Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 on Children’s Surgery in Africa

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The virus has now spread across the globe and is a common threat to the health of everyone. Some countries in Africa have baseline weaknesses in healthcare resource allocation, and their fragile healthcare systems may be particularly vulnerable to being overwhelmed by this illness. As resources are diverted to people sick in COVID-19, there is a risk for negative impact on surgery, including children’s surgery. 

Drawing on lessons from the past and giving recommendations for the current pandemic and future, this article explores the implications of COVID-19 on children’s surgery in Africa.