Benin s Achievement in the Fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic
Format
The World Bank is helping the Government of Benin in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the country’s response to public health emergencies. As a result, 13 functional laboratories are operating successfully where none existed before. In addition, 89 screening centers have been equipped, five treatment centers established, and free testing and treatment of patients available as of April 2021. More than 581,843 persons have been tested and more than 7,510 patients treated. These achievements have encouraged the faster resumption of economic activities.
Challenge
Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, the assessments of Benin’s health system revealed that the country lacks a robust surveillance system capable of monitoring common diseases. It also lacked the ability to timely trigger alarms to contain disease outbreaks or to rapidly detect and investigate abnormal clustering o
Benin s Achievement in the Fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic
Challenge
Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, the assessments of Benin s health system revealed that the country lacks a robust surveillance system capable of monitoring common diseases. It also lacked the ability to timely trigger alarms to contain disease outbreaks or to rapidly detect and investigate abnormal clustering of cases of illness or death. Key weaknesses include the lack of a qualified and motivated health workforce; insufficient equipment and infrastructure for effective preparedness and response at each level of the health pyramid; and poorly functioning community-based surveillance. Insufficient laboratory infrastructure, equipment and reagents for timely and quality diagnosis was of particular concern. At the outset of the pandemic, COVID-19 test results were confirmed in Senegal, and patients had to wait at least three days to receive their results. The various information s
Why investing in women and girls matters now more than ever
Before COVID-19 struck in Mali, 9-year old Ami was in second grade in school in Bamako. With the pandemic, schools closed, and Ami and her 7-year-old sister, Awa, stayed home doing household chores. Schools have since reopened, but teachers are on strike. There is a real risk that neither girls will go back to school, but may, instead remain at home till they get married, just like their older sister did. For many countries including Mali, completing school for girls is not a priority.
Evidence shows that investing in women s and girls education, health and economic opportunities is essential to accelerate Sub-Saharan Africa s demographic transition, a central tenet of moving the human capital agenda forward and spurring sustainable economic growth.
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