Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19): Potential implications for weak health systems and conflict zones in the Middle East and North Africa region

This short communication recognizes the underbelly of weak and conflict‐prone health systems in the Middle East and North Africa region in the wake of COVID‐19 pandemic. The communication highlights how the lack of basic resources, absence of a well‐functioning health system and the dearth of well‐c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal of health planning and management 2020-09, Vol.35 (5), p.1240-1245
Main Authors: Da'ar, Omar B., Haji, Mohamed, Jradi, Hoda
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa, Northern - epidemiology
Armed Conflicts
Betacoronavirus
Communication
conflict zones
Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control
Coronavirus Infections - therapy
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID‐19 implications
Delivery of Health Care - organization & administration
Developed countries
Developing Countries
Health care
Humans
International collaboration
Middle East - epidemiology
Pandemics
Pandemics - prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral - therapy
Prone
Risk Factors
SARS-CoV-2
Short Communication
Short Communications
Socioeconomic Factors
Viral diseases
Weak health systems
WHO MENA region
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Summary:This short communication recognizes the underbelly of weak and conflict‐prone health systems in the Middle East and North Africa region in the wake of COVID‐19 pandemic. The communication highlights how the lack of basic resources, absence of a well‐functioning health system and the dearth of well‐coordinated communication channels, can bode ill for the successful fight against COVID‐19. The article elucidates COVID‐19 potential health, social, and economic implications for such countries. The communication cautions that if COVID‐19 is left to incubate and makes a home in weak systems, it will have a much better chance of mutating and coming back to infect many people globally. The communication calls on the international institutions in collaboration with developed nations to be prepared to probe up health systems in weak and conflict‐prone health systems with much‐needed resources in order to nip COVID‐19 in the bud.
ISSN:0749-6753
1099-1751
DOI:10.1002/hpm.2982