The World Health Organization (WHO) is deploying dozens of health experts to South Africa to help the country fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Southern nation has a record of more than half a million confirmed cases of COVID-19 making it fifth in the world with 521,318 cases and 8,884 COVID-related deaths according to the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
“The WHO is responding to a request for help by sending 43 specialists, with several arriving on Wednesday,” Health minister Zweli Mkhize said.
According to WHO, the deployments have emanated from continued discussions between the Minister of Health, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, and WHO global and regional leadership.
“At this time when the COVID-19 epidemic in South Africa is spreading rapidly, it is important that we work together to intensify our fight against the virus,” said Dr. Owen Kaluwa, WHO Representative for South Africa.
“For this reason, WHO is ramping up support to complement national and provincial efforts to scale-up the response. Our collective efforts are necessary to identify cases, isolate and provide care, follow up contacts and fully implement physical distancing and other key public health measures. In this way we will minimize the spread and impact of COVID-19,” Kaluwa added.
The first 17 specialists arriving today include experts in epidemiology, surveillance, case management, infection, prevention and control, procurement as well as community mobilization and health education, the WHO Africa regional office announced.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa and Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme will jointly lead the team virtually from Brazaville, Republic of Congo and Geneva, Switzerland respectively to support the team on the ground.
South Africa currently stands as the epicenter of COVID-19 in Africa with health experts warning that the rest of the continent may see a similar spread of the virus.
