Afrigather Brazzaville – Whereas Africa is witnessing its lowest stage of recent COVID-19 instances for the reason that onset of the pandemic, a latest four-week rise—the primary such sustained improve in 4 months—underscores the criticality of sustaining vigilance because the end-year vacation seasons units in.
The continent recorded the four-week lengthy rise till 20 November, however the variety of new instances dropped barely over the previous two weeks ending on 2 December, breaking the upward pattern. Nevertheless, the brand new instances reported in late November account for lower than 10% of instances recorded in the identical interval in 2021 and 2020. Whereas deaths rose by 14% within the week ending on 27 November from the week earlier than, they had been low at 53—roughly 4% of the deaths recorded in the identical interval in 2021 and 2020. The present COVID-19 caseload will not be exerting any vital pressure on well being amenities, with hospitalizations remaining low.
“Regardless of the latest uptick, there may be hope that Africa shall be spared the challenges of the earlier two years when surging instances and deaths withered regular life and brought on deep devastation. Whereas the present tendencies maintain the pandemic underneath management, we’re rigorously monitoring its evolution. We should stay vigilant, proceed to extend vaccination protection and be able to undertake extra stringent preventive measures, if needed,” stated Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Well being Group (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “The investments made within the COVID-19 battle over the past three years are paying off, with the area higher ready to deal with the virus and its well being emergency response methods bolstered.”
In 2022, the general lowering pandemic burden in Africa is easing stress on nationwide public well being sources, permitting international locations to additional bolster disrupted well being companies and improve deal with different well being priorities comparable to routine immunization, illness surveillance and response to different outbreaks.
With revamped surveillance, the area has to date this yr reported 106 outbreaks and well being emergencies linked to humanitarian crises, virtually 17% extra in contrast with 2021 and practically the identical because the pre-pandemic stage in 2019. Round 25 vaccine-preventable illness outbreaks have additionally been reported in 2022. 13 had been reported in 2020 and 19 in 2021, in line with a WHO tally.
Response to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout Africa has helped international locations to bolster key public well being emergency response measures together with prognosis and testing, vital care, and an infection prevention and management. The enhancements may also help the continent deal with not solely COVID-19 however different outbreaks.
On the onset of the pandemic, the typical variety of intensive care unit beds was round 3 per 100 000 individuals, beneath the WHO advice of a minimal of 5 per 100 000. With the help of WHO and companions, 70% of nations within the area have met the usual of intensive care unit beds.
Medical oxygen manufacturing has additionally been boosted. Medical oxygen manufacturing has additionally been boosted. In 2019, the continent had 2600 oxygen concentrators and now has 6901. As well as, WHO has supported 9 international locations to arrange and keep oxygen manufacturing vegetation, growing the area’s manufacturing by 7.9 million litres a day—sufficient to deal with 1130 critically care sufferers per day. Whereas care of critically ailing COVID-19 sufferers has improved, international locations have to additional strengthen their capacities to deal with a sudden surge in instances sparked by a brand new deadly and transmissible variant.
A WHO evaluation of greater than 5100 well being amenities in 18 international locations on 14 an infection prevention and management indicators (comparable to COVID-19 screening at facility entrance, isolation of suspected instances and use of private protecting tools) discovered a major enchancment, with a rating of 67% in November 2022, up from 54% in July 2020. WHO recommends that amenities rating above 75% and with sustained effort that is attainable in 2023. Sturdy an infection, prevention and management in well being amenities is vital for stopping the unfold of a spread infectious pathogens comparable to Ebola and COVID-19.
Africa has made large enhancements in genomic sequencing. Round 105 000 sequences had been produced in 2022 in contrast with 58 610 the yr earlier than.
With new instances at a low stage in latest months testing and genomic sequencing have dropped. As a part of a transfer to combine COVID-19 into routine well being companies, WHO is recommending that international locations undertake testing methods that target detecting new instances, notably in weak populations such because the aged or these with comorbidities to scale back extreme illness; and detecting new instances to restrict transmission and to watch viral epidemiology and evolution.
Solely 26% of Africans are absolutely vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19 and whereas international locations comparable to Cameroon proceed to hold out mass vaccination campaigns, others have begun integrating COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization and first well being care companies.
“As we transfer into 2023, it’s time to convey COVID-19 out of an emergency response mode and combine into routine well being care,” stated Dr Moeti. “We’re already seeing international locations comparable to Ghana and Nigeria taking the lead on this, and I encourage others to take action as nicely. COVID-19 is right here to remain
Dr Moeti spoke as we speak throughout a press convention. She was joined by Hon. Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Minister of Well being, Uganda; and Hon. Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Well being, The Gambia.
Additionally available from WHO Regional Workplace for Africa to reply questions had been Dr Miriam Nanyunja, Regional Adviser, Emergency Danger Administration; Dr Dorothy Fosah-Achu, Workforce Lead, Tropical and Vector-borne Ailments; and Dr Thierno Balde, Regional COVID-19 Incident Supervisor.
