One year after the first case of covid-19 infection was recorded in Africa, the continent has been recording increasing number of deaths from the virus and it’s related ailments.
This was made known by Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director, through her official twitter handle@MoetiTshidi.
“The increasing deaths from #COVID19 we are seeing are tragic, but are also disturbing warning signs that health workers and health systems in Africa are dangerously overstretched. This grim milestone must refocus everyone on stamping out the virus,” she wrote.
Speaking in a video she released alongside her tweet, she revealed that the increasing mortality rate was due to the poor state of the health systems of many African countries.
“In the first year of this pandemic in Africa, more than 3.7million cases have been reported. And in the coming weeks, the continent is projected to pass a devastating marker of 100,000 lives sadly lost to this virus.
“Deaths from covid-19 have increased by 40% in the last 28days, compared to the previous 28days.
“The increasing deaths from covid-19 are a tragic warning that health workers and health systems in many countries in Africa are dangerously overstretched,” she said.
The one-year milestone comes as the continent faces new strain of the virus.
In her final words, she advised that, “while a vaccine that protects against all forms of covid-19 illness is our biggest hope, preventing severe cases and hospitalisations which overwhelm hospitals and health systems is crucial”.
She urged everyone to go out and get vaccinated when a vaccine becomes available in their country
