Continent on the brink of devastation
CORONAVIRUS in Africa is a “ticking timebomb” that will devastate the continent if it is allowed to take hold, a charity has warned.
Street Child said millions of the poorest people on the planet are at risk if Covid-19 gets out of control, as many countries lack the basic medical facilities to treat those who become infected.
The charity, which helps vulnerable children, warned the whole world is at risk if we ignore the virus in Africa and the poorer parts of Asia.
The charity is aiming to raise funds to help one million people in remote areas and refugee camps in the 14 countries it operates in.
For just 50p, one family can be provided with basic health information along with some soap.
General Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army and patron of the charity set up by his son Tom, said that so far Africa had been spared the worst.
He said: “It certainly is present in Africa now, cases rose 45 per cent last week.that’s without widespread testing.
“The real extent of Covid-19 in Africa is anyone’s guess.to be honest, it’s millions at risk. Rather like anyone in the whole world, everyone in Africa and especially the poorest are at risk.
“The big concern of Africa is it has next to zero capacity to treat Covid-19 patients. Sierra Leone has one ventilator.
“The real worry is when people are ill educated, have bad health services and there is huge poverty, it can rip through.
“What Street Child is endeavouring to do is raise funds to equip one million people with basic health information about Covid-19 and the importance of hand washing.
“We need health education to get the public health message across, the same one we have here – social distancing, washing hands – to stop the spread.without that, they have not got a chance.
“It is not just being nice to Africa, it is a smart thing to do. As long as Covid-19 is at large anywhere, the whole world is at risk.
“You might think we are having a terrible time here. In other parts of the world, if it gets out of hand, it will be awful. Decimating, in fact.”
Charity founder Tom Dannatt said: “Hopes that
Covid-19 was somehow going to spare Africa are now a distant dream.
“Instead, we have a new reality we cannot hide from. Covid’s worst is likely to fall hardest on the world’s poorest communities.
“The potential scale of a catastrophe in Africa is terrifying, a ticking time bomb waiting to happen unless the world helps.
“I know for a lot of people the impact of Covid-19 on your own lives sadly means the idea of financially supporting our appeal at this moment is not possible.
“We are obviously not asking you, and you are in our thoughts. But for anyone who does still have the means to consider support, we are absolutely asking you to consider any way you can support this vital appeal.”
● Donate to Street Child’s COVID-19 emergency appeal at street-child.co.uk