PAMJ supplements

Country experiences in response to COVID-19 in the WHO African region

The African region faced a large-scale public health crisis, with the outbreak coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As of February 16, 2022, the region recorded 7,944,049 confirmed cases with case fatality of 2.1 percent. The countries mounted and implemented several actions in response to the outbreak. Some actions entailed the use of innovative strategies in addressing transmissibility and spread of the virus, reaching the populations with vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Others were on surveillance and testing, infection prevention and control, public health and social measures as well as contact tracing, among others. The Incident Management Support Team (IMST) of the WHO AFRO further enabled the countries with evidence-driven innovations and guidelines in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This special issue of the Pan African Medical Journal documents the of the key lessons and experiences gathered from response to the COVID-19 pandemic in countries as well as the WHO AFRO IMST. The papers, written by those who were actively engaged in response to epidemics in countries, cover critical topics from preparedness and response to disease outbreaks, strengthening surveillance systems and integration as well as strengthening health workforce against pandemics. The comprehensive analysis of the success stories made in pandemic response will no doubt enhance response to future public health events within and outside the region. These articles therefore constitute a case of turning tragedy to gains.

Guest editors:

  • Joseph Okeibunor, WHO Regional Office for Africa (Congo Republic)
  • Ngoy Nsenga, WHO Regional Office for Africa (Congo Republic)
  • Ambrose Talisuna, WHO Regional Office for Africa (Congo Republic)
  • Oladele Akogun, WHO Nigeria Country Office (Nigeria)
  • Alemu Wondimagegnehu, WHO Regional Office for Africa (Congo Republic)
  • Zabulon Yoti, WHO Regional Office for Africa (Congo Republic)

Contact: Joseph Okeibunor, WHO Regional Office for Africa (okeibunorj@who.int)

Supplement booklet (PDF) not available



Table of contents


COVID-19 Response in WHO African Region: country and regional office experiences (Editorial)

Abdou Salam Gueye

Pan African Medical Journal. 29 March 2022. 41(2): 1

[PDF - 557 KB]

The first year of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in Africa: challenges and lessons learned (Research)

Balcha Masresha, Miguel Angel Sanchez Ruiz, Phionah Atuhebwe, Richard Mihigo

Pan African Medical Journal. 29 March 2022. 41(2): 2

[PDF - 661 KB]

Epidemiological progression of COVID-19 positive cases among transnational truck drivers in the East African Region (Brief)

Michela Martini, Ayomide Sina-Odunsi, Jaqueline Jael Dache, Julius Wekesa, Tasiana Mzozo

Pan African Medical Journal. 29 March 2022. 41(2): 3

[PDF - 735 KB]

Prioritization of operational research questions on COVID-19 vaccination in the African Region (Short communication)

Balcha Masresha, Ado Bwaka, Richard Mihigo

Pan African Medical Journal. 29 March 2022. 41(2): 4

[PDF - 728 KB]

COVID-19 provides an opportunity to build a resilient and equitable immunization delivery system (Opinion)

Antoinette Eleonore Ba-Nguz, Mohamed Diaaeldin Omer, Niklas Danielsson, Flint Zulu, Dereje Haile

Pan African Medical Journal. 29 March 2022. 41(2): 5

[PDF - 685 KB]

Coordinating risk communication and community engagement for a better COVID-19 response in Eastern and Southern Africa (Brief)

Charles Nelson Kakaire, Sharon Reader

Pan African Medical Journal. 29 March 2022. 41(2): 6

[PDF - 562 KB]

Continuity of essential health services in the context of COVID-19: the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional continuity of essential services sub-working group (Essay)

Trufosa Mochache, Maureen Momanyi, Ida-Marie Ameda, Fatima Gohar, Michael Ebele, Fanuel Odhiambo, Tasiana Mzozo, Hana Bekele, Mwangi Waituru, Miriam Nanyunja

Pan African Medical Journal. 29 March 2022. 41(2): 7

[PDF - 735 KB]

Progress with COVID-19 vaccination in the WHO African Region in 2021 (Research)

Balcha Masresha, Alain Poy, Goitom Weldegebriel, Selemani Mbuyita, Daniel Fussum, Ado Bwaka, Gilson Paluku, Phionah Atuhebwe, Richard Mihigo, Benido Impouma

Pan African Medical Journal. 02 May 2022. 41(2): 8

[PDF - 729 KB]

The role of emergency medical teams in Eswatini during the COVID-19 pandemic (Correspondence)

Ngoy Nsenga, Didier Bompangue, Boniface Oyugi, Cornelia Atsyor, Nomthandazo Lukhele, Flavio Salio, Timothy Das, Camila Lajolo, David Anderson, Alison Mee, Andy Kent, Velephi Nhlengetfwa Okello, Ishata Nannie Conteh, Joseph Chukwudi Okeibunor, Zabulon Yoti, Abdou Salam Gueye

Pan African Medical Journal. 02 May 2022. 41(2): 9

[PDF - 983 KB]

Risks to the delivery of essential nutrition services in Eastern and Southern Africa in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (Research)

Grainne Moloney, Marjorie Volege, Fanuel Odhiambo, Hana Bekele, Mara Nyawo, Kudakwashe Chimanya, Christiane Rudert, Adelheid Onyango

Pan African Medical Journal. 02 May 2022. 41(2): 10

[PDF - 737 KB]

Mental health and psychosocial support concerns among frontline workers within the Eastern and Southern Africa COVID-19 response (Short communication)

Ndeye Marie Diop, Ida Andersen, Brighton Gwezera, Jakob Julius Fihn, Fatima Gohar, Dorothy Morgos, Florence Baingana

Pan African Medical Journal. 11 June 2022. 41(2): 11

[PDF - 759 KB]
Supplement supported by
Volume 49 (Sep - Dec 2024)
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This supplement
Articles published in PAMJ are Open Access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).


The Pan African Medical Journal (ISSN: 1937-8688) is a subsidiary of the Pan African Medical Journal. The contents of this journal is intended exclusively for professionals in the medical, paramedical and public health and other health sectors.

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