Over 300,000 Africans Could Die of COVID-19 (ECA Report)
More than 300,000 Africans could lose their life to Covid-19 if the continent does not receive the adequate protection, warns the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
In a report released this Friday, the ECA says Africa’s fragile health systems could see additional costs being imposed on them because of the coronavirus pandemic, which so far infected over 18,740 Africans and claimed nearly 1,000 lives.
“To protect and build towards the Continent’s shared prosperity, $100 billion is needed to urgently and immediately provide fiscal space to all countries to help address the immediate safety net needs of the populations,” says Vera Songwe, ECA Executive Secretary.
The Coronavirus pandemic will hit hard the Continent’s struggling economies whose growth is expected to slow down from 3.2 pc to 1.8 pc in a best-case scenario, pushing close to 27 million people into extreme poverty, adds Ms. Songwe.
“The economic costs of the Pandemic have been harsher than the direct impact of the COVID-19. Across the continent, all economies are suffering from the sudden shock to the economies,” stresses the ECA Chief.
In a bid to unify African covid-19 response, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has proposed lately the launch of an initiative by African Heads of State aimed at supporting African countries in their fight against coronavirus pandemic.
The Moroccan Sovereign made the proposal during phone talks he held lately with presidents of Côte d’Ivoire Alassane Dramane Ouattara, and of Senegal Macky Sall.
The royal initiative, which seeks to bring Africans together against this global health crisis, will enhance the exchange of experiences and good practices to cope with the health, economic and social impact of the pandemic.
