Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire
  • omnibus

WHO Stands with African Nations and Calls for Borders to Remain Open
World Health Organization
01 Dec 2021
WHO Stands with African Nations and Calls for Borders to Remain Open
COVAX vaccination in Ghana -WHO / Blink Media - Photographer - Nana Kofi Acquah

Scientists in Southern African nations revealed the presence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant but the good deed was punished with worldwide travel bans. The World Health Organization makes clear that the rationale for the ban is of dubious benefit and needlessly harms the targeted nations. The role of rich nations in hoarding vaccines and the continued patents on vaccines increase harm for Africans who are now the target of blame. Pledges to "follow the science" disappeared when Africa became the focus of attention.

This statement originally appeared on the World Health Organization website.

As a growing number of countries impose flight bans on southern African nations due to concerns over the new Omicron variant, World Health Organization (WHO) urges countries to follow science and the International Health Regulations (2005).

Travel restrictions may play a role in slightly reducing the spread of COVID-19 but place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods. If restrictions are implemented, they should not be unnecessarily invasive or intrusive, and should be scientifically based, according to the International Health Regulations which is a legally binding instrument of international law recognized by over 190 nations. This week, nations will be joining a special session of the World Health Assembly, organized by WHO to discuss how to collectively prepare and respond better to pandemics, building on their commitments to the International Health Regulations.

South Africa followed International Health Regulations and as soon as its national laboratory identified the Omicron variant informed WHO of this on the 24 November.

“The speed and transparency of the South African and Botswana governments in informing the world of the new variant is to be commended. WHO stands with African countries which had the courage to boldly share life-saving public health information, helping protect the world against the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “On the eve of a special session on pandemic preparedness I urge all countries to respect their legal obligations and implement scientifically based public health actions. It is critical that countries which are open with their data are supported as this is the only way to ensure we receive important data in a timely manner.”

While investigations continue into the Omicron variant, WHO recommends countries to take a risk-based and scientific approach and put in place measures which can limit its possible spread. Flight bans have been imposed on southern African countries, but so far only two have detected the new variant. Meanwhile countries in other regions have reported cases of Omicron.

“With the Omicron variant now detected in several regions of the world, putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity. COVID-19 constantly exploits our divisions. We will only get the better of the virus if we work together for solutions,” said Dr Moeti.

WHO is scaling up support to genomic sequencing in Africa. Sequencing laboratories should have access to adequate human resources and testing reagents to work at full capacity. WHO is ready to support the additional human resource needs as well as mobilize funds and technical expertise to reinforce COVID-19 response activities including surveillance, treatment and infection prevention and community engagement  in southern African countries. In addition, WHO is reaching out to all countries in the Region to ensure they receive necessary resources to detect and prepare for potential cases of Omicron.

WHO is urging countries to take key steps to enhance efforts to track the Omicron variant, including ensuring their PCR testing equipment can detect it, increasing their sampling and sequencing of COVID-19 test samples by at least double to 150 samples a week from the current average of 75, and review past sequencing samples for potential signs of Omicron.

In September 2020, WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention launched network of 12 laboratories to reinforce genome sequencing of the virus. Genomic surveillance has advanced significantly since the start of 2021, with the continent recording a five-fold increase in the number of genomes sequenced.

World Health Organization
Blacks COVID-19
Covid

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles. Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


Related Stories

Abayomi Azikiwe, Black Agenda Report Contributor
Africa at the Center of Another Global Health Emergency
28 August 2024
EVD, COVID-19 and now Mpox further reveal how dependency is dangerous and deadly.
 BAR Book Forum: Nanjala Nyabola’s Book, “Strange and Difficult Times”
Roberto Sirvent, BAR Book Forum Editor
BAR Book Forum: Nanjala Nyabola’s Book, “Strange and Difficult Times”
22 March 2023
In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book.
Life Expectancy: The US and Cuba in the Time of Covid
Don Fitz
Life Expectancy: The US and Cuba in the Time of Covid
21 September 2022
The profitmaking health care system in the U.S. does not correlate with good outcomes. Socialist Cuba struggles under U.S.
The Battle Against COVID-19 in Shanghai: A Human Rights Disaster?
Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
The Battle Against COVID-19 in Shanghai: A Human Rights Disaster?
20 April 2022
China's "zero covid" strategy prevented the large number of deaths seen in the United States.
Cuba Defeats Covid-19 with Learning, Science, and Unity
W.T. Whitney
Cuba Defeats Covid-19 with Learning, Science, and Unity
04 January 2022
Despite U.S.
The Responsibility to Protect? Bipartisan Crimes Against Humanity in the U.S.
​​​​​​​ Ajamu Baraka, BAR editor and columnist
The Responsibility to Protect? Bipartisan Crimes Against Humanity in the U.S.
24 June 2020
The US committed crimes against humanity by creating the conditions that led to sickness and death for vulnerable sectors of the U.S.

More Stories


  • BAR Radio Logo
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio May 30, 2025
    30 May 2025
    In this week’s segment we talk about jails and prisons in New York City and State and the end of city control of the infamous Rikers Island jail. But first a Washington DC activist analyzes how the…
  • Democratic party where are you
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Afeni on Fighting the Bipartisan Fascist Consensus
    30 May 2025
    Afeni is an activist and lead organizer with Herb and Temple in Washington, DC. She joins us from Oakland to discuss politics in the U.S. and how the people can fight the fascism produced by the…
  • Rikers protest
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Eric Adams Loses Control of Rikers Island to Federal Receivership
    30 May 2025
    Our guest is Melanie Dominguez, Organizing Director, New York with the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice. She joins us from New York City to discuss the federal takeover of Rikers Island…
  • Margaret Kimberley, BAR Executive Editor and Senior Columnist
    Charles Rangel and the End of Black Politics
    28 May 2025
    The late Charles Rangel served as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus for more than 40 years. But the goals of Black politics and electoral politics are not necessarily the same.
  • Editors, The Black Agenda Review
    ESSAY: The Intellectual Origins of Imperialism and Zionism, Edward Said, 1977
    28 May 2025
    “In theory and in practice, then, Zionism is a degraded repetition of European imperialism.”
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us