Hegazy, Amu, Boahen-Boaten, Matsebula, Gwebu, Chirigo, Mkhabela, Dlamini, Sithole, Malaza, Dlamini, Afriyie, Asare, Amponsah, Sefah, Oluka, Guantai, Opanga, Sarele, Mafisa, Chikowe, Khuluza, Kibuule, Kalemeera, Mubita, Fadare, Sibomana, Ramokgopa, Whyte, Maimela, Hugo, Meyer, Schellack, Rampamba, Visser, Alfadl, Malik, Malande, Kalungia, Mwila, Zaranyika, Chaibva, Olaru, Masuka, Wale, Hwenda, Kamoga, Hill, Barbui, Bochenek, Kurdi, Campbell, Martin, Phuong, Thanh and Godman.
PY - 2020/9/11
Y1 - 2020/9/11
N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed considerable lives. There are major concerns in Africa due to existing high prevalence rates for both infectious and non-infectious diseases and limited resources in terms of personnel, beds and equipment. Alongside this, concerns that lockdown and other measures will have on prevention and management of other infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are an increasing issue with rising morbidity and mortality rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that a lack of nets and treatment could result in up to 18 million additional cases of malaria and up to 30,000 additional deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: Document current prevalence and mortality rates from COVID-19 alongside economic and other measures to reduce its spread and impact across Africa. In addition, suggested ways forward among all key stakeholder groups. Our Approach: Contextualise the findings from a wide range of publications including internet-based publications coupled with input from senior-level personnel. Ongoing Activities: Prevalence and mortality rates are currently lower in Africa than among several Western countries and the USA. This could be due to a number of factors including early instigation of lockdown and border closures, the younger age of the population, lack of robust reporting systems and as yet unidentified genetic and other factors. Innovation is accelerating to address concerns with available equipment. There are ongoing steps to address the level of misinformation and its consequences including fines. There are also ongoing initiatives across Africa to start addressing the unintended consequences of COVID-19 activities including lockdown measures and their impact on NCDs including the likely rise in mental health disorders, exacerbated by increasing stigma associated with COVID-19. Strategies include extending prescription lengths, telemedicine and encouraging vaccination. However, these need to be accelerated to prevent increased morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: There are multiple activities across Africa to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and address misinformation, which can have catastrophic consequences, assisted by the WHO and others, which appear to be working in a number of countries. Research is ongoing to clarify the unintended consequences given ongoing concerns to guide future activities. Countries are learning from each other.
AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed considerable lives. There are major concerns in Africa due to existing high prevalence rates for both infectious and non-infectious diseases and limited resources in terms of personnel, beds and equipment. Alongside this, concerns that lockdown and other measures will have on prevention and management of other infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are an increasing issue with rising morbidity and mortality rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that a lack of nets and treatment could result in up to 18 million additional cases of malaria and up to 30,000 additional deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: Document current prevalence and mortality rates from COVID-19 alongside economic and other measures to reduce its spread and impact across Africa. In addition, suggested ways forward among all key stakeholder groups. Our Approach: Contextualise the findings from a wide range of publications including internet-based publications coupled with input from senior-level personnel. Ongoing Activities: Prevalence and mortality rates are currently lower in Africa than among several Western countries and the USA. This could be due to a number of factors including early instigation of lockdown and border closures, the younger age of the population, lack of robust reporting systems and as yet unidentified genetic and other factors. Innovation is accelerating to address concerns with available equipment. There are ongoing steps to address the level of misinformation and its consequences including fines. There are also ongoing initiatives across Africa to start addressing the unintended consequences of COVID-19 activities including lockdown measures and their impact on NCDs including the likely rise in mental health disorders, exacerbated by increasing stigma associated with COVID-19. Strategies include extending prescription lengths, telemedicine and encouraging vaccination. However, these need to be accelerated to prevent increased morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: There are multiple activities across Africa to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and address misinformation, which can have catastrophic consequences, assisted by the WHO and others, which appear to be working in a number of countries. Research is ongoing to clarify the unintended consequences given ongoing concerns to guide future activities. Countries are learning from each other.
KW - Africa
KW - COVID-19
KW - health policy
KW - misinformation
KW - prevalence
KW - review
KW - treatment
KW - unintended consequences
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85089589309
U2 - 10.3389/fphar.2020.01205
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2020.01205
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85089589309
SN - 1663-9812
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
JF - Frontiers in Pharmacology
M1 - 1205
ER -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being