Africa's weak health systems face escalating virus peril

Equipment shortages, scarce beds and poorly-paid doctors and nurses: Africa is finding that it has few means to protect itself as a feared coronavirus tsunami looms.

Earth's poorest continent has so far confirmed around 1,800 cases and 57 deaths -- a tally that is low compared with Europe, the Middle East and Asia, but is now ratcheting up quickly as testing remains patchy.

In Nigeria, the region's most populous country, doctors complain that years of underfunding and neglect have debilitated the health system.

"No country is really prepared for this -- even countries with very developed healthcare systems are crying out for help," Yusuf Tanko Sununu, the head of the health committee in Nigeria's lower house of parliament, told AFP.

"In a low-resource country like ours, the healthcare system is already facing serious problems."
"We are doing our own background work and getting ready."
"But many regional hospitals have been undergoing refurbishment since 2019 and aren't set to open until 2021."