Africa, before the new variant: slow help, fast punishment

To the Congolesas Bijoux and Edith, the news of the new Covid omicron variant, discovered this week by South African scientists, did not cause precisely precisely tachycardy yesterday.In a “prepazed” scenario, without a mask in sight and the absence of the slightest measure of security throughout the port of Kisangani, the fourth city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with half a million inhabitants, the two friends receiveThe threat calmly while they strive to clean clothes aboard one of the merchandise ships about to leave towards the capital, Kinshasa."We have heard it on the radio, it seems that the pandemic is complicated again, right?".Both talk about Covid as something distant, almost happened on another planet;In the past, of course: they do not know anyone who has been positive and much less than vaccinated.

The second is logical: with only 0.05% of the vaccinated population, Congo is the second country that has administered the continent.The indifference of Bijoux and Edith only vanishes when commenting on the world reaction of closing borders with southern Africa to avoid the propagation of the new strain.Bijoux Curva Las Cejas."You, whites are slow to help but fast to punish, that's not right".

Every day they put six times plus memory doses in rich countries than first doses in the poor

The African continent observes with anger and helpless the global closure of borders with up to eight countries in southern Africa - Sudaphrica, Botsuana, Zimbabue, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesoto and Esuatini, despite the fact that only the first two have registered cases - thenthat on Thursday South African epidemiologists warned of the new Covid variant, an apparently more contagious omicron.

The detection of the variant in southern Africcomplete.The difference in distribution is abysmal.Every day, six times plus memory doses (a third injection) are placed in rich countries that first doses in low -income countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which warns of the risk of new variants inLow vaccination areas and where the virus expands without control.Africa meets those requirements: experts calculate that only one in seven positive in African soil is detected.

WHO loads against travel restrictions with Africa by the omicron variant

Until now, the mechanisms to avoid imbalance have been insufficient, as reflects that the COVAX initiative, with the aim of distributing 2.000 million vaccines in impoverished countries, has only received 20% of the doses promised by rich countries.

The South African government came out in Tromba yesterday against restrictions that South African Minister of Health, Joe Phaahla, described as "draconian", "unjustified" and "counterproductive".From the Foreign Ministry, the voice was also raised against international panic.“This last round of travel prohibitions is how to punish South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and for its ability to detect variants faster.An excellent science should be applauded, not punished ”.From the South African executive, the incoherence that only flights from African countries have been prohibited, although positive cases of the new variant in other continents have already been recorded."It is worth noting - they pointed out from exterior - that the reaction is markedly different".

From WHO they asked the international community yesterday to guide "by science" and keep the borders open with the continent.Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, director of the organization in Africa, applauded the transparency of Botsuana and South Africa to share information "that saves lives" and demanded solidarity.“With the omicron variant detected in several regions of the world, establish prohibitions that only affect Africa attack global solidarity.Covid constantly tries to divide us.We will only defend ourselves better from the virus if we work together to find solutions ”.

The resentment for the reaction of rich countries extends between the African on foot.

Yesterday in the streets of Kisangani, the Congolese Claude Nzunzu, English professor, clicks his tongue with rabies when he commented on the Cascade of Restrictions.“It is not fair that South Africa or its neighbors are punished, the same rich countries that have monopolized vaccines penalize Africans who have not been able to protect themselves.Do you know the economic consequences that border closure will have in thousands of families? ”.

In South Africa, which starts in December the high tourism season since it is in the middle of the summer season, several tour operators lamented dozens of cancellations.

If the appearance of a new variant in the African continent has not surprised experts, insolvenience, either.Last spring, the Cameroonian virologist and director of the Centers of Africa for the control and prevention of diseases, John Nkengasong, one of the most respected African voices in the pandemic, criticized the selfishness of rich countries by vaccines.“Europe is trying to vaccinate 80% of its citizens and the US.UU.wants to vaccinate its entire population.Vaccination will end, will impose travel restrictions and then Africa will become the continent of the Covid ”.With almost 70% of the European and American population currently vaccinated, only restrictions and fear were missing for their prophecy to come true.It has happened this week.