The COVID-19 pandemic is significantly impacting economies, social cohesion and health systems of African Countries. The effects of the pandemic, if not efficiently and effectively addressed, will have an adverse impact on the realisation of continental goals set in the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, the Sustainable Development Goals and other developmental goals and targets at the continental, regional and national level.
In February 2020, the AU Member States adopted a strategy that aims to prevent severe illness and death from COVID-19 infection and to minimize social disruption and economic consequences of COVID-19 outbreak. The AU has so far established a Coronavirus fund with commitments to-date totalling USD20 million. At the national level, most African countries have implemented lockdowns, testing (of suspected cases) and contact tracing.
On the 4th of April 2020, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) published a White Paper on AUDA-NEPAD Response to COVID-19 and other epidemics. The Paper features five key priorities with an aim of strengthening: health systems; food systems; skills development and employment; education; and national planning and data systems.
As part of AUDA-NEPAD’s While Paper, particular focus has been placed on occupational safety and health (OSH) for both frontline health care workers and the working population at large. It is evident that the impact of COVID-19 on the working population is significant, especially the working population that have high exposure risks due to the nature of their work. This cohort includes healthcare workers, laboratory workers, border management teams, those in the food supply, logistics and public transportation industry, death-care workers, and waste management workers, amongst others. Similarly, the pandemic has posed significant risks to other workers, inter alia, increased absenteeism; loss of wages and jobs; loss of manhours and productivity; increase in medical costs in the face of limited medical insurance cover and social protection; changes in the way of doing business; and interruption of supply chains.
There is, therefore, need for a coordinated response by the AU Member States to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on the working population. Such efforts will, amongst others, promote the efficient and effective deployment of expert support thereby making available technical support and evidence-based guidance and advice on occupational safety and health needs within the realm of AU’s COVID-19 response Plan. It is with the foregoing that AUDA-NEPAD in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the International Labour organisation and other partners have developed the COVID-19/OSH Guidelines for Specific Workplaces. The guidelines covering thematic areas such as Occupational Safety, Health and Wellness of Health Workers and Clinical Occupation Health, serve as key technical reference instruments for all stakeholders, including national and sub-national governments, regional bodies, civil society, academia and development partners, to work in a coordinated and coherent manner in addressing occupational safety and health at workplaces in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is our sincere hope that the values and imperatives that are framed in the guidelines will inspire all of us to promote occupational safety and health at workplaces as part of the concerted efforts to fight against the effects of the global pandemic and advance the Continent’s development agenda encapsulated in Agenda 2063.
Volume 1: AU COVID-19 / OSH Guidelines Series: Workplace Sector Specific Risk Assessment
Volume 2: AU COVID-19 / OSH Guidelines Series: Mining and Industries
Volume 3: AU COVID-19 / OSH Guidelines Series: Health and Wellness of Health Workers
Volume 4: AU COVID-19 / OSH Guidelines Series: Education Sector
Volume 5: AU COVID-19 / OSH Guidelines Series: Food and Retail Sector
Volume 6: AU COVID-19 / OSH Guidelines Series: Clinical Occupational Health
