WHO, key health organizations, collaborate to fight COVID-19

World Health Organization, Kenyan Health Ministry, African Union and United Nations have come together in a meeting held in Nairobi, this week to find lasting solutions to the spread of coronavirus in Africa.

With increasingly new cases confirmed in Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa, these health organizations have deemed it necessary to shift from a ‘readiness mode’ in preparation for COVID – 19 to a ‘response mode’ in the whole of Africa.

This week’s meeting was aimed at ensuring that efforts are coordinated, not duplicated and that scarce resources are used in the most effective ways possible.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director in Africa said that, “We are calling on all countries to invest urgently in preparedness for the arrival of the cases , and to prioritize the protection of health workers, individuals at risk and to communicate better the risks of transmission to their people.”

“These cases should be a wakeup call for governments across Africa. Governments must do all they can to prepare for an eventual outbreak: time is critical,” he added.

At the meeting, a regional partner coordination mechanism was established and a draft joint work plan was published that outlined priority actions for attendees over the coming month.

A similar meeting was held in Dakar with Francophone partners.

WHO is supporting countries in their efforts to increase heir readiness in this critical window, mainly in ensuring that vital early detection and control measures are in place and are as robust as possible.