African countries must urgently boost critical care capacity to prevent health facilities from being overwhelmed, especially with the risk of a surge in Covid-19 cases increasing.
This comes as vaccine shipments to the continent grind to a near halt and weak observance of preventive measures, increased population movement and interaction as well as the arrival of winter in southern Africa having heightened the risk of Covid-19 resurgence in many countries.
In the last two weeks, Africa recorded a 20 percent increase in cases compared with the previous fortnight and the pandemic is trending upwards in 14 countries and in the past week alone, eight countries witnessed an abrupt rise of over 30 percent in cases.
In an online media briefing,Thursday, with experts on the status of Covid-19 pandemic, including the treatment capacity in Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said some countries such as South Africa, Uganda, Angola and Namibia are experiencing a resurgence in cases
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“Uganda saw a 131 percent week-on-week rise last week, with infection clusters in schools, rising cases among health workers and isolation centres and intensive care units filling up,” observed Dr. Moeti, adding, the threat of a third wave in Africa is real and rising. Our priority is clear and it is crucial that we swiftly get vaccines into the arms of Africans at high risk of falling seriously ill and dying of Covid-19,” said Dr Moeti,
While many countries outside Africa have now vaccinated their high-priority groups and are able to even consider vaccinating their children, she added that African countries are unable to even follow up with second doses for high-risk groups.
“I’m urging countries that have reached a significant vaccination coverage to release doses and keep the most vulnerable Africans out of critical care,” she said.
The increase in cases comes as COVID-19 vaccine shipments continue to slow down and even as nearly 20 African countries have used up more than two-thirds of their doses.
The COVAX Facility, however, is in talks with several manufacturers, as well as with countries which have vaccinated their high-risk groups to share doses.
Altogether, 48.6 million doses have been received and 31.4 million doses have been administered in 50 countries in Africa, where around 2% percent of the population have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while globally 24 percent have been vaccinated.
As the continent struggles with vaccine shortages, experts say that the care of critically ill Covid-19 patients is also lagging behind other parts of the world. While Africa has 2.9 percent of cases globally, it accounts for 3.7 percent of deaths.
A WHO survey carried out in May found that in many African countries, crucial equipment and the health workforce required to handle severely ill Covid-19 patients fall far short of needs.
Of the 23 countries responding to the survey, most have fewer than one intensive care unit bed per 100 000 population and will require an increase of between 2,500 percent and 3,000 percent to meet needs during a surge.
“Many African hospitals and clinics are still far from ready to cope with a huge rise in critically-ill patients. We must better equip our hospitals and medical staff to avert the worst effects of a runaway surge,” said Dr Moeti, adding, “Treatment is the last line of defense against this virus and we cannot let it be breached.”
To further reinforce Covid-19 critical care services, WHO recommends that every district hospital should have a high-dependency unit, while those at the regional or provincial level have an intensive care unit and higher-level health facilities set up 2 to 3 intensive care units that must be adequately equipped.
Dr Moeti was joined by Professor Daye Ka, Infectious and Tropical Disease Expert, Dr Richard Mihigo, Coordinator, Immunization and Vaccines Development Programme, WHO Regional Office for Africa, and Dr Thierno Balde, Team Leader, Operational Partnerships, WHO Regional Office for Africa
