As Africa reports its lowest point of new COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, a recent 4-week buildup, the first sustained accumulation of its kind in 4 months, underscores the importance of maintaining vigilance as the holiday season begins. . in.
The continent recorded a long four-week increase to Nov. 20, but the number of new cases declined slightly in the two weeks after Dec. 2, bucking the upward trend. % of cases recorded during the same time in 2021 and 2020. Si deaths increased by 14% in the week ending November 27 from the week after, they were low by 53: approximately 4% of deaths recorded at the same time in 2021 and 2020. The existing COVID-19 caseload is not putting significant pressure on healthcare facilities, and hospitalizations remain low.
“Despite the recent increase, there is hope that Africa will be spared the demanding situations of the past two years when rising cases and deaths withered overall life and caused profound devastation. While existing trends keep the pandemic under control, we are strongly following its evolution. We will have to remain vigilant, continue to develop immunization policy and be in a position to adopt stricter preventive measures, if necessary,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, Regional Director for Africa at the World Health Organization (WHO). The investments made in the fight against COVID-19 over the past three years are paying off, with a region better able to respond to the virus and its emergency response systems strengthened. “
In 2022, the overall reduction in Africa’s pandemic burden eases pressure on national public fitness resources, allowing countries to increase disrupted fitness facilities and focus more on other fitness priorities, such as regime immunization, disease surveillance, and response to other epidemics.
With renewed surveillance, the region has reported 106 outbreaks and physical emergencies similar to humanitarian crises, up nearly 17% from 2021 and nearly the same as before the pandemic in 2019. Approximately 25 outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases have also been reported in 2022. Thirteen were reported in 2020 and 19 in 2021, according to a WHO count.
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa has helped countries take key public health emergency response measures, adding diagnosis and testing, comprehensive care, and infection prevention and control. The improvements can help the continent manage not only COVID-19, but other outbreaks as well.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the average number of ICU beds was about 3 consistent with 100,000 people, according to WHO’s advice of a minimum of five consisting of 100,000. With WHO and its partners, 70% of countries in the region have reached the ICU Bed Standard.
The production of medical oxygen was also stimulated. The production of medical oxygen was also stimulated. In 2019, the continent had 2600 oxygen concentrators and now has 6901. In addition, WHO has supported nine countries to install oxygen production plants, expanding the region’s production to 7. 9 million liters per day, enough to treat 1130 intensive care patients per day. While care for critical COVID-19 patients has improved, countries still want to build capacity to cope with a surge in cases caused by a fatal and communicable new disease. variant.
A WHO assessment of more than 5100 fitness facilities in 18 countries on 14 signs of infection prevention and control (such as front-of-facility COVID-19 testing, isolation of suspicious instances, and use of private protective equipment) found a significant improvement, with a score of 67% as of November 2022, up from 54% in July 2020. The WHO recommends that establishments score above 75% and with sustained effort, this is imaginable in 2023. Strong infection, savings and control in fitnesscare facilities is imperative to prevent the spread of a variety of infectious pathogens such as Ebola and COVID-19.
Africa has made great strides in genomic sequencing. Around 105,000 sequences were produced in 2022 and 58,610 last year.
With new cases at a low point in recent months, testing and genomic sequencing have plummeted. As part of an initiative to integrate COVID-19 into the regime’s fitness services, WHO recommends that countries adopt screening methods aimed at detecting new cases, especially in vulnerable populations. as elderly or with comorbidities to reduce serious illness; and detect new cases to restrict transmission and monitor viral epidemiology and evolution.
Only 26% of Africans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and while countries like Cameroon continue to conduct mass vaccination campaigns, others have begun to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into the immunization regimen and mainstream physical care services.
“As we move into 2023, it’s time to take COVID-19 out of an emergency reaction mode and integrate it into the regime’s fitness care,” Dr. Moeti said. “We are already seeing countries like Ghana and Nigeria take the lead in this area, and I inspire others to do the same. COVID-19 is here to stay
Dr. Moeti spoke today at a press convention. He was joined through the Excmo. la Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Minister of Health of Uganda; and The Honourable Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health of The Gambia.
Also responding to questions from the WHO Regional Office for Africa were Dr. Miriam Nanyunja, Regional Advisor for Emergency Risk Management; Dr. Dorothy Fosah-Achu, Team Leader, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases; and Dr. Thierno Balde, Regional COVID-19 Incident Manager.
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