The Corona Virus Pandemic: Was Africa Caught Flatfooted?

Abstract

Despite an earlier warning about the occurrence of coronavirus in future, the world seems to have been caught by surprise. In particular, Africa did not appear to have the financial readiness to afford vaccines or healthcare for the affected. The World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed COVID-19 a global health crisis in January 2020. Since its detection in Wuhan, China, the infection moved to Europe, particularly Italy in early March and eventually spread to the rest of the world. However, in Africa, the pandemic could have brought unprecedented damage with ripple effects to economies. From the events following the pandemic, it appeared that Africa was not prepared. This study is structured as a research paper that interrogates the literature and presents the key elements of pandemic preparedness for Africa. The new conceptual model can guide researchers and policymakers in conducting further research for scholarly discourse and practical application.