Faced with the coronavirus epidemic which is spreading in Africa, many African governments have taken drastic measures: ban on assembly, closing of borders, schools, markets, establishment of a curfew ... The authorities are also calling the population to respect the barrier measures: wash their hands and respect a safe distance. "There are certain elements of these measures that are difficult to implement in Africa, when we know that a good part of the population does not have access to water or soap, recalls Michel Yao, head of operations of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Africa. This is why these measures must be accompanied by other interventions. In precarious neighborhoods, for example ensuring that water points distributed in the districts, that one ensures a distribution of soap… All these elements must form part of a plan of response. The plan of response to an epidemic must also take into account the particular context where this adjusting this response to the African context is essential. "

For his part, Nicolas Mouly, member of the ALIMA association specializing in medical aid in Africa, assures: "Families in African countries depend essentially on the informal economy and will have to find means of subsistence to continue living normally." He therefore recommends that these restrictive measures be "accompanied by economic and social measures, such as in particular financial compensation for families who will be in isolation and who will not be able to continue working."

Faced with this health crisis, the WHO recently called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to Africa to transport food, medicines ... "This is absolutely essential, confirms Nicolas Mouly, not only for medicines but also for experienced staff who already know how to manage these crises and who can help ministries of health and governments. It is absolutely essential that these people can move between countries. " In parallel, WHO and its partners have created a solidarity fund intended to support the most vulnerable countries, those with particularly weak health systems.

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