The COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent
Abstract In December 2019, a new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was identified in China. This virus spread quickly and in March, 2020, it was declared a pandemic. Scientists predicted the worst sc...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2022-05-01
|
Series: | BMC Medicine |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02367-4 |
_version_ | 1818195683085123584 |
---|---|
author | Godfrey Bwire Alex Riolexus Ario Patricia Eyu Felix Ocom Joseph F. Wamala Kwadwo A. Kusi Latif Ndeketa Kondwani C. Jambo Rhoda K. Wanyenze Ambrose O. Talisuna |
author_facet | Godfrey Bwire Alex Riolexus Ario Patricia Eyu Felix Ocom Joseph F. Wamala Kwadwo A. Kusi Latif Ndeketa Kondwani C. Jambo Rhoda K. Wanyenze Ambrose O. Talisuna |
author_sort | Godfrey Bwire |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract In December 2019, a new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was identified in China. This virus spread quickly and in March, 2020, it was declared a pandemic. Scientists predicted the worst scenario to occur in Africa since it was the least developed of the continents in terms of human development index, lagged behind others in achievement of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), has inadequate resources for provision of social services, and has many fragile states. In addition, there were relatively few research reporting findings on COVID-19 in Africa. On the contrary, the more developed countries reported higher disease incidences and mortality rates. However, for Africa, the earlier predictions and modelling into COVID-19 incidence and mortality did not fit into the reality. Therefore, the main objective of this forum is to bring together infectious diseases and public health experts to give an overview of COVID-19 in Africa and share their thoughts and opinions on why Africa behaved the way it did. Furthermore, the experts highlight what needs to be done to support Africa to consolidate the status quo and overcome the negative effects of COVID-19 so as to accelerate attainment of the SDGs. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:22:05Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-5b49590358d342d8bf0990414071b740 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1741-7015 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-12T01:22:05Z |
publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
publisher | BMC |
record_format | Article |
series | BMC Medicine |
spelling | doaj.art-5b49590358d342d8bf0990414071b7402022-12-22T00:43:12ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152022-05-0120112310.1186/s12916-022-02367-4The COVID-19 pandemic in the African continentGodfrey Bwire0Alex Riolexus Ario1Patricia Eyu2Felix Ocom3Joseph F. Wamala4Kwadwo A. Kusi5Latif Ndeketa6Kondwani C. Jambo7Rhoda K. Wanyenze8Ambrose O. Talisuna9Department of Integrated Epidemiology Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies, Ministry of HealthUganda National Institute of Public HealthUganda National Institute of Public HealthUganda National Institute of Public HealthWorld Health Organization (WHO)Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of GhanaMalawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Programme (MLW)Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Programme (MLW)School of Public Health, Makerere UniversityEpidemic Preparedness and Response Cluster, World Health Organization, Regional Office for AfricaAbstract In December 2019, a new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was identified in China. This virus spread quickly and in March, 2020, it was declared a pandemic. Scientists predicted the worst scenario to occur in Africa since it was the least developed of the continents in terms of human development index, lagged behind others in achievement of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), has inadequate resources for provision of social services, and has many fragile states. In addition, there were relatively few research reporting findings on COVID-19 in Africa. On the contrary, the more developed countries reported higher disease incidences and mortality rates. However, for Africa, the earlier predictions and modelling into COVID-19 incidence and mortality did not fit into the reality. Therefore, the main objective of this forum is to bring together infectious diseases and public health experts to give an overview of COVID-19 in Africa and share their thoughts and opinions on why Africa behaved the way it did. Furthermore, the experts highlight what needs to be done to support Africa to consolidate the status quo and overcome the negative effects of COVID-19 so as to accelerate attainment of the SDGs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02367-4COVIDAfricaPandemicInfectious diseaseHealthEpidemiology |
spellingShingle | Godfrey Bwire Alex Riolexus Ario Patricia Eyu Felix Ocom Joseph F. Wamala Kwadwo A. Kusi Latif Ndeketa Kondwani C. Jambo Rhoda K. Wanyenze Ambrose O. Talisuna The COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent BMC Medicine COVID Africa Pandemic Infectious disease Health Epidemiology |
title | The COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent |
title_full | The COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent |
title_fullStr | The COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent |
title_full_unstemmed | The COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent |
title_short | The COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent |
title_sort | covid 19 pandemic in the african continent |
topic | COVID Africa Pandemic Infectious disease Health Epidemiology |
url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-022-02367-4 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT godfreybwire thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT alexriolexusario thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT patriciaeyu thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT felixocom thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT josephfwamala thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT kwadwoakusi thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT latifndeketa thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT kondwanicjambo thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT rhodakwanyenze thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT ambroseotalisuna thecovid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT godfreybwire covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT alexriolexusario covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT patriciaeyu covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT felixocom covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT josephfwamala covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT kwadwoakusi covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT latifndeketa covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT kondwanicjambo covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT rhodakwanyenze covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent AT ambroseotalisuna covid19pandemicintheafricancontinent |