Africa

Opinion: Fast and Furious: The Time to Act is Now

Published

5 years ago

April 2, 2020

Eric

By Dr. Lola Dare

Africa, where coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have surged to nearly 6,000 in recent days, faces a potential human and economic catastrophe because of its particular vulnerabilities. While some countries, lenders, and organizations have stepped up to ease the economic burden of the pandemic, as a community physician with more than 30 years of experience in epidemiology, public health, social protection, and international development, I am concerned that the pandemic will settle in Africa, especially amongst the poor and hard to reach. The impact could go well beyond containment of the virus to a total disruption of our economies with severe consequences on social protection, particularly for women and children. Context-specific interventions are urgent, with an initial focus on containment and then on recovery and sustainable investments in public health and social protection.

In sub-Saharan Africa, community health is already underfunded by an estimated $2 billion every year, according to USAID. Ultimately, the real battles in every pandemic are fought at the community level, and this is especially true in Africa, where people live so close together in urban areas and where the first point of contact for health care is often the community health worker.

Of immediate critical need is equal access to personal protective equipment (PPE). Lack of PPE was partly to blame for the deaths of more than 500 health care workers in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone during the West Africa Ebola epidemic. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), called the lack of PPE an urgent threat that can only be solved with international cooperation and solidarity. “When health workers are at risk, we are all at risk,” he said in a press briefing on March 27. “Health workers in low- and middle-income countries deserve the same protection as those in the wealthiest countries.”

The WHO in early March warned of severe and mounting disruption to the global supply of PPE, caused by rising demand, panic buying, hoarding, and misuse. It said supplies can take months to deliver and market manipulation is widespread, with stocks frequently sold to the highest bidder. Few African countries can compete in such a market.

It is also difficult for African countries to compete against more developed nations when it comes to health worker salaries. Now is when African countries need their health professionals the most, especially when we have already lost so many to more lucrative and stable jobs abroad and when we are likely to lose more to COVID-19 infection.

The U.S. State Department on March 26 appealed to foreign health care workers to apply for a U.S. visa. The United States has 25 doctors for every 10,000 people, compared to 4 in Nigeria, 2 in Kenya, and 1 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the WHO.

While we do not yet know exactly how the COVID-19 pandemic will play out in Africa, we have some indications. Relatively, the continent’s population is young, but many have weak immune systems associated with TB, HIV/AIDS, malaria, diarrheal diseases, and malnutrition, as well as the evolving menace of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. Compounding these vulnerabilities are fragile primary health care systems that could easily become overwhelmed. More people died of malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, and maternal complications during the West Africa Ebola epidemic than those who succumbed to the disease itself because people either could not get care or feared seeking it.

While widespread testing, social distancing, and hand washing help stem the spread of the COVID-19, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Many Africans lack access to running water to practice frequent hand washing, and they cannot practice social distancing for long periods. Some people eat only what they earn a day, so if they don’t work for 12 days then they don’t eat for 12 days.

Bloomberg Economics estimates that the pandemic will cost the world $2.7 trillion. But this figure does not take into account African losses because of unavailable data. Without international solidarity to address our public health and social protection needs, the continent faces a dire future—one that threatens to keep COVID-19 and other emerging viruses circulating throughout the world. The international community must ensure equal access to PPE, support health workers, and mitigate the impact on the poor and the vulnerable by providing provide a long-term COVID-19 rescue and recovery fund for public health and social protection. The time for this is now. As we have all seen, every day, every hour counts.

Dr. Lola Dare is a community physician and president of the African-led social enterprise CHESTRAD Global. CHESTRAD Global is member of the Primary Health Care Strategy Group, a global coalition of civil society health advocates convened by Population Action International.

Africa

Akinwumi Adesina Bags Kenya’s Highest National Honour

Published

3 weeks ago

March 17, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

“I am very proud to be the President that confers on you this well-deserved honor of the people of Kenya”

One of Nigeria’s finest exports, who is the President of the prestigious African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has once again, raised the bars in honours and awards acquisition.

The seasoned diplomat, who once served as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, was on Monday, March 17, 2025, conferred with the highest-rated honour in Kenya, the Chief of the Golden Heart (C.G.H) at the State House, Nairobi.

President William Ruto of Kenya, who joyfully did the honours, noted that the award was for his role in the East African country’s Last Mile Connectivity and Lake Turkana Wind Projects among other landmark achievements across Africa.

For starters, the C.G.H. is the highest award in Kenya and is mostly given to sitting heads of state or exceptional global leaders. This signifies that Adesina, for his global glories, developmental strides, efforts at uniting Africans through via economic options, equate in status with a sitting president of Kenya. The award was some days earlier also given to His Highness Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V.

