"Sub-Saharan Africa: We need to act now"

" \n Sub-Saharan Africa is in the grips of a third wave of COVID-19 infections that threatens to be even more brutal than the two that came before. \n \n\n \n This is yet more evidence of a dangerous divergence in the global economy. One track for countries with good access to vaccines, where strong recoveries are taking hold. And another for those countries that are still waiting and at risk of falling further behind. \n \n\n \n The growth of infections in sub-Saharan Africa is now the fastest in the world, with an explosive trajectory that is outpacing the record set in the second wave. At this pace, this new wave will likely surpass previous peaks in a matter of days\u2014and in some countries, infections are already more than double, or even triple, their January peaks. The latest (delta) variant\u2014reportedly 60 percent more transmissible than earlier variants\u2014has been detected in 14 countries. \n \n\n \n <a href=\"https:\/\/lnks.gd\/l\/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA2MjguNDI1MTEyNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Jsb2dzLmltZi5vcmcvMjAyMS8wNi8yOC9zdWItc2FoYXJhbi1hZnJpY2Etd2UtbmVlZC10by1hY3Qtbm93Lz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.aXVSupq-kBhHzeguOPCo2bkiMN-_oTrkUs5_fguoXkQ\/s\/1181822789\/br\/108517447389-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> \n \n\n \n When the pandemic first hit, quick action by policymakers helped prevent infection rates seen elsewhere around the world. But it pushed already strained local health systems to the breaking point. Only six months after the initial crisis, the region experienced a second wave that swiftly outpaced the scale and speed of the first. Now, another six months on, sub-Saharan Africa faces its third devastating wave. \n \n\n \n The only way for the region to break free from this vicious pandemic cycle is to swiftly implement a widespread vaccination program. \n \n\n \n A still-vulnerable region \n \n\n \n The sheer speed of this third wave highlights the difficulty policymakers in sub\u2011Saharan Africa face in heading off a crisis once it gets under way. In Namibia, for example, new cases reached the previous January peak within only two weeks, and tripled another two weeks later. For many countries, by the time a new surge is identified, it may already be too late. \n \n\n \n And the options employed during previous waves may no longer be feasible. The re-imposition of containment measures would likely come at too high an economic and social cost, and is simply unsustainable\u2014and unenforceable\u2014over a prolonged period. \n \n\n \n Looking back, most sub-Saharan African countries entered the second wave in a more difficult economic position than the first, with shrinking fiscal resources to protect the vulnerable, additional millions thrown into poverty, and depleted household balance sheets. While some countries have taken steps to improve preparedness, unfortunately, very few have had sufficient resources\u2014or time\u2014to strengthen public health systems. \n \n\n \n And, now, the scale of the current wave is once again threatening to overwhelm local health systems. News reports across the region point to overwhelmed hospitals. The sick are dying while waiting for a bed. Non-emergency surgeries have been canceled to preserve space for COVID-19 patients. And military hospitals have been opened for civilian use. Oxygen has become a key constraint, with supply already failing to keep up with the demand for critically-ill patients. The region\u2019s scarce health workers continue to be at risk. \n \n\n \n The risks of leaving Africa behind \n \n\n \n The vaccine rollout in sub-Saharan Africa remains the slowest in the world. Less than 1 adult in every hundred is fully vaccinated, compared to an average of over 30 in more advanced economies. This means even most essential frontline workers continue to work unprotected. In this context, some of the world\u2019s more fortunate countries have stockpiled enough vaccines to cover their populations many times over. \n \n\n \n Without significant, upfront, international assistance\u2014and without an effective region-wide vaccination effort\u2014the near-term future of sub-Saharan Africa will be one of repeated waves of infection, which will exact an ever-increasing toll on the lives and livelihoods of the region\u2019s most vulnerable, while also paralyzing investment, productivity, and growth. In short, without help the region risks being left further and further behind. \n \n\n \n And the longer the pandemic is left to ravage Africa, the more likely it is that ever more dangerous variants of the disease will emerge. Vaccination is not simply an issue of local lives and livelihoods. It is also a global public good. For every country\u2014everywhere\u2014the most durable vaccine effort is one that covers everyone, in every country . \n \n\n \n <a href=\"https:\/\/lnks.gd\/l\/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA2MjguNDI1MTEyNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Jsb2dzLmltZi5vcmcvMjAyMS8wNi8yOC9zdWItc2FoYXJhbi1hZnJpY2Etd2UtbmVlZC10by1hY3Qtbm93Lz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.lqbTQuPvaZDv-P2cWhGLnSfU2Wp-ncUE9c8d6WZLg04\/s\/1181822789\/br\/108517447389-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> \n \n\n \n What can be done to speed up the vaccine effort? \n \n\n \n IMF staff has put forward a global <a href=\"https:\/\/lnks.gd\/l\/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA2MjguNDI1MTEyNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5pbWYub3JnL2VuL1B1YmxpY2F0aW9ucy9TdGFmZi1EaXNjdXNzaW9uLU5vdGVzL0lzc3Vlcy8yMDIxLzA1LzE5L0EtUHJvcG9zYWwtdG8tRW5kLXRoZS1DT1ZJRC0xOS1QYW5kZW1pYy00NjAyNjM_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.FX9XWHQaGRzazwZyD-Qa9lBoxiHVrAZqA6Er8Yr5wZo\/s\/1181822789\/br\/108517447389-l\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">proposal