The Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the globe has become an additional burden in Africa’s list of epidemics and noncommunicable diseases, highlighting the continent’s vulnerability to disease, and thereby reinforcing the need to focus on a multidisciplinary approach when countering outbreaks of disease on the continent.

This was indicated by speakers during a webinar hosted by think tank, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra), on April 29.

With Africa set for a population boom by 2030, and urbanisation and deforestation set to increase, the continent is susceptible to increased health risks and “diseases of the future”.  

Therefore, there was already a need for a multifaceted approach when tackling disease in Africa, and addressing the Covid-19 pandemic should follow this approach.

Moreover, solutions for tackling diseases on the continent should shy away from only focusing on short-term solutions. This has been evidenced with the continent’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, where countries were scrambling for resources and aiming to curb the spread without an adequate supply of medical supplies and equipment, for example.

Moreover, the continent should move away from band aid solutions informed by limited academic perspectives, which often do not work and sometimes leave people more vulnerable to disease.

There is therefore a need to approach disease according to the context of the society – especially considering the way diseases manifest and how they can have more of an impact in Africa, given that the continent is vulnerable through social and economic factors.

For example, the millions living below the poverty line in Africa are more vulnerable to risk from the disease, owing to unequal access to healthcare for example.

From a South African perspective, a large portion of the population has HIV, which leaves them more vulnerable to being affected by Covid-19, because of weakened immune systems, and the disease being particularly dangerous to those with underlying conditions.

Moreover, this is exacerbated by socioeconomic factors, with, for example, a lack of clean and reliable safe water access, as well as living in densely populated areas, making it difficult for people to practice safe physical distancing.

Therefore, there is a need for a multidisciplinary approach to dealing with disease, with collaboration across differ government departments, various organisations, as well as private sector involvement.

The Covid-19 outbreak has also heightened and brought to the fore the vulnerabilities of informal workers, traders and business.

These have been disadvantaged during the lockdown owing to a lack of proper planning from government, it was noted, as relief and mitigation measures require formalisation for these to be implemented.

While there have been efforts to formalise informal workers, this can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. It could provide some security and protection for their labour and business. However, it is a cumbersome process which also has a cost, which is often unaffordable to many in this sector.

Therefore, it was emphasised that rather than pushing people into the formal sector, there is an opportunity now to instead rethink the formation of the economy, and to adapt the process and manner of formalisation, in a way that ensures the informal economy becomes and valuable and productive part of the country.

For example, a short-term solution is the creation of market access. Despite many informal business being located in communities, they are not always easy to find and they lack the means to market themselves, and they also lose out to bigger retailers who provide variety for shoppers.

Therefore, the government should immediately create marketplaces in different communities and areas where informal business can trade, but in a manner that adheres to physical distancing regulations. This is especially pressing considering the aim of reducing the number of people using public transport to access supermarkets, for example.