Tag Archive for: Department of Health

Sisipho Ntsabo
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Third Wave of COVID-19 infections hit Africa

In Africa, there is an alarming third wave as the vaccine rollout is hampered. In recent light of the vaccine rollout in all parts of the world, third world countries vaccine rollout seems to be stagnant, experts fearing that it may take decades to vaccinate their respective countries.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) regional office has reported that the third wave of Covid-19 cases is spreading faster in Africa. On Thursday, 17 June 2021, WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti warned, “With a rapid increase in the number of cases and increasing reports of severe disease, the latest wave threatens to be the worst to date in Africa,”

According to the regional office, for five consecutive weeks, Africa has seen an increase in Covid-19 cases, signaling the beginning of the third wave in Africa. “As of 20 June—day 48 into the new wave—Africa had recorded around 474 000 new cases—a 21% increase compared with the first 48 days of the second wave.” As reported by WHO, the pandemic is resurging in 12 African countries and at the current rate of infections, the ongoing surge is set to surpass the previous one by early July.

18 African countries have already used over 80% of their COVAX vaccine supplies, 29 have administered over 50% of their suppliers, and eight have exhausted their vaccine supply. It is important to be aware that just over 1% of Africa’s population has been fully vaccinated. Globally, 2.7 billion doses have been administered, with just under 1.5% having been administered in Africa.

Dr Moeti is urging the international community to help Africa deal with the Covid-19 vaccine supply as the surge threatens to impair not only Africa’s economy but society.

 

 

Sisipho Ntsabo
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African countries introduce travel restrictions on India

Africa’s global mobility continues to suffer as the world watches the COVID-19 crisis in India. Several African countries have introduced travel restrictions, and some have temporarily banned travel from India. This comes as India’s coronavirus cases skyrocket and new infection numbers reach record numbers.

Africa is largely dependent on India for their vaccine supply as India, whose Serum Institute is the source of the AstraZeneca vaccines delivered by the global COVAX project. India has placed an export ban on vaccines due to the increased domestic demand. This has adversely affected Africa’s rollout of its vaccination programs.

Countries in Africa have introduced new travel restrictions in response to India’s COVID-19 crisis:

  • Malawi – Malawi’s Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has also announced a ban on travellers from India.
  • Nigeria – Nigeria’s chairman of the presidential steering committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, announced in a statement that the country will ban travellers coming from India from May 4.
  • Tanzania – Tanzania’s health ministry announced that Tanzania has suspended flights to and from India amid the Covid-19 surge in India.
  • Kenya – Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has announced that flights to and from India will be temporarily banned for the next two weeks from May 1st.
  • Uganda – Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng reported that Uganda has so far recorded one case of the Indian strain of the coronavirus. “Further to the existing Covid-19 control measures, all travellers and passengers originating from India shall not be allowed into Uganda starting at midnight of May 1, 2021,” she said.

 

Not only is the COVID-19 a threat to Africa’s vaccine supply but also global economic growth. India is the world’s sixth-largest economy and is a contributor to economic growth. These new strict travel restrictions affect the airlines and airports, and businesses dependent on the travel industry.

One of the industries heavily dependent on the travel industry is the global mobility industry. PWC reports that “40% of companies told us the pandemic has had a moderate or significant impact on the ability of mobile employees to continue with business as usual. Two-thirds of companies who had employees on secondment or transfer at the outset of the pandemic had offered them the option of returning home. As for future relocations, many have been postponed, but 58% of surveyed companies said they were allowing employees to start new roles from their home country.”

This is an adverse effect for the global mobility industry in Africa, as smaller African economies depend on the mobility of employees from large transnational companies. The ripple effect on smaller economies is much to think about. As Relocation Africa, a global mobility and immigration company, we know have seen and felt the struggles of this pandemic. We can only hope that in the near future, things will look up. In our next article, we speak in greater detail about the COVID-19 impact on global mobility.

At Relocation Africa, we specialise in mobility, research, immigration and remuneration. Feel free to contact us. We are always happy to help.

Sisipho Ntsabo
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Pfizer Vaccine Arrives in South Africa

Pfizer Vaccine Arrives in South Africa

More than 325 000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have arrived in South Africa. The Pfizer vaccine arrived on May 2 at OR Tambo International Airport. This is the first shipment with similar-sized shipments being expected weekly until the end of May. There is an expected total of 1.3 million Pfizer vaccines to be delivered.

Photo Credit: Dr Zweli Mkhize

In a statement released by the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Pfizer vaccine will undergo quality assurance at the National Control Laboratory and be distributed thereafter. Further in his statement, Dr Zweli Mkhize stated, “The vaccine supply will increase to an average of 636 480 doses weekly from 31 May which will see us accumulating close to 4.5-million doses by the end of June,” said Mkhize in his Sunday statement.

Phase two of the South African COVID-19 vaccination rollout plan, to vaccinate people 60 years and above is set to start on May 17. Phase two of this rollout be finished by November 2021. The Department of Health aims to vaccinate approximately 16.6 million people during this time.

This is a good sign for the mass vaccination in South Africa. More so, it is a greater win for relocation and global mobility during this pandemic. We hope in the next few months, there will be greater progress with vaccination rollout across Africa. For more information on vaccine rollout and progress in Africa, click https://mediahack.co.za/datastories/coronavirus/vaccinations/?referrer=bhekisisa-vaccines-widget  

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

 

 

 

 

Sisipho Ntsabo
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EU and ACP seal a new agreement: Post-Cotonou Agreement

European Union (EU) and Organisation African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) have sealed a new agreement.

The EU and ACP (which consists of 79 states) have both come to the end of negotiations for a new treaty that will replace the current legal framework – the Cotonou agreement. The Cotonou Agreement is a treaty between the EU and ACP that provides several innovative approaches to cooperation, all of which aim to address more effectively the pressing and varying challenges in the development of ACP countries.

The EU-ACP partnership focuses on the eradication of poverty and sustainable development. The new post-Cotonou agreement includes a broader range of policy areas such as democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development etc. The agreement will include three regional protocols for Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific concentrating on the individual regions’ specific needs.

Photo Source: European Union, 2018

The negotiators of the deal reported that brokering the deal was a long process, and not an easy one.  “We mainly disagreed on migration, human rights issues and sexual orientation,” said Negotiator Robert Dussey. The reason for the long process was due to trying to reconcile the EU and ACP countries and their individual perspectives on this matter.

The EU and the ACP hope that the new agreement would strengthen the cooperation on an international field. The OACPS and the EU represent over 1.5 billion people and more than half of the seats at the United Nations. As the protocol of negotiations of the agreement lists migration management as a high priority area, there sets to be a promotion of legal migration.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.