United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, COVID-19 Response, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
United Nations Volunteer, COVID-19 Response, Bafoussam, Cameroon.
Pan Afr Med J. 2020 Sep 3;37(Suppl 1):3. doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.37.3.24057. eCollection 2020.
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.
非洲的 COVID-19 大流行严重提醒人们，新兴和再现传染病病原体的冲击力，以及在需要时，需要简单、面向背景、可持续的卫生模型来与之抗争。在这篇评论中，选择了一种分析性的论述方法，因为非洲的卫生系统薄弱，其大多数成员国最初都不愿意公开应对 COVID-19 局势。本文讨论了非洲实施的 SHEF2 模型的五项主要控制措施，即（“SHEF2”-S：社交距离、H：手、E：肘、F：脸、F：感觉）。我们还回顾了在非洲实施 SHEF2 控制措施相关的问题。在亚洲、欧洲和北美采取的社交距离和定期洗手等措施，对人口密集、水资源获取不平等和社会安全网有限的非洲国家来说，是一个特别的挑战。COVID-19 正在挑战所有受影响的非洲国家的公共卫生和社会政治系统。需要迅速果断地采取行动来应对 COVID-19 的负担，但这种比较表明，未知的新型冠状病毒疾病是多么困难。与全球为控制和遏制 COVID-19 大流行而采取的步骤一致，非洲国家正在为这场大流行的巨大影响和随之而来的深度衰退做准备，因此我们断言，非洲国家更大的希望是实施积极的 SHEF2 模型战略。大流行的传播最终将停止，国际体系将找到平衡，但大部分损失将特别由非洲感受到。
