News & Analysis: Human capital
“Although the dropout rate has remained stable, repetition rates have increased significantly in Senegal. The high repetition rate is concerning, first because it translates to a lack of learning, and second because it will increase the age range of students in the next cohort.”
“Morocco plans to launch its vaccine production capabilities soon, with the initial batch scheduled to be released in a few weeks.”
“President Macky Sall of Senegal, said yesterday that he welcome the support of Team Europe and other partners, including the United States and the World Bank Group, for their support in constructing a manufacturing plant in Senegal to produce vaccines against COVID-19 and other endemic diseases.”
“Senegal could begin producing COVID-19 vaccines next year under an agreement with Belgian biotech group Univercells aimed at boosting Africa’s drug-manufacturing ambitions, a source involved in funding the project said.”
“Efforts made by African scientists have been underway, but they have failed to get support from either the private or public sector.”
“Access to education has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments across southern Africa closed down educational institutions for the greater part of 2020. At the beginning of 2021, we are beginning to see some of the costs.”
Yawa Hansen-Quao, Executive Director of Emerging Public Leaders, discusses the importance of strengthening Africa’s public service and of increasing intra-African collaboration for a stronger post-pandemic recovery.
“The only laboratory for human vaccine production is at Yaba, Lagos, but it has not been functional for many years now. It will need a lot of money to revamp it and increase its production capacity. It will also need to be staffed with people who have the requisite expertise and experience in modern technologies for production of safer and more efficacious vaccines such as recombinant DNA technology.”
“The Society of Medical Doctors president Victor Mithi said they need volunteers, particularly clinicians, nurses, and laboratory personnel that are either not employed or have free time, to work at equivalent grade allowances in COVID-19 centers in central hospital isolation wards and new field hospitals to be set up by the government.”
COVID-19 Africa Watch talks to Julie Gichuru about the Mastercard Foundation’s response to COVID-19 in Africa.
A hub for information, analysis, and the global response to COVID-19’s impact on Africa