medigraphic.com
ISSN 1527-3172 (Electronic)

2021, Number 3-4

<< Back Next >>

MEDICC Review 2021; 23 (3-4)

COVID-19: Comparison of the Response in Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe

Dzinamarira T, Mapingure, MP, Rwibasira GN, Mukwenha S, Musuka G

Language: English
References: 39
Page: 15-20
PDF size: 184.06 Kb.


ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact worldwide with regions experiencing varying degrees of severity. African countries have mounted different response strategies eliciting varied outcomes. Here, we compare these response strategies in Rwanda, South Africa and Zimbabwe and discuss lessons that could be shared. In particular, Rwanda has a robust and coordinated national health system that has effectively contained the epidemic. South Africa has considerable testing capacity, which has been used productively in a national response largely funded by local resources but affected negatively by corruption. Zimbabwe has an effective point-of-entry approach that utilizes an innovative strategic information system. All three countries would benefit having routine meetings to share experiences and lessons learned during the COVD-19 pandemic.


REFERENCES

  1. World Health Organization [Internet]. Geneva:World Health Organization; c2021. Diseases.Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic; 2020[cited 2020 Nov 25]. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

  2. Musa HH, Musa TH, Musa IH, Musa IH, RanciaroA, Campbell MC. Addressing Africa’s pandemicpuzzle: perspectives on COVID-19 infection andmortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Int J Infect Dis.2020 Jan;102:483–8.

  3. Zimbabwe COVID-19 Operational Plan. Harare:Ministry of Health and Child Care (ZW); 2020.

  4. Wells C, Yamin D, Ndeffo-Mbah ML, WenzelN, Gaffney SG, Townsend JP, et al. Harnessingcase isolation and ring vaccinationto control Ebola. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015May 29;9(5):e0003794. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003794.

  5. World Health Organization. Regional Offi ce for Africa[Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization;c2021. Health topics. Coronavirus (COVID-19);[cited 2020 Nov 25]. Available at: https://www.afro.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus-covid-19

  6. World Health Organization Regional Offi ce forAfrica [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization;c2021. Publications. Monitoring and evaluationframework for the COVID-19 response in theWHO African Region 2020; 2020 Aug [cited 2020Nov 23]. 24 p. Available at: https://www.afro.who.int/publications/monitoring-and-evaluation-framework-covid-19-response-who-african-region

  7. Our World in Data [Internet]. Oxford: University ofOxford; c2021 [cited 2021 Feb 26]. Available at:https://ourworldindata.org/

  8. Worldometer [Internet]. [place unknown]: Worldometer;c2021. Coronavirus. COVID-19 CORONAVIRUSPANDEMIC. Coronavirus cases;[updated 2020 Jan 29; cited 2020 Jan 29]. Availableat: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

  9. Our World in Data [Internet]. Oxford: University ofOxford. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations;[cited 2021 Feb 26]. Available at: https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations?country=OWID_WRL

  10. Bridget H, Julien N, Christian N, Pacifi que N,Nadia H, Fidele B, et al. COVID-19 Rwandaresponse updates March 14–April 25, 2020. RwPublic Health Bull. 2020 Mar;2(1):11–2.

  11. Campbell J. President Ramaphosa leads strongresponse to COVID-19 in South Africa 2020 [Internet].New York: Council of Foreign Relations; 2020Apr 7 [cited 2020 Nov 25]. Available at: https://www.cfr.org/blog/president-ramaphosa-leads-strong-response-covid-19-south-africa

  12. Ndoro T. Mnangagwa sets up Covid-19 Taskforceto deal with Coronavirus pandemic [Internet].Harare: Harare.com; [updated 2021 May 24];[cited 2020 Nov 25]. Available at: https://iharare.com/mnangagwa-sets-up-covid-19-taskforce-to-deal-with-coronavirus-pandemic/

  13. Bridget H, Julien N, Christian N, Pacifi que N,Nadia H, Fidele B, et al. COVID-19 preparednessactivities in Rwanda. Rw Public Health Bull. 2020Mar;2(1):7–10.

