Page - 549 - in VULNERABLE - The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19

549COVID-19 and Africa: Does “One Size Fit All” in Public Health Intervention? COVID-19 supplies such as test kits, ventilators, and professional- grade personal protective equipment (PPE). Accordingly, global pub- lic health analysts worry that Africa may be overrun by COVID-19.21 In a headline-catching remark, Melinda Gates stated in April 2020 that “[t]he disease is going to bite hard on the continent. I see some dead bodies in the streets of Africa.”22 With the world’s lowest levels of per capita health expenditure, and with underdeveloped health sectors, most African nations’ path of least resistance in fighting the pandemic lies in early preventive action more than in therapeutic or management measures. However, the opportunity for early action has, in many countries, been missed— at least in respect of the first wave. Working in the continent’s favour, however, are its past experiences with infectious diseases and public health emergencies.23 Also, necessity is the time-tested incubator of innovation. Thus, the prognosis for Africa does not necessarily have to be bleak.24 Africans are capitalizing on new technologies, such as 3D printing and drones, to localize and scale responses to COVID-19. South African innovators have invented the intubox (intubation box), which provides an additional layer of protection for ICU medical per- sonnel conducting and monitoring intubation procedures.25 Nigeria’s military R&D has been brought to bear on production of ventilators and PPE, using local materials.26 South African and Ugandan military and law enforcement personnel have been deployed to deliver relief supplies to the vulnerable.27 21. See International Monetary Fund, supra note 4; McKinsey & Company, supra note 19. 22. See Africa Check, “Melinda Gates Said She Feared Coronavirus in Africa Would Lead to Dead Being Put Out in Street, as in Ecuador” (20 April 2020), online: Africa Check <https://bit.ly/2YSCMBT>. 23. See Esther Yie Mokuwa et al, “Covid-19: What Africa Can Learn from Africa – Community Care Centres” (17 April 2020), online: African  Arguments <https://bit. ly/3c92c20>. 24. Ibid. 25. See “S. African Doctors Design Virus ‘Box’ to Prevent Infection”, France24 (16 April 2020), online: <https://bit.ly/3ca6IgF>. 26. See “Nigerian Military Begins Mass Production of Ventilators, PPE Kits” (21 April 2020), online: Nigerian  Investment  Promotion  Commission  <https://bit. ly/2xCNkdc>. 27. See South African Government, Media Statement, “Defence on Reserve Force Call Up to Combat Coronavirus COVID-19” (23 April 2020), online: South African Government  Newsroom  <https://bit.ly/2SF4jCU>; Shi Yinglun “Uganda Starts Food Relief Distribution Amid COVID-19 Lockdown”, Xinhuanet (4 April 2020), online: <https://bit.ly/2Ww6SbQ>.