The World Health Organisation (WHO) has finally declared Nigeria free of Ebola.

A brief look at the news suggests that African countries aren’t stepping up their support to help the affected countries. However this ignores three important lessons from Africa’s response to the outbreak.

The first is the capacity of the state to act in a timely and aggressive manner. Recently, WHO Nigerian representative Rui Gama Vaz said: “The virus is gone for now. The outbreak in Nigeria has been defeated.

“This is a spectacular success story that shows to the world Ebola can be contained, but we must be clear that we have only won a battle. The war will only end when West Africa is declared free of Ebola.”

“A brief look at the news suggests that African countries aren’t stepping up their support to help the affected countries. However this ignores three important lessons from Africa’s response to the outbreak.”

Behind this success story lies competent public leaders and institutions that pursued their mission with vigour. After the diagnosis was made, Nigeria implemented a co-ordinated approach that involved making 18,000 visits to about 898 people to check their temperatures. This was possible because Nigeria had the state capacity to undertake such a massive effort in a timely manner.

The 898 people were linked to one initial infected patient. These included 351 primary and secondary contacts as well as 547 tertiary contacts. One nurse who had cared for the patient had travelled over 500km to Enugu where she potentially infected at least 21 people.

This aggressive tracing, that included having access to phone records, was possible because Nigeria had the state capacity to undertake such a massive effort in a timely manner.

One of the most decisive aspects of the campaign was the role of the Lagos state government under the competent leadership of Governor Babatunde Fashola. The state was able to draw relevant lessons from previous campaigns against polio. Equally important was the biomedical capacity in the teaching hospital of University of Lagos, which completed tests in 24 hours.

First, a key lesson from Nigeria is the importance of the capacity of the state in protecting its citizens through a diversity of options. Those who believe the private sector can only function by shrinking the capacity of the public sector may be giving up their ability to protect citizens against public emergencies.

The second lesson is the importance of human capacity. Pledging funds is only a small part of the solution. What is critical are medical boots on the ground. The most resounding rebuke of this old-school pledging competition came from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). In rejecting an offer of cash, MSF said: “Even a dozen trained staff who could oversee local teams to manage an isolation centre, help case finding and outbreak control measures would save thousands of lives today.”

Nigeria is sending trained healthcare workers to affected countries, yet its efforts hardly receive attention in the international media. Uganda has sent doctors to the region, some of whom have contracted and died from the disease during the effort. East Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are sending 600 and 1,000 healthcare workers to the affected countries respectively.

The third lesson is reforming the governance system in light of lessons learned from the outbreak. Dr Stella Ameyo Adadevoh, who helped to stop the spread of Ebola in Nigeria and lost her life in the process, symbolises Nigeria’s heroic battle. Her legacy now includes a decision by Governor Fashola to appoint Dr Adekemi Oluwayemisi Sekoni of Lagos University’s teaching hospital as chief scientific adviser (CSA). Her primary role will be to continue the fight against Ebola.

By appointing a medical practitioner to serve as his CSA, governor Fashola has demonstrated the power of leading by learning.The recognition of the key role advisers play demonstrates how cities in Africa can leverage scientific and technical knowledge to inform their decision-making

Ebola is rolling back years of economic effort in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. It is also exposing the limitations of development models that ignore the importance of building state capacity. A major lesson from the outbreak is that there is no substitute for effective public institutions in protecting the public interest.

Africa

Uganda Introduces Stringent Anti-COVID-19 Measures

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3 years ago

June 20, 2021

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Uganda’s president Yowreri Museveni has introduced sweeping new anti-coronavirus measures including a ban on all vehicular movement except for essential workers to help curb a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic gripping the nation.

The country, like most other African peers had been left relatively unscathed by the first wave. It suddenly started experiencing a steep surge in COVID-19 infections last month after authorities confirmed they had detected presence of the Indian coronavirus variant.

“The country has seen a more aggressive and sustained growth of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Museveni said in a televised address

He said the daily number of people testing positive has jumped to over 1,700 from less than 100 just three weeks ago.

“We are experiencing very high hospitalization rates and deaths for COVID-19 patients among all age categories.”

In new measures to curb the pandemic, he banned movement of both public and private vehicles except those transporting patients and those used by essential workers like health workers.

An existing curfew that began at 9 p.m. was brought forward to 7 p.m. while venues like busy shopping centers, churches and sports arenas were closed.

The new restrictions, Museveni said, will last 42 days. To date, Uganda has registered a total of 68,778 COVID-19 cases and 542 deaths.

In the last two weeks local media has extensively reported most health facilities, both public and private, getting full and turning away patients while others have had oxygen supplies taxed.

The new restrictions could undermine a fragile economic recovery from the blow inflicted by last year’s lockdown.

Those restrictions contributed to a 1.1% economic contraction in 2020, but the finance ministry had projected before Friday’s new measures that growth would climb to 4.3% in the fiscal year starting July.

Africa

South Africa Honours Zambia’s Kaunda with 10 Mourning Days

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3 years ago

June 18, 2021

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South Africa has declared 10 days of national mourning for Zambia’s founding president Kenneth Kaunda who died at the age of 97 following a bout of pneumonia, the presidency said Friday.

Zambia under Kaunda was one of the countries most opposed to the apartheid government and for decades hosted the exiled African National Congress (ANC) on its soil.

Kaunda was the first foreign leader South African liberation icon Nelson Mandela visited on his release from prison in 1990.

“In remembrance of this great leader the South African government has declared a period of mourning for 10 days with immediate effect,” said a statement from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office.

Zambia itself is observing 21 days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast and all entertainment banned.

Ramaphosa said Kaunda is a “rightfully revered father of African independence and unity” whose “leadership was a source of inspiration and resilience”.

“Under his leadership, Zambia provided refuge, care, and support to liberation fighters who had been forced to flee the countries of their birth,” said Ramaphosa.

“He stood alongside the people of South Africa at the time of our greatest need and was unwavering in his desire for the achievement of our freedom,” said Ramaphosa.

“We will never be able to repay the debt of gratitude” owed to Kaunda, he added.

In neighbouring Botswana, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has ordered seven days of mourning in honour of the “selfless” Kaunda, an “iconic statesman of the highest credentials”.

Kaunda ruled Zambia for 27 years, taking the helm after the country gained independence from Britain in October 1964.

While in power he hosted many of the movements fighting for independence or black equality in other countries around the region.

Africa

Zambia President Edgar Lungu collapses

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3 years ago

June 14, 2021

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Zambia President, Edgar Lungu collapsed in the capital, Lusaka, during the 45th Defense Forces Day Commemoration and Investiture ceremony on Sunday, June 13.

The Private Secretary to the Zambia President, Simon Miti made it known in a statement that the President truly collapsed at the event but recovered immediately after experiencing sudden dizziness.

The statement read, “The President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, this afternoon experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating at the 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration and Investiture Ceremony.

“His Excellency recovered immediately and walked to the official car and returned to his residence at State House.

“The President wishes to assure the general public and all concerned citizens and the international community that he is well and has continued to discharge his duties as Head of State, Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.”