( 4 minutes read)
· Africa, the poorest continent, accounts for less than 1% of
the world’s more than 2.4 million confirmed infections
· A good number of countries in the continent-more than half of
the 54 nations- have declared lockdowns and the prospects for others
joining the league cannot be wished away since only two countries, as
of now, have zero cases reported.
Africa, the poorest continent, accounts for less than 1% of the
world’s more than 2.4 million confirmed infections. Even then, the
continent is ill-equipped to handle the backlash of the pandemic,
which has pushed many to the vortex of poverty, unemployment and small
businesses to the extinct. Many feel that if the pandemic continues
for some time, consequence will be disastrous in a region heavily
challenged by healthcare.
A good number of countries in the continent-more than half of the 54
nations- have declared lockdowns and the prospects for others joining
the league cannot be wished away since only two countries, as of now,
have zero cases reported. Since Covid-19 is proving all predictions
wrong, such as it would be mostly limited to wealthier nations, hot
and humid weather may not be conductive for the virus to proliferate
etc, one has to keep the fingers crossed about its future course and
spread.
Shuttering of millions of stores, restaurants, salons, market places
etc have cast gloom for both small businessmen, who lead sundry life
and millions of people who work in those shops and farms.
Characterized by subsistence agriculture and marginal farming, the
agriculture sector is facing both supply and demand constraints. Not
only are they keeping the land fallow, which will disrupt the future
supply side of agricultural products, but also lack of money with them
would grossly affect their demand side . Juxtaposed against the
budgetary constraints, almost all countries in the region are facing,
bail out by the governments would be a far cry. The multilateral,
bilateral and philanthropic supports are being extended, but one is
not very sure when such succors would be coming and when they arrive
how it would be pushed into the distribution network and finally, who
would be the beneficiaries of these schemes.
Large presence of workers in the informal sector-almost 85%- left
many outside the government support. Also, those who qualify for the
support may not know how to get and where to get unless door to door
supply is ensured. . Coupled with illiteracy and totally cut off the
online circuit, these hapless people may be the worst sufferers.
According to McKinsey & Co, the virus will adversely affect a third of
the 300 million informal jobs in Africa, besides being subjected to
wage cuts for those who are already on a regular job.
