COVID-19 hits life-saving healthcare services in Africa-the world

Brazzaville, November 5, 2020- The COVID-19 pandemic has hit major African healthcare services and raises concerns that some of Africa’s major health problems may be exacerbated.

Preliminary five key essential health service indicators, including outpatient visits, hospitalization, skilled childbirth, treatment of confirmed malaria cases, and provision of a pentavalent vaccine in 14 countries by the World Health Organization (WHO) In the analysis, these services are compared to the two years from January to September 2020. The gap was largest in May, June and July, responding to the time when many countries implemented and enforced mobility restrictions and other social and public health measures to check for the COVID-19 epidemic. .. Over the last three months, services in five monitored areas have declined by an average of more than 50% in 14 countries compared to the same period in 2019.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dangerous knock-on effect hidden in Africa’s health. Vulnerable people because health resources focus on COVID-19 and there are fears and restrictions on people’s daily lives. Is at increased risk of passing through cracks, “said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Africa Regional Director.

“Healthcare systems need to be strengthened to withstand future shocks. A strong healthcare system is the basis for emergency preparedness and response. Pandemics as countries relax COVID-19 restrictions. Don’t leave the door open for the recurrence, “says Dr. Moeti. “A new wave of COVID-19 infections could further disrupt life-saving healthcare services, but is now recovering from its initial effects.”

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa is unacceptably high, accounting for about two-thirds of the world’s maternal mortality in 2017. Preliminary data show that COVID-19 has reduced skilled childbirth in 14 countries, according to women’s health challenges and a new analysis. In Nigeria, between March and August 2020, 362,700 pregnant women missed prenatal care. More than 97,000 women gave birth within two days of giving birth, and more than 193,000 missed postnatal care. There were 310 maternal deaths at a medical facility in Nigeria in August 2020, almost double the number in August 2019.

An additional 1.37 million children across the African region missed the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, which protects against tuberculosis (TB), and an additional 1.32 million children under the age of 1 from January to August 2020. I missed the first measles vaccination during. Compared to the same period in 2019.

Vaccination campaigns for measles, yellow fever, polio and other illnesses have been postponed this year in at least 15 African countries. The introduction of new vaccines has been discontinued and some countries have reported shortages of vaccines.

“With countries deregulating, it’s important that they implement catch-up vaccination campaigns quickly,” said Dr. Moeti. “The longer and more children remain unprotected from measles and other childhood illnesses, the more likely they are to have a fatal outbreak that kills more than COVID-19.”

WHO provides guidance on how to provide safe vaccination services, including how to perform a careful risk assessment before vaccination, while paying attention to appropriate safeguards to prevent COVID-19 infection. Issued. The Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ethiopia have already launched measles vaccination campaigns. Thirteen other African countries are aiming to resume vaccination campaigns for polio and human papillomavirus within the next few months, and WHO is COVID to keep healthcare workers and communities safe- 19 Provides guidance on precautionary measures.

WHO also offers continuity of other important healthcare services by optimizing service delivery settings, redistributing healthcare professional capabilities and proposing ways to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medicines and other health products. Provided guidance to each country on how to secure.

As part of the COVID-19 response, healthcare professionals have undergone infection, prevention and management capacity building, laboratories have been strengthened, and data collection and analysis have been improved. These efforts will help fight the virus and at the same time build a healthcare system.

Dr. Moeti spoke at today’s virtual press conference, facilitated by the APO Group. She was joined by Professor Ifeda Joadetifa, a clinical epidemiologist at the KEMRI-Welcome Trust Research Program, and Associate Professor at the London School of Economics and Tropical Medicine. Regina Camoga, Secretary-General of the Community Health Information Network and Chair of the Ugandan Patients’ Organization Alliance.

For additional information or to request an interview, please contact:

Collins Boakye-Agyemang
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Sakuya OKA
Communication manager
WHO Africa Regional Office
Cell: +242 06 508 1009
Email: [email protected]