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Science & Health

Africa’s

COVID-19

millionaires

and the

coronavirus A recovered COVID-19 patient with medics in full PPEs

s the world re-opens under a would not have as many severe cases suspected to have disappeared at
Acloud of a seemingly tamed or deaths as the rest of the world, but the Jomo Kenyatta international
pandemic, and a virus that the these countries should still expect Airports, just weeks upon arrival
human race has been forced by 190,000 deaths and five million from Ethiopia. Unconfirmed sources
economic circumstances to learn to additional within this first year. indicate that the stolen items may
live with, two narratives are emerging have been sold across the border to
about COVID-19 in Africa. The first While this study may have sent a Tanzania.
is that cases are slowing down in sense of hope; across Africa, the
terms of the positivity rate, and a continent’s fragile health systems And as medical workers complained
decreasing of COVID-19 deaths toll, and economic challenges were of luck of PPE’s reports by
in a continent with weak healthcare concerning. Therefore, it was investigators and information from
systems. expected that individual countries the country’s parliament indicate
across the continent would use the country may have lost well over
The situation continues to baffle the overwhelming international $7million in dubious procurement
experts as the pandemic in Africa goodwill, development partner contracts by the Kenya Medical
may actually have been subdued support and donations and corporate Supplies Authority (KEMSA.
and the continent is likely to have CSR contributions to improve health
avoided catastrophe due to variety infrastructure and services. In a recent Executive Order, Uhuru
of reasons - early action to prevent Kenyatta, Kenya’s president, asked
imported cases and a young Africa has so far recorded the lowest authorities to speed up investigations
population. Whether this situation number of coronavirus infections in into alleged impropriety at Kenya
can be sustained, the jury is still out the developing world, but reports Medical Supplies Authority, which
there. of graft are rife. In a characteristic have led to a probe by the country’s
nature of African governments and Ethics and Anti-Corruption
The other is that the pandemic the pervasive presence of corruption, Commission.
in Africa may have created new the public outrage is over a string of
millionaires across the continent suspect contracts, leading massive Mr Kenyatta said anyone found
through corruption. To public loses of public funds. culpable, no matter their status,
officers and politicians, the should be “brought to book”. Jonah
COVID-19 presented a Godsend, While corruption is not anything Manjari, the head of KEMSA, and
golden opportunity to enrich new across the continent, Covid-19 other officials have been suspended
themselves risking millions of seem to have given an opportunity over alleged irregularities in the
people, including medical workers for another level of looting of public procurement of personal protective
who are the frontline fighters against funds on such a scale never seen equipment for medical workers.. So
the corona virus. before, particularly given that this far no one has been arrested for any
was being done, all in public glare. wrong doing in the matter.
A recent modeling study from
the WHO Africa Regional Office In Kenya for instance, PPE’s donated In South Africa, the story is the
estimated that 47 African countries by the Jack Maa foundation, are same, with reports of suspect deals

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