The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today launched its fourth annual ‘Goalkeepers Report’, featuring new data showing how the ripple effects of COVID-19 have stopped 20 years of progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The report “provides the most contemporary” global data set for how the pandemic is affecting progress toward the global goals, showing that, by nearly every indicator, the world has regressed.
According to a statement by the foundation, Africa has made tremendous improvements in poverty reduction with a 28 per cent decrease in the number of people living in extreme poverty since 1990. But at the end of 2020, 13m Africans are expected to fall below the poverty line in the best-case scenario, and 50m at the worst.
It said, “We could see double the number of malaria deaths this year compared to 2018, and 80m children under the age of one worldwide may be at risk from preventable diseases.
In addition, the economic damage being caused by the continent’s first recession in 25 years is reinforcing inequalities as women and other vulnerable groups are suffering disproportionally, those in low-income countries are struggling with food and school closures are unfairly disadvantaging rural children.
The foundation noted that despite tremendous constraints, African countries were innovating to meet the challenge.
It added, “The government is deploying mobile testing units in South Africa, the private sector is raising money to bolster resources in Nigeria, and new and improved cash transfers are reaching millions in West Africa.
“In Senegal, scientists are developing cutting-edge, low-cost ventilators, and public-private partnerships are bringing internet connectivity to rural and remote communities in Kenya.”
African Union Special Envoy, Strive Masiyiwa, in collaboration with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, launched the African Medical Supplies Platform in June to ensure that countries on the continent have access to affordable, high-quality, life-saving equipment and supplies, many of which are manufactured in Africa.
“The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us some of the best of humanity: pathbreaking innovation, heroic acts by frontline workers, and ordinary people doing the best they can for their families, neighbors, and communities,” Bill and Melinda Gates said.
“This is a shared global crisis that demands a shared global response.”
In the report, which Bill and Melinda Gates co-author every year, they called on the world to collaborate on the development of diagnostics, vaccines, and treatment; manufacture tests and doses as quickly as possible; and deliver these tools equitably based on need, rather than the ability to pay.
The report made it clear that no single country would be able to meet the challenge alone. Any attempts by one country to protect itself while neglecting others will only prolong the hardships caused by the pandemic.
According to modelling from Northeastern University, if rich countries buy up the first two billion doses of the vaccine instead of making sure they are distributed equitably, then almost twice as many people could die from COVID-19.
“All people deserve the chance to live a healthy and productive life and while progress in Africa is possible, it is not inevitable. An equitable outcome is needed to end the virus and ensure that reversals in development do not become permanent,” said Cheikh Oumar Seydi, Africa Director for the foundation.
“We need strong global collaboration with leaders in government and the private sector to ensure that everyone can access safe, effective coronavirus treatment, leaving no one behind.”
