News & Analysis: Lesotho
“The IMF approved US$49.1 million emergency support under the Rapid Credit Facility and the Rapid Financing Instrument to help Lesotho meet urgent balance of payments needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The southern African country of Lesotho has recorded its first coronavirus case, its health ministry has said, becoming the last nation on the continent to confirm an infection.”
“Rather than a lack of funds or political will, Africa’s shortfall is triggered by richer nations outcompeting the developing world for critical equipment, says John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).”
“But cautious optimism should be the watchword – some experts claim that the disease is secretly coiling its way through African societies and that when it raises itself to its full dreadful height, a nightmare could ensue.”
“Remittance flows around the world are set to plummet more than $100bn this year, depleting a vital source of financing for developing countries as they struggle with the economic chaos triggered by the pandemic, according to the World Bank.”
“We estimated that the additional health financing needs to prepare, respond, and treat COVID-19 are between 1.5 and 3 percent of GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa covering a period of 250 days.”
“Lesotho has yet to record a case of COVID-19 as of April 13… But the government in Maseru led by Prime Minister Tom Thabane has rolled out a series of economic intervention measures to cushion the country from the impact of the pandemic. In an address on Monday, April 13; Thabane disclosed that a budget had been allocated for a Disaster Relief Fund with another Relief Fund for the private sector.”
“Lesotho has yet to record a case of COVID-19 as of April 13, one of two countries to escape the virus since it reached the continent. The other being the island nation of Comoros. But the government in Maseru led by Prime Minister Tom Thabane has rolled out a series of economic intervention measures to cushion the country from the impact of the pandemic. In an address on Monday, April 13; Thabane disclosed that a budget had been allocated for a Disaster Relief Fund with another Relief Fund for the private sector.”
“Virtually all 55 African countries have confirmed cases. These numbers are set to skyrocket as under-resourced public health systems grapple with containing the pandemic. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, former health minister of Ethiopia, has implored Africa to wake up to the threat , and noted how the continent is least equipped on its own to combat the pandemic.”
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