President commends African leaders for unity in fighting Covid-19
The socio-economic and humanitarian impact of COVID-19 in Africa is likely to be felt for months, if not years after the epidemic, even as Africa implements economic measures to mitigate the epidemic risks.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union (AU), in a virtual meeting with Chairpersons of the AU Regional Economic Communities (RECs) this evening, commended the continent’s leaders for their commitment in fighting Covid-19.
Ramaphosa said the peak of infections will, according to scientists, only hit Africa later and will have devastating consequences. He said leaders are especially worried about the impact on their societies and the effect it will have on public health systems.
He appealed to the world to assist Africa with much-needed supplies and assistance from health care workers. Ramaphosa said he challenged all countries on the continent and elsewhere to engage in the quest to find solutions.
The African Union has established the Africa Covid-19 Response Fund to assist and lobby funding from the international community. To date they have managed to raise $25 million for this fund and an additional $36,5 million for the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
They have also employed four special envoys to assist in following up pledges and undertakings made by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union. These envoys will further need to mobilise international support and campaign for assistance for the AU intervention programmes.
Ramaphosa said they have held meetings with various stakeholders to discuss robust economic stimulus packages to assist the continent.
The AU Bureau has also argued for a waiver on interest payment at a multi-lateral level for countries, by engaging with entities like the IMF and World Bank. The economic injection that this will create, will support humanitarian needs and set the continent on a path of economic recovery.
Ramaphosa referred to the successful conference held last week between various head of states and 21 African business leaders, who pledged their support for the AU Covid-19 strategy. He thanked the international communities who have pledged support for, among others, medical supplies.
He furthermore said the continent has pledged its support to the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, who are working hard with other heads of state to help develop vaccines and test treatments to fight the virus.
Ramaphosa made an urgent appeal that economic sanctions against Sudan and Zimbabwe be lifted in order to assist these countries in the fight against the virus.
He said the continent should intensify its efforts to end all forms of violence, destabilisation and terrorism: “We need to work hard to silence the guns and keep on doing so”.
He said the continent needs to share knowledge with one another and stand together in the fight against Covid-19.
Covid-19 has not spared Africa, with 33 273 cases reported by 28 April 2020, including 1 467 deaths. Reports indicate that the number of infections across the continent is rising, with huge implications for public health systems which will be severely challenged by the exponential curve of infections.
The socio-economic and humanitarian impact of Covid-19 in Africa is likely to be felt months, if not years after the epidemic, even as Africa implements economic measures to mitigate the epidemic risks.
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