The spread of COVID-19 is accelerating across the world. In Africa, most countries have now confirmed cases and the number of fatalities is rising. If allowed to spread unmanaged, the impact on African citizens and economies will be substantial. Africa’s already fragile health systems, coupled with a high burden of respiratory and diabetic diseases and densely packed urban agglomerations, are likely to increase the vulnerability of the continent and the lethality of the virus. The speed with which countries can detect, report, and respond to outbreaks can be a reflection of their wider institutional capacity.
The report focuses on the current health landscape in Africa and related challenges, while considering the road ahead. It analyses Africa’s readiness and capacity to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on a wealth of data, statistics, and information from the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) and other sources to examine the current COVID-19 context and its immediate challenges.