Africa in the wake of self-sufficiency

The Issue

On Monday morning of 23 March, there were 1,818 cases tested and confirmed of the COVID-19 virus distributed and recorded across the African continent. Today, less than 14 days later, there are 9,049 cases and the daily increase is exponential. That Monday, I was told by an acquaintance living and working in the continent’s economic capital, Lagos, that there was not much to worry about — political steps were being taken, Ministers had gathered virtually, supplies were to be imported, partnerships were forming that would ensure the essentials for medical professionals and cases that were arriving from Europe were tracked.

Yet, this is only scratching the surface of the issue at hand. The challenge in Africa is unique to the social, cultural and economical hardships that are too common in many southern states.

• WATER: Lack of access to water and soap makes it impossible for majority of the population to complete the number one prevention method of #washinghands.
• HOUSING: 53 million urban Africans live in inadequate housing, otherwise referred to as slums. Families live in small spaces, with all members of the family, adjacent to other families, making social distancing another guide from WHO — impossible.
• FOOD: With lockdowns, individuals and communities do not have the means to access another basic need — food. And amidst long queues and heavy congestion in the markets, there are reports of the price of some basic food products having risen between 20 and 33 percent.
• ELECTRICITY: 840 million people, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, live without access to electricity and hundreds of millions more only have access to very limited or unreliable electricity. That means inability to cook and store food, or to cool homes.
• MEDICAL CARE: Across the globe equipped hospitals are struggling to keep up with the demanding rise of COVID-19 cases, in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that only 28% of health facilities have access to reliable electricity.

But why do I Care

On Monday 23 March, the response from someone at the frontlines of the tsunami that was yet far away from being felt, startled an eagerness in me. The absolute necessity to speak to anyone who would give me a moment of airtime. The care came with familiarity, the intimate drive from years ago when I began my work at the World Economic Forum and here, at the time of the pandemic crisis, it revealed itself in its true nature. I was in the comfort of my safe four walls and my worry went out to those whom I personally know do not have this comfort and millions others with this lack.

Therefore, I spoke endlessly about the devastation that was creeping upon the African continent and the majority of its 1.2 billion population that lives in poverty with no access to clean water. Only 56% of city-dwellers have access to piped water, and just 11% to a sewer connection. This is the reality of an environment that does not have the basic needs for what the World Health Organization notes as the main prevention mechanisms from getting infected — washing your hands.

What will happen without Action

It was not a call for what WAS to happen, this was a call for what was already happening. If Africa as a continent with its people, communities, entrepreneurs, believers, doers was going to break loose of the dependency that foreign aid has inflicted on its population over these centuries, this will be that time!

Lessons from EU countries

While closely observing the situation unfold in Spain, I attentively listened to every word, text message exchange and tracked gofundme campaigns in search of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in Spain. Everyday has been a battle field of challenges from left and right fields — from shortage of materials, to the passing of loved ones, exhausted health care professionals, to closing of borders. The challenges that Spain experienced were diverse yet not unique to any other government in the wake of an unexpected pandemic that came sweeping its society and economy. The unexpected challenges that arrived provided opportunities for close inspection of the faults in the system and the innovative solutions that can flourish but lack the space to be activated.

Challenges — Lessons

Collapse of the Healthcare system — Communication

The virus has a very high contagion rate, a very long incubation period and many asymptomatic people who continue to infect, this reality is unsustainable by the public healthcare system, nearly in all cases. Therefore, infection numbers are higher than those that are reported and constructive communication is key. Informing the population through the process, building upon that already known from other countries and skipping the phase of hoaxes, confusing information and contradictions.

Blockage in the Public Administration — Community action and local response

Rapid responses are necessary in emergencies, and bureaucratic slowness can play against, especially in a situation that has never occurred before. Therefore, public administration response can be reactive rather than actively enabling and mobilizing creative solutions, in which case grass-root movements enabled communities to innovate new ways of production, decentralize networks for quicker and effective actions, care for those that are most vulnerable, while seeking collective solution from the confines of homes #stayathome.

Social and Personal Blockage — Collaboration

This is a unique time for us as society and as individuals, filled with uncertainty. By building collaboration channels now, finding key actors to share tools and anticipate when may come in just 10 days can save lives.

Read about additional lessons from Spain, the complexities of life from normal to isolation, urgency of action at all fronts by Cecilia Tham on medium here.

What can we do in Africa?

Solutions at the governmental and international level must happen. They are necessary to uphold the basic needs of medical professionals to maintain the health of those infected and in critical conditions. But what the medical professionals are in no capacity to do is to take on the load of the majority of the population that is in the high-risk category because of their age, poor immune system, other illnesses along with snowball effect of lack of hygiene products to keep the virus from spreading between one family member to the other, to the neighbor and so forth.

The challenge upon us is to maintain the goal of saving lives and doing so collectively in the short, medium and long term. The challenge is to help prevent contagion today, creating a community of action, and ensuring that the seeds we are planting will drive the change in models we want for tomorrow.

Innovate for Africa (I4_Africa)

We have lead time to make preparations for the needs that we know will arrive as the virus spreads across the African continent. Together we want to combine clear communication and effective collaboration based on lessons learnt, that can mobilize action at the community level. Starting with local production of face masks and hand sanitization alternatives, ensuring their delivery to local communities and creating agency for local business to uphold economic prosperity during the crisis.

We, a group of international social entrepreneurs, have launched a mobilization of local communities and businesses across the continent to help equip individuals with the essential personal protection equipment — Innovate for Africa (@i4_africa and bit.ly/iforafrica).

COVID19 Pandemic is history in the making, calls for us as individuals to come together as humanity, as one. We can only do so much from where we are, but we can do SO much because of where we are. If you feel the call, there many ways big or small that you can help:

• Reach out to us if you are or know of communities or business that are located in Sub-Saharan Africa (think fashion designers, distilleries, cosmetics, makers, mobility etc)
• If you know of organizations or initiatives that could be complimentary, together we are stronger — let’s join forces!
• If you are stuck in an apartment with a feeling of helplessness and keen to share your superpowers and join our team!
• Share and follow us on twitter @i4_africa 

Stay tuned as we continue and share with you progress. This is a time for us to stay connected, share good initiatives and signs of humanity; together let’s not just flatten the curve, let’s surpass the curve.