Sub-Saharan Africa Tackles COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities

Mezue, Kenechukwu; Edwards, Paul; Nsofor, Ifeanyi; Goha, Ahmed; Anya, Ike; Madu, Kristofer; Baugh, Dainia; Nunura, Felix; Gaulton, Glen N.; Madu, Ernest

doi:10.18865/ed.30.4.693

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Human and medical resource management was a common challenge when responding to COVID-19, with inadequate human and material resources being a common problem [29]. It may be related to the economic capacity of the country on the one hand [30], and the high rate of infection and transmission of the virus on the other hand, with a high consumption of resources [31].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges Faced in Large-Scale Nucleic Acid Testing during the Sudden Outbreak of the B.1.617.2 (Delta)

Zhu

Qian

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The Delta variant (B.1.617.2) has dominated in many countries over the world. Its sudden outbreak in China has led the government to quickly carry out large-scale nucleic acid testing to curb its spread. This qualitative study aims to find the challenges based on empirical evidence from the perspectives of the different groups of people involved in the testing, and further explore possible strategies to improve the efficiency of large-scale nucleic acid testing. Using a phenomenological approach, we selected 35 participants (seven managers, eight health professionals, six community volunteers and 14 residents) by purposive sampling. The interviews were conducted by in-depth semi-structured interviews and the data were analyzed by Colaizzi’s seven-step method. Qualitative analysis revealed three main themes: unreasonable and unsafe testing points layout settings, human and medical resources challenges, and potential infection risk. From the different angles, participants all experienced challenges during large-scale nucleic acid testing, making positive planning and adequate preparation important parts of the smooth development of testing. Large-scale nucleic acid testing relies on the cooperation and efforts of all to support containment of the spread of the virus. Local governments should improve their ability to respond to and deal with public health emergencies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges Faced in Large-Scale Nucleic Acid Testing during the Sudden Outbreak of the B.1.617.2 (Delta)

Zhu

Qian

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…Health system response capacity is a crucial factor in COVID-19, affecting case management, infection prevention and control and overall ability to contain the pandemic. Should case numbers continue to rise, health resource availability will soon be exceeded and the health care workforce, already grossly under supported and ill-equipped, will be exhausted [ 24 ]. The high proportion of countries with moderate or limited capacity to respond to an upsurge of COVID-19 cases in the region underscores the urgent need for countries to be supported in strengthening health systems through the implementation of national health policies, strategies and plans, which play an essential role in improving health system capacity and which WHO has recently updated to include specific COVID-19 guidance for COVID-19 response and recovery in fragile settings [ 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 in the WHO African region: using risk assessment to inform decisions on public health and social measures

et al. 2021

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Successive waves of COVID-19 transmission have led to exponential increases in new infections globally. In this study we have applied a decision-making tool to assess the risk of continuing transmission to inform decisions on tailored public health and social measures (PHSM) using data on cases and deaths reported by Member States to the WHO Regional Office for Africa as of 31 December 2020. Transmission classification and health system capacity were used to assess the risk level of each country to guide implementation and adjustments to PHSM. Two countries out of 46 assessed met the criteria for sporadic transmission, one for clusters of cases, and 43 (93.5%) for community transmission including three with uncontrolled disease incidence (Eswatini, Namibia and South Africa). Health system response's capacities were assessed as adequate in two countries (4.3%), moderate in 13 countries (28.3%), and limited in 31 countries (64.4%). The risk level, calculated as a combination of transmission classification and health system response's capacities, was assessed at level 0 in one country (2.1%), level 1 in two countries (4.3%), level 2 in 11 countries (23.9%), and level 3 in 32 (69.6%) countries. The scale of severity ranged from 0 to 4, with 0 the lowest. Community transmission coupled with limited response capacity resulted in a level 3 risk assessment in most countries. Countries at level 3 should be considered as priority focus for

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“…Countries have experimented with various strategies to manage the spread of CO-VID-19. Several factors compound the task of managing COVID-19 patients in developing countries such as weak infrastructure, the uneven rate of doctors to patients, scarcity of intensive care unit beds and ventilators, limited health care budgets, little personal protective equipment, and the absence of local manufacturing capacity to create vital medical supplies and medications (Mezue et al, 2020;Miller et al, 2020). By extension, COVID-19 has other serious implications on sectors like education.…”

Section: Literature Review: Attitudes Toward Covid 19 Vaccinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contested bodies and delayed decisions: Attitudes to COVID-19 vaccines among Jamaicans

Smith¹

2022

OPE

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El coronavirus de 2019 (covid-19) ha venido acompañado de numerosos factores que han afectado negativamente a los pequeños Estados insulares en desarrollo (PEID). A pesar de varias campañas de vacunación contra el covid-19 y del número de personas que han sufrido o han muerto por haber contraído el virus, muchos jamaicanos han retrasado su vacunación. Este estudio investiga los factores detrás de las actitudes de los jamaicanos hacia las vacunas contra el covid-19. Sus conclusiones se basan en el análisis del contenido de los periódicos jamaicanos (N = 200), incluyendo columnas, editoriales y noticias publicadas en las ediciones en línea de dos de las principales publicaciones del país (The Jamaica Gleaner y Jamaica Observer). El estudio concluye que son varios los factores que determinan la actitud de los jamaicanos hacia las vacunas covid-19, entre ellos se encuentran sus posibles efectos secundarios, la elección personal, la percepción de la pandemia, el insuficiente conocimiento sobre la eficacia de las vacunas, las creencias religiosas y la desconfianza en el gobierno jamaicano y las autoridades sanitarias. El estudio subraya que para los PEID, como Jamaica, que se caracterizan por tener economías frágiles y sistemas de atención sanitaria pública deficientes, la indecisión sobre las vacunas es un obstáculo potencial para superar algunos de los retos relacionados con la pandemia actual. El estudio señala la necesidad crítica de mejorar la aceptación de la vacuna covid-19 entre los jamaicanos. La comprensión de las especificidades relativas a la indecisión en la vacunación permitirá al gobierno jamaicano y a los proveedores de atención sanitaria organizar mejor las campañas de sensibilización pública para abordar las preocupaciones de los no vacunados en Jamaica.

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Sub-Saharan Africa Tackles COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities

Cited by 9 publications

References 3 publications

Challenges Faced in Large-Scale Nucleic Acid Testing during the Sudden Outbreak of the B.1.617.2 (Delta)

Challenges Faced in Large-Scale Nucleic Acid Testing during the Sudden Outbreak of the B.1.617.2 (Delta)

COVID-19 in the WHO African region: using risk assessment to inform decisions on public health and social measures

Contested bodies and delayed decisions: Attitudes to COVID-19 vaccines among Jamaicans

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