Algeria is preparing for the 4th wave Covid-19 with a plan with unprecedented measures, in a context of a slight increase in infections, with an average of 200 positive cases per day.
This plan was at the heart of the videoconference meeting held on Monday, December 13 between the Minister of Health Abderrahmane Benbouzid and the directors of the health of the wilayas (DSP).
It was triggered following the increase in the number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients, which exceeded 2,800 on Monday, December 13. The new Algerian strategy revolves around major axes: hospitals dedicated to Covid patients, ensuring the availability of oxygen, and acceleration of the vaccination campaign.
Hospitals dedicated to Covid patients
The first is the establishment of hospitals and hospital services exclusively dedicated to Covid-19 patients. A first in Algeria. “Currently, the health situation is stationary,” reassures Professor Benbouzid in an interview with TSA at the end of the meeting. “We want to avoid the scenario of 3 E wave where we had a significant increase in the number of patients infected with Covid-19,” he added.
To avoid the reproduction of the scenario of last summer when Algeria was taken aback by the exceptional increase in contamination, with an average of 400 hospitalizations per day, Professor Benbouzid is in anticipation.
“I asked the DSPs to set up, for each wilaya, a Covid hospital, dedicated only to infected patients. Then a 2 e and 3 e in case of necessity, “says Prof. Benbouzid who instructed the health directors,” not to divide “the Covid-19 patients on hospital services.
“We have decided to centralize patients in dedicated structures to optimize resources”, supports Professor Benbouzid. The Minister advocates firmness in the event of resistance from caregivers to deploy this new anti-4th wave plan. “We do not want 4th wave,” he insists.
Oxygen availability
The second axis of the anti-plane 4th wave of Prof. Benbouzid is the availability of oxygen, a product that has been lacking in the 3rd wave that hit hard in Algeria last summer.
Drawing lessons from the previous wave, the Minister of Health asked the DSPs to ensure that everything works well in anticipation of a possible increase in the number of oxygen-dependent patients.
“For the moment, he has no oxygen problem, which was insufficiently produced last summer, but it may arise tomorrow. I have asked that all devices be checked and prepared. The oxygen tanks must be filled, and if necessary, the oxygen generators must be used, ”he explains.
Relaunch of the vaccination campaign
In addition to the mobilization of troops in preparation for the 4 th wave is gradually in the country with the increase in the number of inpatients who met in 2813, Prof. Benbouzid asked the DSP to accelerate the vaccination campaign against the Covid- 19.
He asked those in charge of his sector to invest heavily in the field. “For example, we must target mosques, be offensive to reach the entire population,” explains Prof. Benbouzid, who deplores the reluctance of Algerians to be vaccinated.
“People refuse the vaccine. Yet we have launched many awareness campaigns, ”he adds, stressing that the vaccination rate is only 27% nationally.
Supposed to be the locomotive of the vaccination campaign, caregivers do not set an example and do not rush to get vaccinated. The vaccination rate in the health body is 31%, according to the minister. Among students, vaccination is still in its infancy, with a rickets rate of 2%. Teachers also shun the vaccine (rate of 27%).
