African countries must collaborate to contain the new contagion

As coronavirus brings world powers to their knees, the surge in infection and number of deaths has something to do with either lack of awareness, preparedness or negligence.

Beyond individual countries, it is evident that for those currently suffering repercussions of Covid-19 a great deal have initially ignored to communicate and collaborate well with countries where the virus was first reported like China.

This resulted into hospitals being overwhelmed by thousands of patients that cannot be supported by available infrastructure and health workers. As a result, deaths were recorded in their thousands on daily basis and in countries like Italy and recently Spain burial activities were assigned to soldiers, locking out loved ones for fear of infections.

It is not an easy call but this outbreak can be defeated if our countries put their acts together now. We require an unprecedented level of diligence in response, driven by global and regional approach with solidarity and collaboration built on evidence-based information to avoid more rapid spread of the virus like in Europe and America.

For Africa, there can never be a better time to learn from what is happening elsewhere to ensure this does not occur here. I do not know if I should say we were lucky because Covid-19 outbreak did not originate here.

Imagine if what is currently happening in Italy, where daily deaths toll now mainly stand at almost 1,000 people and new infections surging to tens of thousands, starts to happen in some African countries.

Remember Italy was until this outbreak among countries with the most efficient and effective health systems in the world, probably one of the countries with the best doctor-per-patient ratios. Compare that to the majority of African nations with an average of one doctor serving at least 30,000 patients.

One might look at the number of confirmed cases among regional countries and think that it is just a small number that can easily be dealt with.

To put things into perspective, I will pick two examples of countries that a fortnight or so ago were in the same situation where the likes of Rwanda and Kenya are today.

On February 21, Italy had recorded only 21 cases of Covid-19 but as of March 27, the number of infected patients had surged to 111,000 and over 13,000 deaths in the same period.

Regional taskforce

The same day, the US had recorded only 16 cases but as of April 2, the number had shot up to 240,000 and 6,000 deaths recorded. These countries renowned for having long history of medical excellence have greatly been pushed to the limit. This means we are exactly where the likes of the US and Italy were only a month ago and being in the same turmoil they are in now is a matter of weeks if we do not make the right choices.

Imagine if now becomes the similar scenario with our region where even hospital beds are not enough on a normal day of operation. Our countries can only achieve that by breaking the chain of transmission, and it is doable.

For the continent to overcome this pandemic, African leaders must read from the same script. Continental and regional collaboration is needed like never before.

You have countries like Rwanda imposing total lockdown; Kenya and Uganda announcing partial lockdown then Tanzania, where leaders declare that their government will not close down places of worship because that is where true healing from covid-19 can be found since this is a satanic virus. Forgetting that even in the Vatican and Canterbury Christians no longer converge for prayers.

The main action for the region now is to avoid human-to-human transmission. It is the only therapy in flattening the curve of this contagion. This can only be achieved if countries put in place collective measures to contain this virus.

This is time to look for sustainable approach and avoid shifting blame. Countries have a responsibility to be transparent in their reporting and actions, both to their own populations and to the regional and international community to facilitate and accelerate cooperation.

It is paramount to establish a regional taskforce for coronavirus preparedness and response with important financial and human resources for implementation of preventive measures, among them screening of passengers at points of entry. Otherwise the potential social, economic, and security devastation that covid-19 could cause in Africa should be enough of an incentive for governments to invest immediately in preparedness for the worst-case scenario.

Beyond that, the region must also think about the need to remove tariffs on key medical devices such as ventilators, personal protective equipment, gloves, surgical masks and coveralls to ease their accessibility.

As it stands, there is no vaccine, medicine or therapy to cure this disease; it is just the behavioural practices that will help countries contain this pandemic.

Since there is still all these knowledge gaps that still need to be filled in finding a lasting solution, the only way to deal with this pandemic is to minimise its spread. It has been said that the virus does not move, people move it, we stop moving, then the virus does and it eventually dies a natural death.

Going forward, African countries must invest reasonably in scientific research and medical infrastructure and embrace partnerships at the regional, continental and global levels.

- The writer is a communications and media relations consultant in Kigali.