that targets vaccinating at least 40 percent of the total population of all countries by end-2021, and at least 60 percent by the first half of 2022. Africa is expected to receive 30 percent vaccination coverage through COVAX and another 30 percent coverage through the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), established by the African Union under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa. \n \n\n \n We see seven key steps to ensure these vaccination targets are met: \n \n\n \n First, it is essential to deliver vaccines to sub\u2011Saharan Africa as soon as possible. Given that much of the global supply of vaccines for 2021 has already been bought up, many countries will be forced to wait until 2022 to get them. So, the fastest way to get vaccines to sub\u2011Saharan Africa is for advanced economies to share their stockpiles bilaterally or through multilateral initiatives. COVAX has already received pledges for over half a billion doses. But these need to turn into actual deliveries as soon as possible to make a difference. Indeed, the goal should be to get a quarter of a billion doses to the region by September. \n \n\n \n Second, vaccine manufacturers should speed up supply to Africa for the rest of this year. Advanced economies with vaccine manufacturing capabilities should encourage their manufacturers to do so, especially when demand at home is falling short of supply. \n \n\n \n Third, AVATT should be fully financed to ensure coverage of 30 percent of the African Union population. This requires an estimated $2 billion, that would for example allow AVATT to execute its optional contract of 180 million doses with J&J. \n \n\n \n Fourth, remove cross-border export restrictions on raw materials and finished vaccines. This includes ensuring that the Aspen facility in South Africa\u2014a key supplier to AVATT\u2014is operational at full capacity, and resuming exports from the Serum Institute of India to COVAX. African vaccination plans rely heavily on these two facilities. \n \n\n \n Fifth, financing of at least $2.5 billion and upfront planning will also be critical to ensure health systems can deliver shots-in-arm promptly as vaccine supply ramps up. Many countries in the region, including eSwatini, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, and Rwanda, have quickly and effectively administered their limited supplies. These countries, along with others in the region, have had to place their vaccine campaigns on hold as they wait for the arrival of the new supplies that they have recently procured at comparatively high cost or the donated supplies from other countries\u2019 stockpiles. It is these shortages\u2014rather than the ability to administer shots\u2014that has so far been the biggest constraint. But when supply picks up, health systems must be prepared to vaccinate as many people as possible. And this is doable as the experience in many developing countries show\u2014the likes of Seychelles, Mongolia, Bhutan, and Maldives impressively scaled-up vaccinations quickly once their vaccine supplies arrived. \n \n\n \n Alongside vaccination efforts, countries must also ensure that their public health systems are able to handle an influx of cases. This includes accelerating the acquisition of vital COVID-19 health tools, including therapeutics, oxygen, and personal protective equipment. No matter what the speed of vaccinations, these supplies are needed now to help save lives. This will require urgent grant financing to pre-emptively procure and deliver a minimum package of critical COVID-19 Health Tools to address the rising health and economic costs arising from the surge in cases driven by the delta variant. \n \n\n \n Finally, the magnitude of the region\u2019s financing needs requires a coordinated effort on the part of the international community. Few countries have the fiscal space to finance this effort on their own, considering the region\u2019s already elevated debt levels and already pressing spending needs. Most of the international community\u2019s financial assistance will need to come in the form of grants or concessional loans. With our colleagues from the World Bank, WHO, WTO, and others, the IMF has formed a special task force to ensure that countries get the resources and vaccines they need. \n \n\n \n <a href=\"https:\/\/lnks.gd\/l\/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA2MjguNDI1MTEyNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Jsb2dzLmltZi5vcmcvMjAyMS8wNi8yOC9zdWItc2FoYXJhbi1hZnJpY2Etd2UtbmVlZC10by1hY3Qtbm93Lz91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.645hE7x5dmmpfrhr9Xk428kZEqRfeEct7VymhHwqWxg\/s\/1181822789\/br\/108517447389-l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> \n \n\n \n As always, Africa can count on the IMF. We remain deeply committed to all countries in the region. We\u2019ve ramped up our lending to sub\u2011Saharan Africa\u2014last year it was more than 13 times our annual average\u2014and support to increase our access limits will allow us to scale up our zero-interest lending capacity. And the unprecedented $650 billion new SDR allocation, far and away the largest in the Fund\u2019s history, once approved will make $23 billion available to member countries in sub\u2011Saharan Africa. \n \n\n \n Yet the gravity and urgency of the situation requires the global community working together. We all have a stake in this. So, in all countries\u2014advanced and emerging alike\u2014we can reclaim our physical and economic health from the pandemic. And so that sub\u2011Saharan Africa can resume its path toward a more prosperous future. \n "

"Sub-Saharan Africa: We need to act now"

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