Serious challenges have been made worse by COVID-19.
Respiratory infections are already a significant cause of mortality in Africa. Underlying health issues —including HIV infection, tuberculosis, malaria, seasonal viral infections, emerging infectious pathogens such as Ebola and other non-communicable diseases— may put people at higher risk for COVID-19, or may be neglected if COVID-19 strains limited healthcare resources.
Essential supplies for COVID-19 treatment—oxygen, swabs, and personal protective equipment— are lacking. Additionally, too few health care workers are trained to provide COVID-19 treatment. The time to apply what is being learned about COVID-19 treatment to resource poor settings is now.