the world health organization (who) on Friday acknowledged that Africa as a whole to cope with the coronavirus crisis, and the number of deaths on the continent is relatively low.
According to Maziwisa of Majete, the regional who Director for Africa, quoted by Reuters, the continent avoided a large number of deaths that have devastated other regions of the world. However, the official acknowledged that African health systems are “fragile and unable to cope with the sudden increase in the number of cases of infection”. According to who, about half of African countries face the problem of transmission of coronavirus in remote areas and closed communities.
for his part, Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the who programme on emergency situations, said at a press conference on Friday that the low mortality rate in Africa may be caused by the fact that half of the continent’s population under the age of 18. He expressed concern that the disease could rapidly spread in the African countries experiencing “significant gaps” in intensive therapy, medical oxygen and ventilators. According to Ryan, in nine African countries, a rising incidence last week was 50%, while in others a decrease of a pandemic or stable performance.
Also a senior representative of the who noted that the situation in South America was more serious, and in some ways the continent has become the new epicenter of the disease. At the same time, Brazil is the “most affected countries” whose authorities mistakenly approved the widespread use of anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19. Ryan said that clinical trials do not confirm the widespread use of the drug against the disease, given its risks.
