BACKGROUND
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Novel Coronvirus, 2019-nCOV is now officially called COVID-19 (CO – Corona, VI – Virus, D-Disease).
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- All ECOWAS Member States were informed of the epidemic by WAHO-DG;
- WAHO-DG tasked a core team fully dedicated to monitor and lead the regional response to Covid-19;
- Provide a region-wide disease surveillance view, and conduct situational analyses;
- Monitoring of alerts in the regions and sharing of the epidemiological situation.
- Provide regular updates to member states on disease spread, strategic and technical guidelines and directives and scientific knowledge;
- Stratification of the Member States in West Africa into two groups according to risk levels (flights and passenger volumes);
- Rapid assessment of country readiness, using the readiness checklist (15 of 15 countries responded to WAHO questionnaires);
- Mobilization of expertise in countries for technical support;
- Identifying Suppliers and Stockpiling key commodities (e.g., diagnostic equipment, PPE supplies, thermal scanners).
- WAHO/ACDC/ WHO joint Regional training on Coronavirus Diagnostic
- TIBMOLBIOL kits for the diagnostic of the Covid-19 / 100 test
- Deployment of laboratory experts in Burkina Faso
- 6 laboratory staff Trained on the protocol
- Provide diagnostic kits / 200 tests
- Contract with Word courrier
EMERGENCY MEETING OF ECOWAS MINISTERS OF HEALTH ON THE PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TO THE COVID – 19 EPIDEMIC
Strengthen coordination, communication, and collaboration amongst Member States in preparedness for Covid-19 epidemic, including cross-border collaboration;
- Enhance surveillance and management measures for Covid-19, particularly at entry points – air, land and sea;
- Urgently strengthen critical national capacities for diagnosing and managing cases;
- Develop a strategic costed regional preparedness plan based on Member States’ priorities for governments, partners, and the private sector to support;
- Promote multi-sectoral national efforts using one-health approach to maximize impact;
- Step up communication to ensure that the public receives accurate, appropriate and timely information regarding the epidemic;
- Implement robust measures to assure availability of critical medical supplies, including laboratory materials, and personal protective equipment in the region;
- Work closely with the relevant authorities of National Governments and the affected Government to monitor and assure the health situation of our citizens resident in affected countries.
- Regular communications with member states including:
- Weekly online communication with NCIs and Countries representatives;
- Ad hoc Video conference calls (4) on epidemiological situation and countries update;
- Periodic emails with updates on the disease spread, scientific advancements, and health policy guidelines.
NEXT STEPS
- Launching of the Regional strategic P&R to Covid-19 (March 2020)
- Training+++
- Surveillance and Point of Entry
- Risk Communication
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Case management
- Research
- Simulation Exercise
- Regular Communication +++
- Technical and logistical support to ECOWAS Member States
- Being a presentation by Dr LOKOSSOU K. Virgil, Head of Division, Health Emergency and Disaster Management, ECOWAS-RCSDC, at the on-going two-day Simulation Exercise to Strengthen Regional Preparedness and Readiness Capacities to COVID-19 in West Africa, holding in Abuja from 5-6 March, 2020.