  14. Habinshuti M, Butera Y, Nyamwasa D,Musanabaganwa C, Ndishimye P, Hitimana N,et al. COVID-19 Rwanda response updates. RwPublic Health Bull. 2020 Jun;2(2):18–23.

  15. South Africa's policy response to the COVID-19pandemic [Internet]. Stellenbosch: Tralac; 2020Jul 3 [cited 2020 Nov 25]. Available at: https://www.tralac.org/news/article/14617-south-africa-s-policy-response-to-the-covid-19-pandemic.htmlDzobo M, Chitungo I, Dzinamarira T.COVID-19: a perspective for lifting lockdown in Zimbabwe.Pan Afr Med J. 2020 Apr;35(Suppl 2):13.

  16. Truscott R. Covid-19: Health worker strikes, limitedtesting, and clinic closures hamper Zimbabwe’sresponse. BMJ. 2020 Aug 19;370:m3267.

  17. National Institute for Communicable Diseases[Internet]. Johannesburg: National Institute forCommunicable Diseases; c2020. Symptomsmonitoring and management of essential workersfor COVID-19 related infection; [cited 2020Nov 25]. Available at: https://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/covid-19/covid-19-guidelines/symptoms-monitoring-and-management-of-essential-workers-for-covid-19-related-infection/

  18. Tasamba J. Rwandan youth volunteers helpingfi ght against COVID-19 2020 [Internet]. Ankara:Anadolu Agency; 2020 Jun 6 [cited 2020 Nov25]; [about 2 p.]. Available at: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/rwandan-youth-volunteers-helping-fi ght-against-covid-19/1867456

  19. Pierre G, Uwineza A, Dzinamarira T. Attendanceto HIV antiretroviral collection clinic appointmentsduring COVID-19 lockdown. A single centerstudy in Kigali, Rwanda. AIDS Behav. 2020Dec;24(12):3299–301.

  20. MoHCC. Zimbabwe MOHCC rapid assessmentfor COVID-19 impact on HIV service provision.Harare: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe;2020.

  21. Mashego P. Telehealth could be the new normalafter Covid-19 2020 [Internet]. Capetown:fi n24; 2020 Aug 1 [cited 2021 Feb 28]; [about 2p.]. Available at: https://www.news24.com/fi n24/companies/telehealth-could-be-the-new-normal-after-covid-19-20200801

  22. Mutesa L, Ndishimye P, Butera Y, Souopgui J,Uwineza A, Rutayisire R, et al. A pooled testingstrategy for identifying SARS-CoV-2 at low prevalence.Nature. 2021 Jan;589(7841):276–80.

  23. Louis EF, Ingabire W, Isano S, Eugene D,Blanc J. Rwanda’s response during COVID-19.Psychol Trauma Theory Res Pract Policy.2020;5(12):565–6.

  24. Ivan E, Iradukunda PG, Gashema P, AngeliqueI, Kabanda A, Mukantwari E, et al. Scaling uplaboratory testing capacity in the context of managingemerging pandemic: lessons learned fromscaling up SARS-COV-2 testing in Rwanda. Int JInnovative Sci Res Technol. 2021 Feb;6(2):339–46.

