SWITCHING ON COMMUNITIES TO DEFEAT COVID-19

Communities will be in charge of their destiny as the first line of defense against epidemics and take care of their health within Integrated People Centered Primary Health Care that "leaves no one behind".

The challenge and opportunity presented by COVID – 19 should be used to activate and institutionalize this approach so that after the current crisis it becomes the routine component of the public health system that puts priority on health promotion and disease prevention. Indeed the Whole of Society Approach goes beyond outbreak control and can also ensure that mothers attend ante natal clinics, children are immunized, the nearest health facility has required personnel and supplies, the referral system is in place, the correct food crops are grown and stored properly, all children are going to school, the rural road network is maintained, the water sources are safe and law and order is enforced etc.

This Whole of Society Approach can be rolled out immediately and quickly in most countries once the African Heads State and Governments call for them and assign roles in the same way that they have demonstrated unparalleled leadership by taking charge and issuing various directives on COVID -19 control across the continent.

Let us mobilize all people to delay that day when microorganisms will prevail over humans.

What do you all think?