This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
Published on July 5, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta has commended Africa's concerted response to COVID-19, saying measures implemented by African countries are helping slow down the spread of the virus.
Speaking during a webinar on post-COVID-19 reconstruction organized by the African chapter of the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP-Africa), President Kenyatta noted that despite limited resources, the continent had rolled out proactive measures that were helping save lives.
"Africa has responded to COVID-19 much better than most other parts of the world, particularly when you consider its relatively weaker resource base," the President said.
He cited the example of Kenya, where religious leaders are playing a key role in containing the spread of COVID-19, and emphasized the importance of peer learning, data-driven decision-making, pragmatism, and regular and transparent communication in the fight against the pandemic.
President Kenyatta also warned against complacency, saying the pandemic is likely to get worse in the coming months, and urged African leaders to continue working together with the support of partners to craft interventions that enhance the resilience of the continent's vulnerable populations.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan congratulated the African Union for its leadership in the fight against COVID-19, while Dr. Catherine Samba-Panzi, a former President of the Central African Republic, emphasized the need to give more prominence to women in the response to the pandemic.
