By Antonnate Mugodi.
Harare, Zimbabwe (News of The South) –
It has come to the notice of the African Continent that 54 countries are reporting cases of the coronavirus.
The pandemic will have drastic consequences in Africa especially in the many countries that still have poor public health infrastructure and weak social welfare systems.
The continent will recover well from the coronavirus crisis if it’s leaders act boldly now and the international community provides help where it is urgently needed.
Some countries have banned travel to and from other countries that have been infested by this pandemic.
South Africa has taken measures and decided to fence its border with Zimbabwe to avoid the crossing of potential infected immigrants.
As much as it is a crisis of public health the pandemic threatens to batter Africa’s economies especially the countries and sectors dependent on trade.
The Economic Community of West African States has proven to be helpful only to the western countries as it provides them with support in the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
15 ECOWAS countries have set up their National Public Health Institute that have been evaluated with regular support from West African Health Organisation to strengthen capacities and a weekly communication process was established.
In February 2020 several activities relating to Covid-19 were implemented which included training of laboratory practitioners on diagnostic processes and an Emergency Meeting of ECOWAS Health Ministers to agree on regional approach with strategic decisions on what Member States should do and what should be done regionally.
The Namibian President Hage Geingob, his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa have already announced severe measures to protect their citizenry in the SADC region.
The presidents froze travelling plans by government officials until the situation has improved.
As the coronavirus continues to surge across the world anxiety over the virus and signs of recession are creating a nightmare for the Southern Africa region.
SADC countries have instituted drastic measures including cancelling flights to and from key tourist destinations which are badly affected by the Covid-19 virus as well as banning public gatherings in a bid to contain the pandemic.
Southern African nations are expected to count losses across the wider sectors of the economy with tourism being the biggest hit.
Already the presidents of Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have announced measures to curb and contain the spread of the virus.
Now the onus is on all the African countries to stand tall and help each other during this time of need.
If cases continue to increase and African countries continue to ignore their neighbours and not help there is a very slight chance that many will survive the pandemic.
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