Covid resources: Developing countries at the mercy of their wealthier counterparts
16 Mar 2021
Wealthier countries remain determined to keep essential Covid-19 resources to themselves. (Photo by Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
Wealthier countries remain determined to keep essential Covid-19 resources to themselves, rather than facilitating easier trade of such items with developing countries, despite talks at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
In October 2020, India and South Africa proposed a temporary intellectual property waiver on equipment, medication and vaccines related to the Covid-19 pandemic. They presented a possible way to help to combat Covid-19, while ensuring future growth in developing countries. But negotiations on 9 March between WTO members yielded no concessions from several developed countries.
National Health Laboratory calls for participants to test antibody tests
16 Mar 2021
The NHLS will collect samples from at least 300 participants and bank them for use in future rapid or serological tests. (Photo by Naveen Sharma/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The National Health Laboratory Service is looking for people to participate in a study aimed at evaluating the performance of Covid-19 rapid antibody tests.
Samples collected from the participants will be used to create banks of known positive and negative controls that scientists around the country can use to quickly and accurately test any rapid or serological tests, which check for antibodies to the novel coronavirus.
SADC’s silence on access to Covid-19 vaccines is too loud
11 Mar 2021
All people living in Southern Africa need equitable vaccine access. Time is short and our people are dying, so the regional body should act fast. (Photo by Luke Dray/Getty Images)
Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic a year ago, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), comprising 16 countries in the sub-region, has taken a reasonably active role in providing information and guidance to states on preventing the rapid spread of the deadly virus.
However, the regional bloc has been almost completely silent on states’ human rights obligations during the pandemic, particularly in relation to access to the Covid-19 vaccine. So far its only significant statement on vaccines has come from SADC’s current chair, President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique. On 29 January, he urged the bloc’s ministers of health to establish a strong regional strategy of pooling r
A survival kit for healthcare workers, before the Covid-19 third wave hits
11 Mar 2021
At risk: Nurses outside a Covid-19 ward at Tembisa hospital. Global studies find healthcare workers are experiencing an increase in mental-health issues since the advent of the pandemic. (Marco Longari/AFP)
(Photos by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)
Exhausted healthcare workers have an estimated two months of precious respite to build resilience to burnout, read up on mental health injury symptoms and discover where to get help before the third Covid-19 wave hits.
This while they continue to suffer twice the Covid-19 infection rate of the communities they care for, according to experts who spoke to the
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