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Why the rich must urgently help poor beat coronavirus
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Why the rich must urgently help poor beat coronavirus
(Courtesy: STANDARD MEDIA)
In these challenging times, the world needs more than ever to help those most vulnerable to the effects of Covid-19.
Less affluent communities in the global south and north are vulnerable to the spread of the virus as self-isolation, lockdown, self-quarantine and social distancing will be extremely challenging.
Many governments, banks, foundations, humanitarian and charitable organisations are already mobilising funds and sending them to the front lines. More needs to be done to support those most vulnerable.
People’s lives are at stake. We need to act fast, but also ensure that help is provided as humanly and as transparently as possible. We cannot afford mistakes, because the way in which the world handles this crisis will become the new norm.
The Covid-19 outbreak has already taken a huge toll on Africa’s economy. Low and middle-income countries have experienced a negative impact on several sectors including tourism, export, agricultural and health sectors among others.
The World Bank Africa’s Pulse report predicts that the first recession in Sub-Saharan Africa in the past 25 years will hit the region. It notes that “growth in Sub-Saharan Africa has been significantly impacted by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and is forecast to fall sharply from 2.4 per cent in 2019 to between -2.1 to -5.1 per cent in 2020”.