Few Doctors, Fewer Ventilators: Africa Fears It Is Defenseless Against Inevitable Spread of Coronavirus
Volunteers from Sonko Rescue Team, an NGO privately funded by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, fumigate a street to curb the spread of COVID-19 during a joint operation with Nairobi county during a 7pm-5am curfew at a residential area in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 6, 2020.ororo Makamba wasn’t supposed to die of the novel coronavirus. Not just because of his age, which at 30 placed him well out of the at-risk category for COVID-19 complications, but because of who he was.
A well-known, pro-government media personality in Zimbabwe, and the son of a prominent business mogul, Makamba had the wealth and the connections that should have guaranteed him the best care possible. Instead, on March 23, Zimbabwe’s first confirmed case of the coronavirus died alone in a quarantined hospital, three days after his diagnosis. Hospital staff, lacking protective equipment, were afraid to come near him. They had no drugs and there was no ventilator available.
As Africans watch rich and powerful nations such as the United States fracture under the strain, they are starting to ask themselves the same question. Like the categories of people most at risk from coronavirus, many sub-Saharan countries share the same underlying conditions that make them even more vulnerable to collapse when an outbreak hits.
Heath care systems are already underfunded and poorly equipped. Conflict, climate change and natural disasters have driven some 18 million people across the continent into poorly serviced and crowded camps for refugees and the internally displaced where social distancing, or even hand washing, is impossible. Poverty turns lockdowns into a death sentence. And in countries where trust in government is poor, rumors and misinformation thrive in the place of leadership.
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Deaths over past few days dropping 'for the first time' in New York, governor saysThe number of coronavirus deaths in New York has been dropping 'for the first time,' but the significance of that is 'too early to tell,' Gov. Cuomo says
Lire la suite »
Governor Cuomo suggests number of New York's COVID-19 deaths dropping over past few days'We could be very near the apex, or the apex could be a plateau and we could be on that plateau right now,' he explained
Lire la suite »
White House Says To Avoid Grocery Stores If You Can For The Next Few Weeks“This is the moment to not be going to the grocery store, not going to the pharmacy, but doing everything you can to keep your family and your friends safe.'
Lire la suite »
Extra $600 unemployment benefits will start flowing as early as this week for a lucky fewSome jobless Americans will start seeing heftier unemployment checks as soon as this week, depending on where they live.
Lire la suite »
Your lender might let you miss a few mortgage payments. Three questions you should ask firstLenders are allowing borrowers affected by the coronavirus pandemic to miss some of their mortgage payments. But there's more to this relief than meets the eye. What you should know.
Lire la suite »
Xerox Will Mass Produce Disposable Ventilators In Partnership With Vortran To Fight CoronavirusXerox will mass-produce disposable ventilators in partnership with Vortran Medical Technology in the fight against coronavirus.
Lire la suite »