The World Health Organisation (WHO), has warned that Africa is facing a fast-surging third wave of COVID-19 pandemic, with cases spreading more rapidly and projected to soon overtake the peak of the second wave the continent witnessed at the start of 2021.
WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, during a virtual press conference, yesterday, facilitated by APO Group, pointed out that COVID-19 cases have risen for five consecutive weeks since the onset of the third wave on May 3, 2021.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that as of June 20, day 48 into the new wave, Africa had recorded around 474,000 new cases—a 21 per cent increase compared with the first 48 days of the second wave. At the current rate of infections, the ongoing surge is set to surpass the previous one by early July.
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According to Moeti, ‘the pandemic is resurging in 12 African countries. A combination of factors including weak observance of public health measures, increased social interaction and movement as well as the spread of variants are powering the new surge. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda that are experiencing COVID-19 resurgence, the Delta variant has been detected in most samples sequenced in the past month. Across Africa, the variant—first identified in India—has been reported in 14 countries.’
Also raising the alarm that Africa is not winning its fight against COVID-19 amid struggle to access enough vaccines for their populations is Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director, John Nkenkasong.
The COVAX programme co-led by the WHO for fair distribution of vaccines is now planning a shake-up as it has been shunned by rich countries and failing to meet the needs of the poorest. Nkenkasong said he was more worried about getting vaccines in time regardless of where the doses came from.
Nkenkasong said at least 20 countries were in the middle of the third wave, with Zambia, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo among those whose health facilities were being overwhelmed.
The COVAX programme’s initial lofty ambitions to act as a clearinghouse for the world’s vaccines, collecting from the manufacturers in the most developed countries and quickly distributing to those with the most urgent need, have fallen flat.
About 1.12 per cent people have been fully vaccinated on a continent that has recorded 5.2 million infections, Nkenkasong said.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
