Coronavirus: Is Africa ready?
How will weak health systems and fragile economies cope with an outbreak?
The Coronavirus pandemic has not yet impacted Africa as much as other parts of the world. But the situation might be hitting a dangerous turning point. Infection rates in some West African countries are rising quickly and this week the number of Covid-19 cases on the continent surpassed 10 thousand. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister has described Coronavirus as an 'existential threat' and senior UN official this week warned of the 'complete collapse of economies and livelihoods' across Africa if the spread of the virus isn’t contained. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to some of the poorest and weakest central governments on Earth - prompting doubts over the ability of health care systems to cope and workers to adapt. Ritula Shah and a panel of expert guest discuss the wide reaching effects of a widespread outbreak across Africa.
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Tolbert G Nyenswah - Senior Research Associate, Johns Hopkins University
Carlos Lopes - Professor at the Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town
Alex De Waal - Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University
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- Fri 10 Apr 202009:06GMTBBC World Service
- Fri 10 Apr 202023:06GMTBBC World Service
- Sat 11 Apr 202003:06GMTBBC World Service
- Sat 11 Apr 202015:06GMTBBC World Service News Internet
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