How Ebola experience provided insights to fight against COVID-19 in Senegal
“The first response to this pandemic was to set up an emergency operations centre to lead and coordinate all operations,”
According to the report of DownToEarth, the COVID-19 pandemic comes almost six years after Senegal treated its only confirmed case of Ebola in the 2014 outbreak in West Africa that affected Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The experience from that outbreak has guided authorities in properly designing and closely coordinating efforts in containing the current pandemic.
At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, Dakar’s Pasteur Institute was one of few laboratories in West Africa that could test for the virus. However, the escalating speed and geographic spread of the pandemic and the economic disruption is nothing like the country has experienced in recent years. It has cast doubts over the country’s ability to cope in the long run. The military, with some of the best doctors in the country, has been called upon to build mobile clinics for testing as well as to ensure that measures are enforced.
Integrated response
Financing the cost of the fight against the COVID-19
But with almost half of the country’s population living under poverty, there are concerns that a prolonged lockdown could lead to a social disorder. People may ignore the ban, especially on movement, and go out in search of their daily bread.
To extend support to the marginalised, the government approved 50 billion francs CFA ($85 million).
The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA), which collaborates with the Institute Pasteur of Dakar on testing, has called for immediate deployment of health experts, medications and other necessary medical supplies to Africa.
The organisation is warning that in many African countries — whose health systems are among the most fragile in the world and who have fewer resources than those available in Europe, China or the United States — the situation is potentially catastrophic.
Innovative communication method: artist as the medium
A global Covid-19 response index by Foreign Policy magazine gave Senegal the highest possible score for its communication strategy - and top musicians too joined the effort to inform people.
In April they clubbed together to release Daan Corona, meaning "Defeat coronavirus" in the local Wolof language.
The song features famous Senegalese musician Youssou Ndour calling on people to stay at home and wash their hands.
There are also colourful murals on the walls of Senegal's oldest university calling on students to share the right coronavirus prevention techniques with their classmates, rather than sharing coronavirus.
While that's now largely been relaxed, on Dakar's streets face masks are still obligatory, a rule that was introduced as early as April. Today all of Senegal's 14 regions are equipped to treat coronavirus patients and there are now just 26 patients remaining on ventilators across Senegal.
Welcoming expatriates and tourists
When international flights re-opened in July, there were concerns that there would be a spike in cases. Senegal, like many other African countries, has asked visitors to produce a negative Covid-19 certificate, dated no more than a week before travel.
On arrival passengers have their temperature taken. So far, these measures seem to have worked, with low levels of imported cases.
Local healthcare system: improvements are needed
Healthcare in Senegal is a center topic of discourse in understanding the wellbeing and vitality of the Senegalese people. Currently, there is a need to improve Senegal's infrastructure to promote a healthy, decent living environment for the Senegalese. Additionally, the country needs more doctors and health personnel, particularly general practitioners, gynecologists, obstetricians, pediatricians, and cardiologists. Moreover, there is a strong need to have more of these personnel in rural areas: as of 2008, Senegal has only twenty full-fledged hospitals, seven of which are in Dakar. From approximately 1905 to the present, there have been significant shifts in Senegal's healthcare system, the system's structures, specific diseases that are problematic in Senegal, as well as issues affecting women and children and access to healthcare in Senegal.
