Western media headlines about Africa’s readiness for the coronavirus have been predictably doom-and-gloom. “Africa is woefully ill-equipped,” wrote the Economist. “African countries fear they are defenseless against inevitable spread,” said Time magazine, citing a dearth of doctors, medical supplies and financial resources to combat COVID-19.
Yet, so far at least, Africa is managing to keep the pandemic at bay. The world’s poorest, fastest-growing continent, with 1.3 billion people, has had far fewer COVID-19 fatalities than even Massachusetts. At last count, 52 countries in Africa have seen an estimated 1,281 deaths compared to over 2,350 in the Bay State. Even in densely congested urban hubs, where the spread of the deadly virus is more likely, the number of positive cases has been limited.
“We had two (positive) cases in Goma two weeks ago ago and we’re still at two cases, which is really surprising,” said Dr. William Clemmer, a medical health specialist at IMA World Health, which is coordinating COVID-19 and other infectious disease work in Goma, a city of 2 million in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
How has this sprawling continent avoided being walloped by COVID-19 – underscoring, of course, that it is still early given the unpredictable fast-moving nature of the pandemic?
One clear advantage is that Africa is a young continent facing a virus that mainly kills the old. Africa’s median age is 20 and only 3 percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa is over 65 years of age. Hard-hit countries in Europe, by comparison, are significantly older, making them more vulnerable to serious illness; nearly a quarter of Italy’s population is over 65.
Africa has also had extra time to watch and learn from other countries. Sub-Saharan Africa confirmed its first positive case on Feb. 27, fully a month after Europe and the United States began seeing positive cases and more than two months after COVID-19 clusters were first reported in China.
As a result, governments responses were extraordinarily quick compared to most Western countries. Within days of the first COVID-19 death on March 9 in Egypt, Nigeria and dozens of other countries had imposed travel restrictions, school closings and bans on public gatherings. In the case of Uganda, schools were closed before it had any confirmed infections. South Africa’s lockdown was announced 10 days before Florida’s, though Florida had 12 times as many known cases and exponentially more fatalities.
Doctors in countries such as Ethiopia say the quick action has been critical in stifling the spread of the virus. “The preparation by the Ministry of Health and health facilities has been strong,” said Dr. Anteneh Tadesse, a general surgeon at a rural hospital 300 kilometers southwest of the nation’s capital, Addis Ababa, which has not seen any positive cases so far. He cited the country’s successful hand-washing awareness campaign in particular. “If it had happened like we’re seeing in the USA and Europe, we would now be in a devastating situation.”
Africa’s long history with infectious diseases has also given it a leg up in urallying support against the latest deadly virus. Case in point is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been battling the Ebola virus dating back to the 1970s and is currently fighting a 10th outbreak that has killed more than 2,200. Key actions in fighting Ebola, such as public education campaigns, door-to-door medical outreach and engaged citizens, are now underpinning the country’s response to COVID-19.
“This is almost a déjà vu. People know what’s expected of them,” said Dr. Clemmer, whose organization is supporting 77 local health facilities and 1,500 community health workers on Ebola and COVID-19 prevention efforts.
To be sure, with roughly 1,000 new positive cases being added every day, Africa is far from out of the woods.
The World Health Organization’s top regional official in Africa says that while she is pleased by the political leadership she has seen across the continent, tougher days may lie ahead. While COVID-19 hot spot South Africa is seeing fewer cases, more cases are flaring up in West African countries as well as Tanzania, according to Dr. Matshidiso Mateo, speaking on Thursday.
Testing shortages are endemic nearly everywhere. Ethiopia, a country of 115 million, has only done about 10,000 tests since the first COVID-19 case was reported a month ago, according to Israel Mitiku, who leads Ethiopia’s health program for WEEMA International, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit group.
Widespread equipment shortages in the event of COVID-19 spikes are another huge concern. “We don’t have the oxygen we need, and we certainly don’t have ventilators. There’s only a handful here in Goma,” said Dr. Clemmer, moments after finishing up a third grant proposal to secure more equipment.
“Health facilities in Ethiopia are challenged by medical supply and equipment shortages under normal circumstances, let alone a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mitiku added, citing the dearth of ventilators and personal protection equipment (PPEs). “Our hospitals are not ready if a worst-case scenario happens in the country.”
Efforts large and small are underway to close these gaps. This month, WEEMA delivered $20,000 worth of sanitation and medical supplies to local communities in Ethiopia. Chinese billionaire Jack Ma is donating millions of face masks and testing kits across the continent. All governments are scrambling to get more ventilators.
Yet, while everyone is planning for the worst, Mitiku and others are hopeful that African leadership, the young population and experience with other deadly diseases may spare the continent some of the pain Americans are now feeling.
Peyton Fleming is a freelance journalist in Ashfield who has written extensively about Africa. He can be reached at peytonfleming22@gmail.com