Preparedness for COVID-19 in the oncology community in Africa
Verna Vanderpuye
Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan
Hannah Simonds
Published:April 03, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30220-5
The world is experiencing an unprecedented health crisis with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic threatening human existence and livelihood. Patients with cancer are thought to be more susceptible and have higher morbidity and mortality rates from COVID-19 than the general population.1 Africa, with a heterogeneity of economies, cultures, and disease patterns, is thankfully the last continent to be hit by the pandemic. We acknowledge the points made by our colleagues from Morocco.2 With many lessons learnt from other countries and the experiences within Africa from the Ebola and cholera epidemics, Africa should be prepared for COVID-19. However, with a record of poor economic discipline, weak health systems, and poor health-seeking behaviours across the continent, outcomes could be dismal. Unfortunately, poverty, low health literacy rates, and cultural practices that negatively affect cancer outcomes will result in poor assimilation of COVID-19 containment strategies in Africa.
