Gains In Health, Education, Social Protections Slow In Africa Prior To Pandemic; Nearly 20% Of COVID-Related Deaths In Africa Associated With Diabetes; Doctors In Kenya Threaten Strike Over Safety

Devex: Progress in health and education slows in Africa while social protections deteriorate
“Overall gains made in health and education are slowing on the African continent and progress on social protection is deteriorating, according to a decade’s worth of data on African governance compiled and analyzed by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. The 2020 Ibrahim Index of African Governance — which provides the most comprehensive dataset measuring governance across the continent — found that while governance has improved overall during the past decade, the rate of advancement has slowed in the past five years. … The data runs through the end of 2019 and does not account for the effects of COVID-19…” (Jerving, 11/16).

Quartz Africa: Nearly one in five Covid-19 deaths in Africa are linked to the rise of diabetes
“…The World Health Organization now says 18.3% — or nearly one in five — Covid-19 deaths in Africa were found to be among people with diabetes in an analysis of 14 African countries. So far about 46,626 deaths have been recorded in Africa, a number that is much lower in both absolute and per capita terms than those of Europe and the Americas…” (Edward-Ekpu, 11/16).

The Telegraph: Four doctors die of Covid-19 in 24 hours, as a second wave hits Kenya
“After four doctors died of Covid-19 in 24 hours in Kenya there are mounting concerns about the safety of frontline workers. The country’s doctors’ union has told the government its members will go on strike in three weeks unless they receive more personal protective equipment (PPE). It is thought that 10 doctors died in the last week but the figures remain unclear. … The news of the deaths comes amid mounting fears that a second coronavirus wave is hitting East Africa’s most developed economy…” (Brown, 11/16).

Additional coverage of the doctors’ threat to strike in Kenya is available from BBC News.

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