Coronavirus cases in Africa could
shoot up from thousands now to 10 million within three to six months according
to very provisional modelling, a regional World Health Organization (WHO)
official said on Thursday.
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| People buy vegetables at a food market after Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari called for a lockdown starting tonight to limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Lagos, Nigeria March 30, 2020 |
But
Michel Yao, head of emergency operations for WHO Africa, said that was a
tentative projection which could change and noted worst-case predictions for
the Ebola outbreak had not come true because people changed behaviour in time.
“This is
still to be fine-tuned,” he told a media teleconference. “It’s difficult to
make a long-term estimation because the context changes too much and
also public health measures when they are fully implemented, they can
actually have an impact.”
The
world’s poorest continent has seen more than 17,000 confirmed cases of the
COVID-19 disease and about 900 deaths so far – relatively little compared to
some other regions.
But there
are fears that could balloon and overwhelm shaky health services.
“We are
concerned that the virus continues to spread geographically, within countries,”
said Matshidiso Moeti, director for WHO’s Africa region, which comprises 46
sub-Saharan nations and Algeria.
“The numbers
continue to increase every day.”
Infections
in South Africa, which has the highest number of cases, have slowed after it
began a strict lockdown, but other nations – like Burkina Faso, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and Algeria – have seen higher than average fatalities.
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| Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Paul Makonda, talking to the press near Ubungo rapid bus station |
The WHO
is working with authorities there to improve patient care and reduce
fatalities, Moeti said.
She
warned that President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of U.S. funding for the WHO
could harm both the fight against against other killers like polio, HIV and
malaria.
“The
impact, potentially, of this decision will be quite significant on areas such
as polio eradication,” said Moeti, just when Africa was close to being declared
polio-free.
Trump
accused the Geneva-based WHO on Tuesday of promoting Chinese “disinformation”
about the new coronavirus, saying this had probably worsened the outbreak and
that he would stop its funding even as he defended his own handling of the
crisis.
More than
2 million people have been infected globally, with the largest number in the
United States.
Washington
is the biggest donor to the WHO, which tackles specific diseases and also
strengthens national health systems. The United States contributed more than
$400 million to the WHO in 2019, roughly 15% of its budget.
“We are
very much hoping (suspension of funding) will be re-thought because the U.S.
government is an important partner not only in financial terms but also it is
an important strategic partner,” Moeti said.
She also
told the media teleconference that the organisation requires $300 million to
help African governments respond to the pandemic. - Africa
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