Page 26 - 41st Summit Brochure

SADC COVID-19 RESPONSE

Introduction minimum of 14 days; and treatment for those who test
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and positive. Some Member States have introduced lockdown
the SADC region has been doing just that to combat the measures, while allowing essential services to operate.
novel coronavirus identified in 2019 and formally known
as COVID-19. Disaster Risk Management
Described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Member States have agreed to establish National
as the most serious health emergency in generations, the Emergency Operations Centres to facilitate coordination
COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global socio- of logistics and stockpiling for disasters at national level,
economic landscape and resulted in the loss of many lives. and to establish National Emergency Trust Funds and
The priority for SADC Member States in their National Resource Mobilization Strategies to facilitate the
response to COVID-19 has focused on the health and mobilization of resources for national disaster responses.
wellbeing of the public and has involved efforts to
strengthen the public health systems while implementing Suspension of Regional Face-to-Face Meetings
measures to curtail the spread of the virus, amid concerns On 9 March 2020, SADC convened an extraordinary
that national medical facilities could be overwhelmed as meeting of SADC Ministers of Health where existing
the virus spreads. knowledge and information on the COVID-19 outbreak
Most SADC Member States have implemented was shared, and Member States agreed to suspend physical
stringent measures to restrict the movement of people, meetings until the situation improves.
encourage social distancing and promote sound hygiene
standards in order to curb the spread of COVID-19. Re-establishment and Expansion of the Technical
24 Unprecedented lockdowns have been implemented in a Committee for Coordinating and Monitoring the
number of SADC Member States with most land borders Implementation of the SADC Protocol on Health
closed or restricted, except for essential cargo and residents. The Technical Committee is meeting on a regular basis to
In recent months, vaccination is a top priority for advise the region on health and related matters, and other
Member States to protect citizens from the impact and socio-economic matters related to the COVID-19
effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. pandemic.

Key Actions taken by SADC Member States Mobilisation of Regional Support Towards Containment
Various measures have been taken by the 16 SADC of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Mitigation of its Socio-
Member States, at national and regional levels, to address Economic Impact on the SADC Region
the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the interventions are The regional resource mobilisation initiative builds on
the following. national initiatives, and is based on gaps identified by
individual Member States to respond to the COVID-19
Adoption of World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines short to long-term needs. Immediate needs include
on COVID -19 resources to support SADC Member States in acquiring
SADC Member States have adopted WHO guidelines on essential medicines, medical supplies and medical
COVID-19, in terms of preparedness; coordination; equipment, especially testing kits, Personal Protective
planning and monitoring; surveillance and case Equipment (PPE) and ventilators. To this effect, the SADC
investigation; infection prevention and control; Water, Secretariat is working with the African Development Bank
Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); risk communication and (AfDB) and the Government of the Federal Republic of
community engagement, as well as guidance to schools, Germany through Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
workplaces and institutions. Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Implementation of National Level Interventions SADC Pooled Procurement Services for Pharmaceuticals
SADC Member States have undertaken various measures and Medical Supplies
that include preparedness and response mechanisms; The SADC Pooled Procurement is intended to provide
awareness programmes; suspension of inbound and sustainable access to affordable and effective essential
outbound flights; suspension of business and tourism medicine and health commodities, and Member States
travel; set up of border and in-country testing centres; have been encouraged to use this facility for the
social distancing and cancellation of gatherings; adoption procurement of supplies for prevention, treatment and
of self-isolation and mandatory quarantines for a control of COVID-19 and any other epidemics.