Speaking elatedly after giving the award to Adesina, with all the accompanying paraphernalia, President Ruto hailed the AfDB President, saying he deserves the honour for his commitment and distinguished service to the people of Kenya.

He noted: “I am very proud to be the President that confers on you this well-deserved honor of the people of Kenya. It is an honor that I have the privilege as President but on behalf of the government and the people of Kenya to award you for the distinguished service, the commitment you have demonstrated, and the passion you have worked with to see to it that in every way even before you became the President of the African Development Bank.”

Responding, Adesina, who was flanked by his beloved wife, many other aides, colleagues and associates including the Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu, thanked President Ruto for honoring him with the prestigious award saying it is a rare privilege to be conferred with the award.

“Your Excellency President Ruto I am most grateful to you for conferring me today with the prestigious honor of the Chief of Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H), Kenya’s highest and most distinguished honor.

“I am very humbled for your incredible kindness what a great honor, what a rare privilege, what a historic recognition. The country that I love so much, Kenya, loves me back, appreciates and celebrates my leadership at the African Develpment Bank. Thank you, Mr. President,” said the AfDB President.

He added, “On behalf of my dear wife and your sister, Grace, the Board of Directors at the African Development Bank, our boards of governance, the management and staff of the African Development Bank and on my own behalf, I accept this honour with great humilty.”

A statement shared on their verified X handle after the award, the Kenyan State House noted in part that, “President William Ruto has thanked the African Development Bank (AfDB) for working with Kenya to drive critical areas of the country’s growth in the past 60 years.

“The President made the remarks when he conferred AfDB President and Chairman of the Board Akinwumi Adesina with the Chief of the Order of Golden Heart (CGH) award in Monday at State House, Nairobi.”

“It is an honour that I have the privilege as President, and on behalf of the people of Kenya, to award you for the distinguished service, commitment, and passion you have demonstrated for our country,” Ruto was qouted as saying.

Akinwumi was elected President of Africa Development Bank in 2015, and has remained in office till date.

The AfDB President’s speech is produced in full next page…

Africa

Mahama Nominates Youth Leader, John Opare Addo in New Ministerial List

Published

3 months ago

January 18, 2025

Eric

President John Mahama has released another batch of ministerial nominees. National Democratic Congress Youth Organiser George Opare Addo has been selected to head the newly created Ministry for Youth Development and Empowerment.

A statement from the presidency shows that more familiar names feature in the list, with Haruna Iddrisu nominated as the Education Minister-designate in his latest batch of nominations and Eric Opoku nominated as the Minister for Food and Agriculture.

These nominees join the three non-regional ministerial picks already nominated and vetted. Ten regional minister picks were also previously nominated but have not been vetted.

Two of the nominees, Joseph Nelson for the Western Region Minister and Amelia Arthur, are from the Western Region, which has prompted some praise from the NDC in the region.

George Opare-Addo is a lawyer, local government official, business executive, and accomplished party organiser. His political activism and organisational skills earned him the position of National Youth Organizer of the NDC, a role he has held since 2018. He is also a former Municipal Chief Executive for the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly.

Africa

Mozambique Prison Break: 33 Persons Killed, 1500 Inmates Escape

Published

3 months ago

December 26, 2024

Eric

A suspected riot inside a jail in Mozambique’s capital has left at least 33 people dead and 15 injured, while more than 1,500 prisoners escaped, authorities said.

Police General Commander, Bernardino Rafael, confirmed on Wednesday that 150 of the prisoners who fled the prison in Maputo have been recaptured.

Mozambique is experiencing escalating civil unrest linked to October’s disputed election, which extended long-ruling party Frelimo’s stay in power. Opposition groups and their supporters claim the vote was rigged.

While Rafael blamed protests outside the prison for encouraging the riot, Justice Minister Helena Kida told local private broadcaster Miramar TV that the unrest was started inside the prison and had nothing to do with protests outside.

“The confrontations after that resulted in 33 deaths and 15 injured in the vicinity of the jail,” Rafael told a media briefing.

The identities of those killed and injured were unclear.

A report by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said the prisoners overpowered guards and seized AK-47 rifles, allowing them to escape the correctional facility.

Mozambican journalist, Clemente Carlos, told SABC that the escapees likely took advantage of the Christmas holiday season, when fewer guards were on duty compared with regular working days.

“This shocking incident raises urgent questions about the state of security and the justice system in Mozambique,” Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Mozambique, wrote on X on Wednesday.

“Now, more than ever, it is critical for authorities, civil society, and international partners to collaborate to ensure public safety and address the systemic challenges that led to this situation.”

Meanwhile, at least 21 people, including two police officers, were confirmed dead during two days of violence over election results on Monday and Tuesday, including attacks on petrol stations, police stations, and banks.

The fatalities brought the death toll in the country to 151 since October 21, according to Plataforma Decide, an election monitoring group.

Al Jazeera