WHO: 10k+ Africa health workers infected with COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that more than 10,000 health workers in 40 countries across Africa have been infected with COVID-19.

In Africa, COVID-19 cases seem to be increasing already. With more than 15,000 deaths, there are now over 750,000 COVID-19 cases in the continent. Some nations are nearing a critical number of infections, which can put pressure on health systems in those countries. It should be noted here that South Africa is now among the world’s worst-hit countries.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, said in a press release, “The growth we are seeing in COVID-19 cases in Africa is placing an ever-greater strain on health services across the continent. This has very real consequences for the individuals who work in them, and there is no more sobering example of this than the rising number of health worker infections.”

In several African nations, COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures are still not fully implemented in health facilities. WHO says that it evaluated hospitals and clinics across Africa for these measures and found that just 16% of the close to 30,000 facilities that were assessed had scores more than 75%. Several health centers were found to be lacking the infrastructure that is required to implement important COVID-19 infection prevention measures, or to prevent overcrowding. WHO also says it found that just 7.8%, or 2213, had isolation capacities and only a third had the capacity to triage patients.

Dr. Moeti said, “One infection among health workers is one too many. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals are our mothers, brothers and sisters. They are helping to save lives endangered by COVID-19. We must make sure that they have the equipment, skills and information they need to keep themselves, their patients and colleagues safe.”

WHO says it has already trained over 50,000 health workers in the continent in COVID-19 infection prevention and control and plans to train more than 200,000 more. The organization also says it will also be providing health workers and facilities with guidance documents and guidelines on best care practices and the most up-to-date treatment regimes.