The Head of Programmes at STAR-Ghana has lauded the African Union for its timely response in the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic among member states.
Teiko Sarbah said the continental body stepped up its efforts like never before in making sure that the pandemic does not have a devastating effect like predicted.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) had raised concerns in June that the pandemic was “accelerating” on the continent, spreading from capital cities.
This called for heightened efforts.
WHO Africa head Dr Matshidiso Moeti asked the continent’s leaders to step up efforts by testing more in order to put curbs on the virus.
The Country Representative of WHO, Dr Neema Kimambo, lauded African leaders for imposing “early” lockdowns in the outbreak of the deadly disease.
So far, out of the over 18 million cases confirmed globally, Africa has recorded 968,020 cases with 20,612 deaths, against the globe’s 698,224.
Speaking on TV3’s Covid-19 360 on Tuesday, August 4, Ms Sarbah said the establishment of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Protection (Africa CDC) was really helpful.
“I think it is something I will commend them for,” she said.
Efforts, she noted, were “a little slow but they have stepped up”.
The Head of Capacity Development Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Organisation, Charles Kojo Vandyck, who joined the show via Zoom, suggested that more coordinated effort be put in place in intensifying education on the disease.
“That has been one of the biggest gaps in West Africa,” he stated.
He, however, singled out Liberia and Sierra Leone for commendation, saying they learnt from the Ebola pandemic and so responded to Covid-19 well.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana