SADC REGIONAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC - APRIL, 2020 #COVID19SADC
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SADC REGIONAL RESPONSE
TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
APRIL, 2020
#COVID19SADC
INTRODUCTION The impacts are across the world, and the
SADC region has not been spared. The
Since its outbreak in December 2019, socio and economic impacts of COVID-19
COVID-19 has spread exponentially, and in SADC may be unprecedented due to
was declared a global pandemic by the resource limitations, and inadequacies in
World Health Organisation (WHO) on 11 health systems in many of the Member
March 2020. The Southern African Devel- States.
opment Community (SADC) recorded its
first case of COVID-19 in early March, and The immediate expected impact is
since then, the numbers have been increased unplanned public health expen-
increasing. As of 15th April, 2020, fourteen diture. Disruption of supply chains and
(14) of the sixteen (16) SADC Member demand side shocks, will significantly
States have been affected by COVID-19 – affect the commodity prices and result in
Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Democratic weak foreign exchange, while the closures
Republic of Congo, Madagascar, of schools, polytechnics, and
Malawi, Mauritius, Mozam- universities will impact on
bique, Namibia, the learners and youths
Seychelles, South in the region.
Africa, United The socio and
Republic of Tanza- In addition to
nia, Zambia and economic impacts of measures put
Zimbabwe. COVID-19 in SADC may in place by
Member
SADC recognis-
be unprecedented due S t a t e s ,
es that, the to resource limitations, SADC has
put, and will
effects of the and inadequacies in continue
coronavirus
pandemic cut health systems in many putting in
across many aspects of the Member place regional
measures that
of socio and economic States. are critical in
spheres, resulting into
diverse, and complex responding to the
challenges, and devastat- COVID-19.
ing impacts.
KEY ACTIONS TAKEN BY SADC MEMBER STATES
AT THE NATIONAL LEVELS
SADC REGIONAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Adoption of World Health Organisa- Implementation of national level
tion (WHO) guidelines on COVID -19: interventions: SADC Member States
SADC Member States have adopted have undertaken various measures
WHO guidelines on COVID-19, in terms that include preparedness and
of preparedness; coordination; response mechanisms; awareness
planning and monitoring; surveillance, programmes, suspension of inbound
case investigation; infection preven- and outbound flights, suspension of
tion and control; Water, Sanitation and business and tourism travel, set up of
Hygiene (WASH); risk communication border and in-country testing centres;
and community engagement, as well social distancing and cancellation of
as, guidance to schools, workplaces gatherings; adoption of self-isolation
and institutions. and mandatory quarantines for a
minimum of 14 days; and treatment for
those that test positive. Some Member
States have lockdown measures, allow-
ing only essential services to
remain open.
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SADC REGIONAL MEASURES
Ten (10) coordinated regional actions 4. Mobilisation of regional support
taken by SADC in response to COVID-19 towards containment of the
COVID-19 pandemic, and mitigation
1. Disaster Risk Management: Member of its socio-economic impact on the
States have agreed to establish Nation- SADC region. The regional resource
al Emergency Operations Centres to mobilisation initiative builds on
facilitate coordination of logistics and national initiatives, and is based on
stockpiling for disasters at the national gaps identified by individual Member
level, and to establish National Emer- States to respond to the COVID-19
gency Trust Funds and National short to long-term needs. Immediate
Resource Mobilization Strategies to needs, include, resources to support
facilitate mobilization of resources for SADC Member States in the acquiring
national disaster responses. of essential medicines, medical
supplies and medical equipment,
2. Suspension of regional face-to-face especially testing kits, Personal Protec-
meetings and instead, utilizing tive Equipment and ventilators. To this
modern technology such as Video effect, the SADC Secretariat is working
conferences, Webinars and Skype with the African Development Bank
Calls until such a time when the (AfDB) and the Government of the
situation has been contained: On 9th Federal Republic of Germany through
March 2020, SADC convened an Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internatio-
extra-ordinary meeting of SADC Minis- nale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
ters of Health where existing knowl-
edge and information on the COVID-19 5. The SADC Pooled Procurement
outbreak was shared, and Member Services for pharmaceuticals and
States were urged to put in place medical supplies is being imple-
National Preparedness and Response mented to provide sustainable
Plans as well as contingency and emer- availability and access to affordable
gency funds to address gaps in preven- and effective essential medicine and
tion, impact mitigation and other health commodities, and Member
interventions. On 16 to 18th March, States have been encouraged to utilise
2020 SADC convened the SADC Coun- this facility for the procurement of the
cil of Ministers meeting via video needed supplies for prevention,
conference and among others, the treatment and control of COVID-19 and
meeting deliberated on the implemen- any other epidemics.
tation of SADC regional integration
programmes and the region’s response 6. Adoption of guidelines on Harmoni-
to the COVID-19. On 6th April, 2020 sation and Facilitation of Cross
SADC convened an emergency SADC Border Transport Operations across
Council of Ministers meeting via video the Region during the COVID-19. The
conference where the Ministers adopt- guidelines are to facilitate and ease the
ed regional Guidelines for the harmoni- process of transporting essential
sation and facilitation of movement of goods and services within the region
critical goods and services across SADC during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
SADC REGIONAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Member States have agreed to estab-
lish National Transport and Trade Facili-
3. Re-establishment and expansion of tation Committee (TTFC) or use similar
the Technical Committee for Coordi- body structures (comprising officials
nating and Monitoring the Imple- from the Ministries responsible for
mentation of the SADC Protocol on Transport, Health, Police/Army, and
Health, which has been meeting on a Trade) to coordinate the implementa-
regular basis to advise the region on tion of the guidelines, and resolve
health and related matters, and other operational issues at borders or road
socio-economic matters related to the blocks. In addition, a SADC Regional
COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 Trade and Transport Facilita-
tion Cell (TTTFC) has been created at
the SADC Secretariat to assist and
coordinate Member States and Corri-
dor Groups in implementing guide-
lines, and Member States can contact
the TTFC Coordinator, Mr. Lovemore
Bingandadi at lbingandadi@sadc.int
or bingconsult@gmail.com.
Telephone +267 71 828
493.
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SADC REGIONAL MEASURES
7. Partnership with the United Nations 9. Monitoring and analysing the
Educational, Scientific and Cultural socio-economic impact of the
Organization (UNESCO). To support COVID-19 on SADC economies. The
SADC Member States in mitigating the SADC Macroeconomic Subcommittee,
effects of the coronavirus on educa- in coordination with the SADC Secre-
tion, and in ensuring the continuity of tariat, has been monitoring and analys-
education and learning programmes, ing the impacts of the COVID-19 on
the SADC Secretariat has partnered SADC economies, and providing policy
with UNESCO on an initiative known as recommendations to Member States
#LearningNeverStops. Through this on a continuous basis.
partnership, the SADC Secretariat and
UNESCO commit to work with SADC 10. Daily updates on the status of
Member States, and other Global Coali- COVID-19 in the region. Daily
tion partners to provide support to updates on COVID-19 in the region are
Member States to ensure continuity of shared on the SADC website on:
education under the hashtag #Learn- h t t p s : / / w w w. s a d c . i n t / i s s u e s / -
ingNeverStops. Support will be provid- covid-19/ to facilitate sharing of
ed to SADC countries to come up with information and experiences.
and implement innovative and context
appropriate solutions to provide The SADC Secretariat commends the
education and learning remotely, while Governments of the Member States for
leveraging hi-tech, low-tech and their efforts in responding to the
no-tech approaches, and seek equita- COVID-19, and calls upon everyone to play
ble solutions and universal access. their part and to adhere to all measures
being put in place by their Governments.
8. Introduction of SADC Regional
Status report on COVID 19, which are SADC Secretariat remains committed to
produced and shared with Member the coordination of regional responses to
States on a weekly basis with recom- the COVID-19 pandemic, and appeals for
mendations for consideration by continued regional co-operation and
Member States. solidarity in the efforts to contain and
address the COVID-19 pandemic.
SADC REGIONAL RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
For more information contact:
Ms. Barbara Lopi
Head of Communication and Public Relations
SADC Secretariat
Email: blopi@sadc.int Telephone: +267 72 11 2560
1 REGION, 16 NATIONS WORKING TOWARDS A COMMON FUTURE
www..sadc.int sadc_secretariat facebook.com/sadc.int
@SADC_News prinfo@sadc.int youtube.com/sadc.int
UNION OF
COMOROS
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