AI Article Synopsis

  • The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the urgent need for effective health strategies in Africa, given the continent's weak health systems and initial hesitance to address the crisis openly.
  • The SHEF2 Model (Social distancing, Hands, Elbows, Face, Feel) outlines key control measures that are particularly challenging to implement in densely populated African regions with limited resources.
  • The commentary stresses that while the pandemic’s impact is severe, proactive and context-specific measures like the SHEF2 model can help mitigate the effects and prepare African countries for future health crises.

Article Abstract

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa is a severe reminder of the brunt of emerging and re-emerging infectious pathogens and the need for simple, context-oriented, and sustainable health models to combat them when the need arises. In this commentary, an analytical discursive approach was chosen to owe to Africa's unique situation of weak health systems, with most of its member states showing an initial reluctance to deal openly with the COVID-19 situation. This paper discusses five major control measures doped the SHEF2 Model i.e. ("SHEF2"- S: Social distancing, H: Hands, E: Elbows, F: Face, F: Feel) of COVID-19 implemented in Africa. We also review the issues related to implementing SHEF2 control measures in Africa. The measures being taken in Asia, Europe, and North America such as social distancing and regular hand washing are a particular challenge for African countries with dense populations, unequal access to water, and limited social safety nets. COVID-19 is challenging the public health and socio-political systems of all affected African countries. The burden of COVID-19 demands rapid and decisive action to be taken, yet the comparison shows how difficult it is was for an unknown new coronavirus disease. In line with the steps being taken across the globe to control and contain COVID-19 pandemic, African countries are preparing for the great effects of this pandemic and ensuing deep recession thus the reason we assert, the greater hope for African countries is implementing an aggressive SHEF2 model strategy. The spread of the pandemic will eventually stop, and the international system will find a balance, but most of the damage will be felt particularly by Africa.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7704345PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.37.3.24057DOI Listing

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