The World Health Organisation WHO has said the black continent – Africa – is yet to see the worse as the third wave of the world-crumbling and dreaded COVID-19 gathers pace on the continent.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s regional director for Africa said this during a virtual press conference today, Thursday, stating that though Africa has just lived through its most devastating week of the pandemic, the worst is yet to come the World Health Organization said Thursday.
According to Moeti, COVID-19 cases are doubling every 18 days in Africa, compared with every 21 days only a week ago, adding that the end to the precipitous rise is, however, still weeks away. “Africa has just marked the continent’s most dire pandemic week ever. But the worst is yet to come as the fast-moving third wave continues to gain speed and new ground”, Dr Moeti said.
Read also: Africa Should Be Producing, Not Begging For COVID-19 Vaccines – Akinwumi Adesina
She, however, gave some hope, stating that there was some room for optimism because vaccine deliveries were picking up after grinding to a near halt in May and early June. Vaccination rates have remain sluggish, as only 16 million people have been fully vaccinated – just 2% of the African population.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has said Africa is poorly ready for the third wave of the deadly COVID-19, considering how vaccine deliveries are at a near-standstill and the continent is lacking key resources in frontline care. This came a few days after the UN organisation ranked Nigeria the best in vaccines administration in Africa, saying other countries in the black continent are looking up to the Giant of Africa.
Read also: Toyosi Etim-Effiong Warns As COVID-19 Positive Staff Runs Away To Resume Work Somewhere Else
Dr Moeti had said this too during an online briefing, revealing that many African hospitals and clinics are still far from ready to cope with a huge rise in critically ill patients as the threat of a third wave of COVID-19 in Africa is real and rising. Calling for better equipment for hospital and medical staff in Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti stressed that treatment is the last line of defence against this virus and “we cannot let it be breached”.
TRENDING VIDEO OF THE DAY: Gov Wike Gives One Of His Commissioner’s An Open Cheque For Being Transparent Photos Credit: Getty
