Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 10 issue 2 2020
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
African Federation for Emergency Medicine resources for managing COVID-19 in low resourced settings

Jurnal Internasional Afrika vol. 10 issue 2 2020
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
African Federation for Emergency Medicine resources for managing COVID-19 in low resourced settings

African Federation for Emergency Medicine resources for managing COVID-19 in low resourced
settings

Despite containment efforts, infection with SARS-CoV-2 has reached
pandemic status. More than three-quarters of the world's nations and
territories have been affected, and cases are being found in previously
unaffected areas each day [1]. At the time of writing, there were
7,039,918 confirmed cases worldwide, and 404,396 deaths [1]; these
numbers are expected to grow in the coming months. Although data
surrounding the novel coronavirus are rapidly evolving, initial estimates
depict a dire situation: 20% of infections lead to severe or critical
disease [2]. Mortality has varied across settings, but early data suggest
a case fatality rate near 4% [4,5].
It is increasingly likely that the countries with the least capacity to
respond will soon be affected on a large scale [6]. There, highly vulnerable
populations, compromised by malnutrition and comorbid diseases (HIV,
tuberculosis, etc.), face a greater risk of developing severe and critical
disease [3]. Early recognition, resuscitation and referral have proven key to
effective responses, yielding lower mortality [7]. These processes are,
however, significantly more challenging in low-resource settings (LRS)
[3,6]. Most LRS have scarce critical care resources, with limitations in the
availability of oxygen and other basics, as well as healthcare provider
shortages [8,9]. Immediate targeted efforts are needed to assist these settings
in managing large numbers of acutely ill COVID-19 patients.

Editorial

www.elsevier.com/locate/afjem

afem

16 June 2020

peri irawan

pdf

english

text