The Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine and Wits University Press hosted a webinar to investigate the important question: ARE WE COPING WITH COVID-19 IN SOUTH AFRICA AND AFRICA?
A panel of medical experts discussed current management protocols and the impact of Covid-19 in South Africa and other parts of Africa on 11 June 2020.
Prof Pravin Manga - Emeritus Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Editor in Chief of the Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine introduced the speakers.
Topics included controversies surrounding diagnostic testing, taking into account the principles, application and interpretation thereof by Dr Warren Lowman - Pathologist, Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Another key point of discussion by Dr Dwomoa Adu - Consultant Nephrologist and Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana was the management of COVID-19 in Ghana, the projections of COVID-19 spread in Ghana and the rest of Africa, and whether African healthcare systems can cope.
Staff and unit preparations for COVID; Occupational Health and Safety issues; staff isolation, testing and precautions was led by Professor Feroza Motara - Academic HOD Emergency Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; Head – Emergency Medicine Unit, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital; Cluster Head - Gauteng Emergency Medicine.
Up-to-date evidence for various treatment options and current research trends was presented as well as Behavioural science initiatives during and after COVID-19 by Emeritus Professor Guy Richards - Emeritus Professor of Critical Care, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and Professor Mark Tomlinson - Co-Director Institute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University respectively.
The Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine is a peer-reviewed, Open Access scientific research journal published tri-annually by Wits University Press in Johannesburg. The journal was established to provide a forum to showcase scientific research from the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, as well as from other institutions nationally and internationally. Submissions are welcomed and the journal has a particular focus to encourage clinical and translational research especially from new academics, including students, fellows and junior consultants.