Health systems in sub-Saharan Africa cannot withstand a COVID-19 surge. But many African countries are proactively availing themselves of the guidance to enact non-medical protective measures: curfews, lockdowns and attempts at social distancing.
The author of this article argues that, however, implementing this guidance in sub-Saharan Africa, as in other low-income settings, requires some adaptation, contextualization and reprioritization for an effective and acceptable response.
Strong government leadership and national guidance are critical, but insufficient to prevent or mitigate the devastating effects of COVID-19 we’ve seen in Europe and other hard-hit places. Mounting an effective COVID-19 response in African countries requires government accountability.