  25. US News [Internet]. Washington, D.C.: US News;c2021. News World News. South Africa Government, Private Hospitals Agree Deal on COVID-19Patients 2020; 2020 Jun 7 [cited 2020 Nov 25].Available at: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-06-07/south-africa-government-private-hospitals-agree-deal-on-covid-19-patients

  26. Africa Petrochemicals [Internet]. Pretoria: AfricaPetrochemicals; c2021. Latest news. SA privatesector’s exemplary COVID-19 response2020; 2020 May 13 [cited 2020 Nov 25]; [about2 p.]. Available at: https://africanpetrochemicals.co.za/sa-private-sectors-exemplary-covid-19-response/

  27. Corporate Council on Africa [Internet]. Washington,D.C.: Corporate Council on Africa; c2021.News. South African government and privatesector response to COVID-19 with H.E. NomaindiyaMfeketo, Ambassador of South Africa tothe U.S.; 2020 Jun 11 [cited 2020 Nov 23]. Availableat: https://www.corporatecouncilonafrica.com/news/south-african-government-and-private-sector-response-covid-19-he-nomaindiya-mfeketo-ambassador

  28. World Health Organization [Internet]. Geneva:World Health Organization; c2021. Publications.Overview. International Health Regulations(2005) Third Edition; 2016 Jan 1 [cited 2020Nov 23]. 91 p. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241580496

  29. Mphisa R. SA rejecting Zimbabwe COVID-19 testcertifi cates [Internet]. Harare: NewsDay; 2021Jan 7 [cited 2021 Jan 7]. Available at: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/01/sa-rejecting-zimbabwe-covid-19-test-certifi cates/

  30. Dzinamarira T, Mukwenha S, Eghtessadi R,Cuadros DF, Mhlanga G, Musuka G. Coronavirusdisease 2019 [COVID-19] response in Zimbabwe:a call for urgent scale-up of testing tomeet national capacity. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 May18;72(10):e667–e74.

  31. Williams-Elegbe S. Corruption, procurement andCOVID-19 in Africa 2020 [Internet]. Open Ownership;2020 Jun [cited 2020 Nov 23]; [about 3p.]. Available at: https://www.openownership.org/blogs/corruption-procurement-and-covid-19-in-africa/

  32. Medical Brief [Internet]. Greendale (ZA): MedicalBrief; c2021. South Africa. AG revealsscale of COVID-19 procurement corruption;UIF execs suspended; 2020 Sep 2 [cited 2020Nov 23]. Available at: https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/ag-reveals-scale-of-covid-19-procurement-corruption-uif-execs-sacked/

  33. Gagné-Acoulon S. Zimbabwe’s health ministercharged for Covid-19 corruption 2020 [Internet].Sarajevo: Organized Crime and CorruptionReporting Project; 2020 Jun 23 [cited 2020Nov 23]. Available at: https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/12594-zimbabwe-s-health-minister-charged-for-covid-19-corruption

  34. Zimbabwean president fi res health minister overcorruption scandal 2020. Beijing: XinhuaNET; 2020Jul 8 [cited 2020 Nov 23]. Available at: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-07/08/c_139195633.htm

  35. Oyamada E. Combating corruption in Rwanda:lessons for policy makers. Asian Educ DevelopStudies. 2017 Jul;6(7). DOI: 10.1108/AEDS-03-2017-0028

  36. Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research;World Health Organization. PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS (PRIMASYS). A case studyfrom Rwanda. Geneva: World Health Organization;2017 [cited 2020 Nov 23]. 11 p. Available at:https://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/projects/AHPSR-PRIMASYS-Rwanda-Abridged.pdf?ua=1

  37. Africanews [Internet]. Lyon: Africanews; c2021.News. Rwanda ranked fi rst in Africa, sixth globallyin Covid-19 management; [updated 2021Jan 29]; [cited 2020 Feb 28]. Available at:https://www.africanews.com/2021/01/29/rwanda-ranked-first-in-africa-sixth-globally-in-covid-19-management/?s=09

  38. The World Bank [Internet]. New York: The WorldBank; c2021. Data. Physicians per 1000 population;[cited 2020 Feb 28]. Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.PHYS.ZS?locations

  39. Worldometer [Internet]. [place unknown]: Worldometer;c2021. Coronavirus. COVID-19 CORONAVIRUSPANDEMIC. Coronavirus cases;[updated 2020 Jan 29; cited 2020 Feb 29]. Availableat: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/




2020     |     www.medigraphic.com