Evaluating Africa’s COVID-19 Responses – Managing Risks and Setting Priorities
Speaker(s): Charity Amayaenvbo, George Lwanda, Clayton Hazvinei Vhumbunu, Kadidia Konare
Enquiry: T: +852 3917 1297 | E: agimail@hku.hk
Abstract
Watch the replay here.
Key takeaways:
- Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, government policy responses have been slow, testing regimes have been poor, and medical personnel have been lacking.
- The flaws of healthcare regimes and infrastructure throughout the continent have been exposed to varying degrees. Many sub-Saharan countries have few ICU beds and have sent patients home for treatment, increasing the risk of infection.
- The virus is threatening the immense progress that Africa has made in recent years – life expectancy has decreased, education facilities have closed, and gender-based violence is rising.
- Two positive aspects of the crisis: Cooperation among countries through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has been effective, while partnerships between countries and international organizations and NGOs have been helpful.
- Two lessons: First, African governance needs to be improved to increase transparency and encourage pragmatic leadership during crises. Second, investments in technology, infrastructure and education must increase to equip the next generation with better tools to tackle a future pandemic and other new challenges.
About the Speaker(s)
Charity Amayaenvbo
2019 AsiaGlobal Fellow, Asia Global Institute
Charity Amayaenvbo is a 2019 AsiaGlobal Fellow and the executive director of income tax at Edo State Internal Revenue Service, Nigeria.
View ProfileGeorge Lwanda
2018 AsiaGlobal Fellow, Asia Global Institute
George Lwanda is a 2018 AsiaGlobal Fellow. He is senior strategist and head of the United Nations resident coordinator’s office in The Gambia.
View ProfileKadidia Konare
2020/21 AsiaGlobal Fellow, Asia Global Institute
Kadidia Konare is a 2020/21 Tanoto AsiaGlobal Fellow. She is a senior investment officer with the Asia Infrastructure and Natural Resources Industry Group at the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
View ProfileNotes
Date/ Time: Jul 22, Wed 0500 Washington DC; 0900 The Gambia; 1000 Nigeria; 1100 South Africa; 1700 Hong Kong
Apart from certain countries such as South Africa, Africa has relatively low per-capita Covid-19 infection rates compared with other parts of the world. But the economic and health challenges are significant because of the continent’s relatively less developed economies and infrastructure.
As the pandemic continues to ravage the world, what policy responses should African governments take to secure livelihoods and economic recovery while containing the virus? Besides debt relief from the World Bank and other multilateral institutions, what else could be done to provide the fiscal space to help African countries survive and thrive in the post-pandemic world? How do geopolitics, particularly the US-China strategic competition, affect Africa’s fight against the pandemic?
Join AsiaGlobal Fellows Charity Amayaenvbo (Nigeria), George Lwanda (South Africa), Clayton Hazvinei Vhumbunu (Zimbabwe) and Kadidia Konare (Mali) as they offer on-the-ground insights on Africa’s Covid-19 responses.
All are welcome.