Containing COVID-19 and the social costs on human rights in African countries
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
Abstract
Multiple social interventions were introduced to contain the COVID-19 pandemic across
Africa, limiting social engagement, school and workplace attendance, and travel. In anticipation
of negative economic consequences and social impact, many governments introduced
cash transfers, social pensions, food aid, and utility and tax waivers. However, people living
precariously and/or under conditions of structural vulnerability were often unable to access
to this support. A rapid review was undertaken on COVID-19 and the effects of interventions
on human rights in African countries, examining primary studies, editorial notes, opinion
papers, and literature reviews, with focus on qualitative approaches and discussions. In
examining the links between health, human rights and non-pharmaceutical interventions on
vulnerable populations, the review identified that: (1) people who were vulnerable were
excluded from or not adequately represented in policy responses to COVID-19; (2) the
precarious socio-economic conditions of these populations were not adequately addressed
by dominant policy responses; and (3) only partial support was offered to those whose
relationship with the state was ambiguous or conditional, so compromising human rights.
Interactions between health, human rights, and underlying social and economic conditions
amplified poor health and impoverishment of those who were already vulnerable. The
challenge is to find a balance between stopping the spread of COVID-19 and the protection of
human rights; to implement population-specific responses to supplement uniform public
health responses; and to address causes (structural vulnerability) rather than symptoms.
There is a need to plan rather than react to pandemics, and to co-construct interventions with
rather than delivering instructions to populations. These recommendations serve as instruments
to be considered when designing new policies, to incorporate a human rights perspective
in responses to current and future pandemics.
Description
Keywords
COVID-19, Social costs, Human rights
Citation
Manderson, L., Chavarro, D., Kaunda-Khangamwa, B., Kagaha, A., & Zakumumpa, H. (2022). Containing COVID-19 and the social costs on human rights in African countries. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 9(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01357-4