The World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa Region is ramping up its support to countries to help them escalate the vaccination of health workers against COVID-19.
This after preliminary results from the organisation’s research found that just 27% of health workers on the continent are fully vaccinated.
WHO Africa Regional Director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, emphasised that health workers remain “dangerously exposed” to infection and this would cause a “blowback in the efforts to curb this disease” on the continent.
“This puts at risk not only their own wellbeing and health, but also that of the patients they look after. We must ensure our health facilities are safe working environments.
“With the fourth wave looming, countries must urgently roll out vaccines to those on the frontline. The low coverage among health workers is partly due to the unavailability of vaccine services especially in rural areas. Vaccine hesitancy is also a challenge,” she said.
Moeti said the organisation is helping countries to ramp up their vaccination rollout efforts by addressing not only challenges of availability but also fears around the vaccine.
“We are supporting national efforts to escalate health worker vaccination by coordinating training and dialogue around vaccination safety and efficacy to also help address any doubts or misconceptions as well as advocating for open, honest communication about the benefits and side effects of vaccination,” she said.
She highlighted that Africa is already facing shortages of health workers and any further losses could be devastating.
“Health workers are ensuring that hospitals, clinics and community health centres keep their doors open. Not only for COVID-19 but to manage a wide range of other health challenges.
“Africa already suffers from a shortage of health workers. Only one country – the Seychelles – has the requisite 10.9 workers per 1000 people to deliver essential services. Therefore, even one unnecessary COVID-19 infection is one too many among our health workers,” she said.
New Cases
Meanwhile, Dr Moeti warned that Southern Africa is in the midst of a COVID-19 spike following a 48% jump in new cases over the past week – driven mainly by new cases in South Africa.
The spike comes after a sustained 18 weeks of decline in new cases.
There have now been 8.6 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the continent with at least 221 000 succumbing to complications as a result of contracting virus.
Moeti added, however, that the rise in new cases is not confined to Africa.
“Africa must remain on high alert as we see cases rise across Europe. We are also about to start the end of year travel and gatherings and celebration season which triggered a surge last December”. – SAnews.gov.za
