World Health Organization response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa

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On 5 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) notified the world about "pneumonia of unknown cause" in China and subsequently followed up with investigating the disease. On 20 January, the WHO confirmed human-to-human transmission of the disease. On 30 January, the WHO declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and warned all countries to prepare. On 11 March, the WHO said that the outbreak constituted a pandemic. By 5 October the same year, the WHO estimated that a tenth of the world's population had been infected with the novel virus.[ citation needed ]

The WHO has spearheaded several initiatives like the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund to raise money for the pandemic response, the UN COVID-19 Supply Chain Task Force, and the solidarity trial for investigating potential treatment options for the disease.[ citation needed ]

In responding to the outbreak, the WHO has had to deal with political conflicts between member states, in particular between the United States and China. [1] [2] On May 19, the WHO agreed to an independent investigation into its handling of the pandemic. On August 27, the WHO announced the setting up of an independent expert Review Committee to examine aspects of the international treaty that governs preparedness and response to health emergencies.[ citation needed ]

Timeline

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">National responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in Ghana</span>

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The following is a timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana from August 2020 to December 2020.

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