The Director, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, has said the collapse of global cooperation and failure of international solidarity have shoved Africa out of the global coronavirus diagnostics market.
Speaking on Monday via the agency’s official Twitter handle @AfricaCDC, Nkengasong also warned that though Africa is boosting its capacity to respond to the pandemic, the lack of solidarity would cost lives.According to him, with 1.3 billion people, the continent has so far tested less than 500,000 people, “which is less than 500 per million tested.”He noted that many African countries had gained competence to test for the virus, but, however, lack appropriate reagents to do so.
“The situation has now become worse — a race is on by the powerful to acquire whatever COVID-19 tests are available. “With its lack of hospitals and high prevalence of conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and malnutrition, Africa could see COVID-19 mortality rates higher than elsewhere, even in children.“No country can securely eliminate COVID-19 — or its devastating economic domino effects — if the disease becomes rampant across a continent of 1.3 billion people.He noted that the first case of COVID-19 in Africa was reported in Egypt on 14 February, 2020.
This man in the news story should get out
Before nko.....when it's leaders are constantly cap in hands....begging the world for everything ..even tins tht can easily be done here....am pretty sure innoson can help in making some of these material...oh sorry his ibo....naija always a joke
Africa is too dependent. No manufacturing hub in Africa. Shame!!!
You people should look inwards, you've got the resources to do so
Laughable, yet saddening.
Na so now
It's only reflective of Africa's power and position in international affairs. Weakling.
Now Africa is fucked
This is loud