WHO sends 43-man ‘surge team’ to SA
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has appointed a team of 43 health experts to South Africa to join the efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has appointed a team of 43 health experts to South Africa to join the efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 surge team assembled by the WHO is due to start working in the country soon where they'll be guiding government and professionals through the pandemic.
On Friday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize joined WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus in welcoming the organisation's first members.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, will head up the mission.
“South Africa is the most affected country in the region, accounting for over 60% of all deaths and cases in the region. However, we do know that things could have been much worse,” says Moeti.
“The initial epidemiological models projected a much higher burden of cases but this has been averted through the government’s quick and decisive actions,” Moeti explains.
“This surge team from the WHO is a mobilisation of experts mainly from the regional office and the African region and from WHO headquarters in Geneva.”
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The experts will offer support in various fields such as surveillance, case management, and infection prevention and control at national and provincial levels.
Moeti adds: “We are supplementing WHO’s technical assistance in several hard-hit countries in the region that have approached us for support by increasing the number of experts on the ground who will be integrated in the national response and reinforce national and local capacities.
“We plan to deploy 43 experts in a couple of phases. This is the first phases consisting of 17 experts including Professor David Haymann.”
South Africa is ranked fifth on the international list of countries with the highest coronavirus infection rates.
The country’s stats sit at 572 865 cumulative cases and 11 270 Covid-19 related deaths.
The recovery rate continues to increase and now stands at 76%.
Listen to Dr Matshidiso Moeti below:
