The World Health Organization (WHO) says whereas Africa is witnessing its lowest degree of latest Covid-19 instances for the reason that onset of the pandemic, a latest four-week rise, the primary such sustained improve in 4 months underscores the criticality of sustaining vigilance because the end-year vacation seasons units in.
According to a launch, the continent recorded a four-week-long rise till November 20, however the variety of new instances dropped barely prior to now two weeks ending on December 2, breaking the upward development.
However, the brand new instances reported in late November account for lower than 10% of instances recorded in the identical interval in 2021 and 2020, launch famous.
It added whereas deaths rose by 14% within the week ending on 27 November from the week earlier than, they had been low at 53—roughly 4% of the deaths recorded in the identical interval in 2021 and 2020. The present COVID-19 caseload is just not exerting any vital pressure on well being services, with hospitalizations remaining low,” the WHO mentioned.
“Despite the recent uptick, there is hope that Africa will be spared the challenges of the previous two years when surging cases and deaths withered normal life and caused deep devastation. While the current trends keep the pandemic under control, we are carefully monitoring its evolution.”
“We must remain vigilant, continue to increase vaccination coverage, and be ready to adopt more stringent preventive measures, if necessary,” mentioned Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “The investments made in the COVID-19 fight over the last three years are paying off, with the region better able to cope with the virus and its health emergency response systems bolstered.”
In 2022, the general reducing pandemic burden in Africa is easing strain on nationwide public well being assets, permitting international locations to additional bolster disrupted well being providers and improve give attention to different well being priorities akin to routine immunization, illness surveillance, and response to different outbreaks.
With revamped surveillance, the area has to date this yr reported 106 outbreaks and well being emergencies linked to humanitarian crises, virtually 17% extra in contrast with 2021 and practically the identical because the pre-pandemic degree in 2019. Around 25 vaccine-preventable illness outbreaks have additionally been reported in 2022. Thirteen had been reported in 2020 and 19 in 2021, in keeping with a WHO tally.
Response to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout Africa has helped international locations to bolster key public well being emergency response measures together with analysis and testing, crucial care, and an infection prevention and management. The enhancements may help the continent deal with not solely COVID-19 however different outbreaks.
At the onset of the pandemic, the typical variety of intensive care unit beds was round 3 per 100 000 individuals, under the WHO suggestion of a minimal of 5 per 100 000. With the help of WHO and companions, 70% of nations within the area have met the usual of intensive care unit beds.
“Medical oxygen production has also been boosted. Medical oxygen production has also been boosted. In 2019, the continent had 2600 oxygen concentrators and now has 6901,” the discharge mentioned. In addition, WHO has supported 9 international locations to arrange and keep oxygen manufacturing crops, growing the area’s manufacturing by 7.9 million litres a day—sufficient to deal with 1130 critically care sufferers per day. While care of critically ailing COVID-19 sufferers has improved, international locations must additional strengthen their capacities to deal with a sudden surge in instances sparked by a brand new deadly and transmissible variant.
While care of critically ailing COVID-19 sufferers has improved, international locations must additional strengthen their capacities to deal with a sudden surge in instances sparked by a brand new deadly and transmissible variant.
A WHO evaluation of greater than 5100 well being services in 18 international locations on 14 an infection prevention and management indicators (akin to COVID-19 screening at facility entrance, isolation of suspected instances, and use of non-public protecting tools) discovered a major enchancment, with a rating of 67% in November 2022, up from 54% in July 2020.
WHO recommends that services rating above 75% and with sustained effort that is doable in 2023. Strong an infection, prevention, and management in well being services is crucial for stopping the unfold of a variety of infectious pathogens akin to Ebola and COVID-19.
Africa has made large enhancements in genomic sequencing. Around 105 000 sequences had been produced in 2022 in contrast with 58 610 the yr earlier than.
“With new cases at a low level in recent months testing and genomic sequencing have dropped. As part of a move to integrate COVID-19 into routine health services, WHO is recommending that countries adopt testing strategies that focus on detecting new cases, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with comorbidities to reduce severe disease; and detecting new cases to limit transmission and to monitor viral epidemiology and evolution.”
“Only 26% of Africans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and while countries such as Cameroon continue to carry out mass vaccination campaigns, others have begun integrating COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization and primary health care services.”
“As we move into 2023, it is time to bring COVID-19 out of an emergency response mode and integrate it into routine health care,” mentioned Moeti. “We are already seeing countries such as Ghana and Nigeria taking the lead on this, and I encourage others to do so as well. COVID-19 is here to stay.”
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