Remarks by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti
Good morning, good afternoon, bonjour and welcome to all the journalists joining this press conference.
Today we will discuss the recent decrease in COVID-19 cases in the African Region, following a brief spike driven by a new wave in South Africa, as well as projections for the second half of 2022.
We will also discuss WHO’s support for African countries to strengthen monkeypox surveillance and response, following reports of cases in seven countries on the continent since the beginning of the year.
I am pleased to be joined for this important conversation by infectious diseases epidemiologist Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, the Director General at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Welcome Dr Adetifa, and Dr Alioune Badara Ly, Director of Health Emergency Operations Centre in Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Social Action. Bienvenue.
A very warm welcome again to both of you.
There have now been 11.9 million COVID-19 cases, and 253 945 lives reportedly lost in Africa due to the pandemic.
Looking ahead to the second half of 2022, I am pleased to share the new WHO modelling that suggests we are turning the tide on last year’s catastrophically high COVID-19 death toll in the African Region. As I have said previously, the reported deaths are also only about one-third of what we estimate as the true burden.
In 2021, the pandemic took reportedly as many as 970 lives every day. The new analysis anticipates a decline of almost 94% in that number for the Region by the end of 2022 - to about 60 deaths daily.
While the advances in reducing death rates is a huge achievement and testament to the unwavering efforts of countries and partners, that number is still unacceptably high.
To maintain this lower number, it will be crucial for African countries to focus on protecting those populations at highest risk for severe COVID-19 disease and dying. These include people older than 65 and those with underlying illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and untreated HIV.
Current data from 32 countries in the Region shows improved coverage among these target populations - 29% of median coverage compared to 19% for the general population. Among the five countries that have fully vaccinated more than 70% of their target populations, Mozambique is the highest at 93%, followed by Botswana at 89% and Mauritius at 80%.
Lowest in the Region is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has fully vaccinated only 6% of its target population. Madagascar and Malawi have fully vaccinated 8% and 12% of their target populations respectively.
We’ve learnt many lessons in how to stay a step ahead of the virus, and now it is time to refine our response. Countries must intensify efforts towards a targeted response that provides the most vulnerable with the health services that they need, including COVID-19 vaccines and effective treatment.
Targeted surveillance also remains critical, to monitor hospitalizations, the burden of comorbidities, deaths and – very importantly - the emergence of new variants.
The analysis, published in the Lancet Global Health science journal this week, forecasts that COVID-19 related deaths will drop to 23 000 for the African Region by the end of the year, compared to 113 000 or so last year.
But it also warns that a variant 200% more lethal than those already experienced has the capacity to rapidly more than double that number.
Additionally, the divergent death rates between countries in the Region emphasize the need for tailored responses.
For example, high- and upper-middle-income countries across the Region, along with those in Southern Africa, are recording death rates twice as high as those of their lower- and lower-middle-income counterparts.
According to the study, this variation is driven primarily by comorbidities. In our countries with higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV and obesity, death tolls from COVID-19 are also higher.
As the pandemic persists, what is clear is that our actions need to keep pace with what remains an evolving and complex situation.
Turning now to the monkeypox challenge, I can confirm that, since the beginning of 2022, cases have been reported in Africa from Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
WHO and partners are joining forces to urgently understand the magnitude and cause of the global outbreak. So far, reported cases have no established travel links to endemic areas. Based on currently available information, they have mainly, but not exclusively, been identified amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) seeking care in primary care and sexual health clinics.
What is extremely important now is to avert any potential for a repeat of the inequitable access to COVID-19 vaccines experienced by African countries early in the pandemic. We must have one connected global response to monkeypox to avoid it becoming endemic in more countries. This requires equitable access to the necessary tools and resources, and information exchange to promote understanding of the depth of the challenge.
Parts of Africa may well have built up some immunity to monkeypox. But equal access to effective vaccines is critical to protect the continent’s particularly vulnerable populations, including health workers and the contacts of cases.
As WHO in the African Region, we are working closely with African governments, regional institutions, and technical and financial partners to bolster laboratory diagnosis, disease surveillance, readiness, and response actions to curb further spread of the virus.
We are also providing expertise in the form of vital technical guidance on testing, clinical care, preventing and controlling infections, along with how to inform and educate the public about monkeypox and its risks.
As is the case for COVID-19, collaboration with communities is integral to disease control efforts.
Africa has successfully contained monkeypox outbreaks in the past, and from what we know about the virus, the modes of transmission, the rise in cases can be stopped.
I look forward very much to our discussions today and thank you again for having joined us.