The World Health Organisation (WHO) says as the risk of a surge in COVID-19 cases increases, African countries must urgently boost critical care capacity to prevent health facilities from being overwhelmed.
The world body said this in a statement, noting that the call came as vaccine shipments to Africa grind to a near halt.
It stated that “weak observance of preventive measures, increased population movement and interaction, as well as the arrival of winter in southern Africa heightened the risk of COVID-19 resurgence in many countries.
“The pandemic is trending upwards in 14 countries and in the past week alone, eight countries witnessed an abrupt rise of over 30 per cent cases. South Africa is reporting a sustained increase in cases, while Uganda saw a 131 per cent week-on-week rise last week, with infection clusters in schools, rising cases among health workers and isolation centres and intensive care units filling up.
“Angola and Namibia are also experiencing a resurgence in cases. The increase came as COVID-19 vaccine shipments continue to slow down.”
It explained that the COVAX Facility is in talks with several manufacturers, as well as with countries which have vaccinated their high-risk groups to share doses, noting that “the threat of a third wave in Africa is real and rising.”
Meanwhile, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said the organisation’s priority was clear, stressing that “it is crucial that we swiftly get vaccines into the arms of Africans at high risk of falling seriously ill and dying of COVID-19.
She made the world body’s position clear during a virtual news conference on Thursday, saying that “while many countries outside Africa have now vaccinated their high-priority groups and are able to even consider vaccinating children, African countries are unable to follow up with second doses for high-risk groups.
“I’m urging countries that have reached a significant vaccination coverage to release doses and keep the most vulnerable Africans out of critical care.”