Covid-19: WHO praises South Africa’s ‘community-based approach’ to fighting the disease
The deployment of 39 mobile laboratory units and the training of 30,000 community healthcare workers for contact trace testing was also lauded.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) at a press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland today, (April 27) praised South Africa’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Michael J Ryan said that South Africa has used its initial lockdown very well, and lauded the four-point plan for preparedness against the pandemic.
The deployment of 39 mobile laboratory units and the training of 30,000 community healthcare workers for contact trace testing was also praised.
Dr Ryan said that South Africa has a very prudent, caring approach to the vulnerable population. “There is close tracking of the HIV positive population and authorities are actively looking to see if there is any differential impact on that population.” He also said it is a large, diverse country and the disease has not reached the whole population.
South Africa is also the first country in Africa to develop its own laboratory for capacity testing. “It has given this gift to others, making it a net contributor to capacity building in Africa,” said Dr Ryan.
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Also discussed was the upcoming influenza season, not only in South Africa but in other countries in the southern hemisphere. “Their capacity to manage influenza and Covid-19 will not only benefit their own countries but also those in the northern hemisphere in 6 months’ time.”
According to Dr Ryan, in spite of South Africa facing its own economic and other difficulties, it is clearly demonstrating a strong public health-led response to the pandemic. However, he reiterated that “nobody is out of the woods yet”.
WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended South Africa’s community-based approach in the fight against Covid-19, the deployment of community health workers, as well as a risk adjusted strategy on the virus with the receipt of over 69,000 emails from the community with their inputs and concerns on the disease.
“To defeat Covid 19 – the solution is making it everybody’s business,” said Dr Ghebreyesus. He said the consultation with the community that South Africa is doing is important, “listening to your people.” “They know the problems, let’s listen to our citizens, let’s make this fight truly community-based.”
However, he also called on political leaders to join hands and work together to defeat this virus. “Break the barrier across party lines. This is about saving the lives of people – unite as one,” he said.
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