Information from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that Africa recorded 43% week to week rise in COVID-19 deaths, with hospital admission on the increase as countries face shortages in oxygen and intensive care beds.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti who noted that death rates have risen for the past five weeks, a clear warning sign that hospitals in the most impacted countries are reaching a breaking point.
She further said that COVID-19 cases have risen for eight straight weeks, topping 6 million on 13 July 2021 and over the past month.
” Africa recorded an additional 1 million cases which is the shortest time it’s taken so far to add 1 million cases”.
Moeti added that the rise in cases comes amid inadequate vaccine supplies as the continent has vaccinated 52 million people since the start of the vaccine rollout in March this year, accounting for just 1.6% of the 3.5 billion people vaccinated worldwide. Only 18 million people in Africa are fully vaccinated, representing 1.5% of the continent’s population compared with over 50% in some high-income countries.
According to her, the surge is driven by public fatigue with key health measures and an increased spread of variants as the Delta variant, which is currently the most transmissible of all variants, has been detected in 21 African countries, while the Alpha variant is in 35 countries and Beta in 30.
The conference reveals that a rapid WHO assessment of six countries facing a resurgence found that just 27% of the medical oxygen needed is produced.
The number one priority for African countries is boosting oxygen production to give critically ill patients a fighting chance. Also effective treatment is the last line of defence against COVID-19 and it must not crumble.
The WHO says it is working with countries to improve COVID-19 treatment and critical care capacities by providing guidance on clinical management and support to update protocols and train health workers.
