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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.

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Sat 11 Apr 202015:06GMT

Contributors

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

Photo

A man on his bicycle wears a mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Cotonou, Benin by Yanick Folly / AFP

Broadcasts

  • Fri 10 Apr 202009:06GMT
  • Fri 10 Apr 202023:06GMT
  • Sat 11 Apr 202003:06GMT
  • Sat 11 Apr 202015:06GMT

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