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- African Center for strategic studies has identified four African countries as most vulnerable to COVID 19.
- Risk factors include international exposures, health system weaknesses, urban density etc.
African Center for strategic studies, a research institution based in Washington DC, under the United States Department of Defense has identified four African countries as most vulnerable to COVID 19. These included South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Sudan. The second set of countries are Cameroon, Ethiopia, Chad, Somalia, Uganda, Egypt and the Central African Republic.
The vulnerability of the continent’s nations was evaluated on the basis of risk factors including international exposures, health system weaknesses, urban density, size of urban populations, population age, transparency of governance, press freedom, levels of conflict and numbers of displaced peoples
It may be noted that most of the countries identified by the survey as vulnerable, particularly the top four, are conflicts prone countries. The survey highlights the intrinsic link between conflicts and social inequalities as a breeding ground for the diseases.it also supports the conclusions of African peacebuilding researchers that one of nine risk factors – conflict magnitude – enhances the other risks. Public health systems get disrupted by armed conflicts that restricts access to basic goods like food, water, and medical supplies. With fewer resource buffers than other populations, conflict-affected populations’ exposure to an infectious disease become more severe.
Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the most vulnerable countries has been successful in tackling Ebola. DRC’s fight against the Ebola outbreak this year, despite militia activity, has been hailed by both political and medical analysts. The survey points out that the limited exposure of the three most countries-DRC, South Sudan and Sudan to international travellers gives them the advantage to contain the diseases. Only Nigeria which has high rates of international travel has incidence of COVID 19 brought by international travellers or Nigerians returning from abroad.
The survey underlines the importance of better and transparent public communications regarding COVID-19, public health guidance, and candid information about what the government is doing and what individuals should do if they exhibit symptoms and as key to control the spread. Many fear that with its high levels of poverty, weak health systems, and crowded urban areas, the virus could be devastating for Africa, while some others hope that with its warmer climate, youthful population, and experience fighting infectious disease, Africa will be able to cope with the pandemic
