Seite - 550 - in VULNERABLE - The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19

VULNERABLE550 In several nations, including Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya, local fabric and garment industries have been repurposed to mass produce face masks.28 Ghana is using drones to transport test samples from hinterland areas to the main cities for analysis.29 Drawing from expe- rience in fighting Dengue fever and Ebola, a Senegalese laboratory is producing a COVID-19 diagnostic testing kit at the cost of approxi- mately US$1,30 giving the country the capacity to test every citizen and to support other countries. Senegalese innovators are also using 3D printing to produce ventilators at cost of US$60, while imported ven- tilators cost roughly US$16,000.31 As of early May 2020, Senegal was believed to have the highest rate of recovery of COVID-19 patients in Africa, and to have the third-best rate globally.32 While Madagascar’s Artemisia-based tea, being hastily marketed as a “cure” by the gov- ernment under the name Covid-Organics, is the subject of scientific skepticism33 and requiring prudence, it nonetheless draws atten- tion to the potential role of Africa’s genetic resources and traditional knowledge in COVID-19-related R&D.34 Many African countries are demonstrating commitment to the search for credible and affordable solutions via both traditional knowledge and cutting-edge R&D.35 Africans are striving to take their destinies into their own hands in attacking COVID-19. But time is in short supply. Social and Economic Reliefs for Individuals and Businesses Governments the world over have implemented an extensive range of COVID-19 social and economic palliative measures. In developed 28. See Oluwadamilare Akinpelu “COVID-19: Entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya Begin Mass Surgical Mask Production”, Technext (9 April 2020), online: <https://bit.ly/2yCjlm6>. 29. Alex Davies “Drones Take Flight to Carry Covid-19 Tests to Labs in Africa”, Wired (22 April 2020), online <https://bit.ly/2SX9zlB>. 30. Nigel Roberts “Senegalese Lab Uses Expertise to Develop $1 Coronavirus Testing Kit”, BET (4 April 2020), online: <https://bet.us/35EHnZZ>. 31. Ibid. 32. Ibid. 33. See “Coronavirus: Caution Urged over Madagascar’s ‘Herbal Cure’”, BBC News (22 April 2020), online: <https://bbc.in/2SHaJS1>. 34. After initial reluctance, the WHO has endorsed a clinical trial of Covid-Organic with a promise to collaborate. See Felix Thi “WHO Calls for Clinic Trial of Madagascar’s Virus Cure”, Anadolu  Agency  (7 May 2020), online: <https://bit. ly/2ywcdIe>. 35. See “Ewu Monastery Develops CVD Plus for the Treatment of COVID-19”, RealNews  Magazine (30 April 2020), online: <https://bit.ly/3ftIO1J>.