China in better position to help Kenya defeat Covid-19

The epicenter for Covid-19 disease has shifted. The World Health Organization has confirmed that Europe now accounts for more new infections and deaths as a result of the novel coronavirus. Italy is particularly hard hit with over 15, 000 confirmed cases. More vulnerable economies around the world continue to register cases of Covid-19. In Africa, for example, the virus has already gripped 33 countries with hundreds confirmed sick. The situation is only projected to exacerbate as WHO decries lack of political will from various capitals to contain the disease.

In China, where the disease was first reported, efforts to contain the virus has largely paid off. Two largest makeshift hospitals dedicated to treatment of COVID-19 patients in the city of Wuhan have been shut down. New infections have fallen to single digits while thousands of patients are discharged daily after recovering from the disease.

These developments have led Beijing to ease production restrictions on a number of industries whose utility touches the whole world. Key sectors where companies have resumed production include epidemic prevention, global industrial chains, public utilities and food industries. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology indicates that 90 percent of the large enterprises within leading industrial zones, have resumed production.

As Covid-19 takes a foothold across the globe, there have been disruptions in several global value chains leading to shortages of prescription drugs; even as majority of active ingredients in medicine used in the world are mainly sourced from China.

Equally, critical medical equipment such as respirators and surgical masks that are needed by health workers as they confront the Covid-19 pandemic, are also sourced from China. Supply of these life-saving tools have dwindled and hopes of many countries now rests with China for supplies.

The resumption of industrial activity in China has also fueled optimism for better days around the world, given that China is the second largest economy and a veritable source of virtually all conceivable industrial products.

While China still has its own domestic need to get rid of Covid-19, much of the world looks upon it to share its industrial outputs of drugs, and other medical equipment. It is now a matter of public service; and not merely a business opportunity.

Secondly, it has become evident that Beijing is increasingly dealing with imported cases of Covid-19. Sovereignty has little meaning to viruses. As the pandemic rears its ugly head in other parts of the world, it behooves China to play a part in its management and eventual elimination.

China has already shown its propensity to stand with other countries during the gloomy moments. Beijing has made donations of medical supplies to a number of states including Italy, Japan, South Korea, Iran and Philippines.

There is also an opportunity for China to play a leadership role as the world grapples with the pandemic. WHO has already complained about limited synergy by different actors in responding to Covid-19 disease. There is a leadership lacuna with regards to global health governance. China can leverage its experience, expertise and resources to inject some impetus to global consensus on the disease.

Beyond the medical realm, industrial reactivation in China will also ameliorate dearth of essential products spanning electronics, motor, agricultural, cosmetics and household products.

In Kenya, which has just registered the first seven cases of Covid-19, consumers are staring at price hikes up to 300 percent, following reduced imports from China. 

The small businesses that employ up to 80 percent of Kenyans have to contend with potential closer; threatening livelihoods of millions of struggling families. Hopefully, access to industrial products from China will keep the economies such as Kenya going.

Beijing has for centuries advanced the idea of shared prosperity for humankind. Such a notion should manifest during good as well as bad times. As a global power, China must stand up and provide the requisite leadership that the world badly needs right now. It must galvanize international response to beat COVID-19, among other challenges.

Mr Cavince is Kenyan PhD Student of International Relations.