“We are only as strong as the weakest health system in our interconnected world.”
– UN Secretary-General António Guterres
COVID-19 and Africa
- Africa carries 23 percent of the global disease burden but only accounts for 1 percent of global health expenditure.
- Even with hundreds of thousands of deaths each year from Malaria, HIV/Aids and TB, the continent has never experienced a crisis on the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The numbers are on the rise. Although COVID-19 was slow to reach Africa, more than 5,000 cases have been confirmed and 500 deaths have been recorded since the first full week in April.
- “The risk of major interruptions to food supplies over the coming months is growing, especially for low-income net-food-importing countries, many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.”
- Africa needs an emergency $100 billion economic stimulus. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa estimates that $100 billion will bolster preventative measures and support its fragile healthcare systems. Half of the funds could come from waiving interest payments to multilateral institutions.
South Sudan only has four ventilators and 24 ICU beds for a population of 12 million people.
Help Stop COVID-19
Tweet:
[bctt tweet=”I stand in solidarity with everyone around the world affected by #COVID19 and I’m joining @borgenproject in telling Congress that a global pandemic demands a global response. Let’s unite and email our leaders today.” url=”https://borgenproject.org/issues-homepage/#/49″ via=”no”]
[bctt tweet=”With an abundant amount of action per nation, generous donations and hard-work from medical professionals, it is the hope of many that this pandemic will soon take a more positive turn.” url=”https://borgenproject.org/impact-of-coronavirus/” username=”borgenproject”]
[bctt tweet=”The US needs to lead in protecting the world from #COVID19 and future pandemics. @WhiteHouse please further the goals of the 2014 Global Health Security Agenda and authorize annual funding for global health security programs.” url=”https://borgenproject.org/issues-homepage/#/49″ username=”borgenproject”]
[bctt tweet=”Our work as advocates on behalf of the world’s poor is needed more than ever. Email Congress about the importance of addressing #COVID19 at a global level and the need for proactive, preventative U.S. global health security funding.” url=”https://borgenproject.org/issues-homepage/#/49″ username=”borgenproject”]
Photo: AP News