COVID-19 Response in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons From Uganda

Type Journal Article Author Ivan Lumu URL https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/article/covid19-response-in-subsaharan-africa-lessons-from-uganda/773F4FC4E4A33F5A4EEFE143EE92126C Pages 1-3 Publication Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ISSN 1935-7893, 1938-744X Date 15/07/2020 Extra Publisher: Cambridge University Press DOI 10.1017/dmp.2020.248 Library Catalog Cambridge University Press Language en Abstract The prolongation of the Ebola epidemic may have allowed some countries to prepare and respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. In Uganda, the surveillance structure built for Ebola virus disease (EVD) has become a pillar in the COVID-19 response. This testing and tracing apparatus has limited disease spread to clusters with zero mortality compared with the neighboring East African countries. As more sub-Saharan countries implement social distancing to contain the outbreak, the interventions should be phased and balanced with health risk and socioeconomic situation. However, having a decision-making matrix would better guide the response team. These initial lessons from EVD-experienced Uganda may be helpful to other countries in the region. Short Title COVID-19 Response in Sub-Saharan Africa