SPOILER ALERT: There are lots of numbers below that could overwhelm you and keep you from reading on or — perhaps worse — numb you to the reality that each of these numbers actually represents a human being — many of them under five years old.
Although COVID-19 threatens the health, wellbeing and economy of Africa, it is very unlikely to be among the top 10 killers in 2020. As I write this in mid-July, there have been ~665,000 reported cases of COVID-19 in Africa and ~14,360 deaths. Contrast those numbers with the World Health Organization’s report about malaria deaths for 2018: ~380,000 Africans died of malaria with ~255,000 of the deaths among children under five years old. Does this mean COVID-19 is not a major problem for Africans? Certainly not!
|

Myth #06: COVID-19 will be among the deadliest killers in Africa
Share this story:
Related stories:
Uncharitable: The way we think about charity is dead wrong.
Last month, I attended a preview screening of the thought-provoking film Uncharitable. Based on Dan Pallotta‘s 2013 T... Read more >
How effective giving ensures charity donations make a difference
‘But I don’t know where my money will go.’ If you’ve ever not donated to charity for this reason, meet Peter Singer’s The L... Read more >
Categories:
- Agriculture and Farming
- Books
- Children
- Economic Development
- Education
- Effective Giving
- Environment
- Events
- Finding Fulfillment from Giving
- Friends and Family
- Fundraising
- Giving Games
- Giving Pledge
- Health and Infectious Diseases
- Hunger and Nutrition
- In The News
- Marketing
- Millennials
- Partnerships
- Peter Singer
- Philanthropy Education
- Refugees
- Religion
- Research and Evidence
- Setting and Achieving Giving Goals
- Social Media
- The Life You Can Save book
- Uncategorized
- Water and Sanitation
- Women and Girls
- Yearend Giving
About the author:
Charles Bresler
Co-Founder & Executive DirectorAfter earning a PhD in Social and Clinical Psychology from Clark University, Charlie became Director of Behavioral Medicine for The California School of Professional Psychology, Fresno (CSPP-F), where he was a full-time professor and founder of a teaching clinic for treating anxiety & stress disorders. He was recruited to The Men’s Wearhouse where he became head of human resources, stores, and marketing and ultimately President. He stepped down in order to fulfil his long-standing desire to work directly on social and economic issues, especially wealth inequality. In 2013, Charlie became volunteer Executive Director of The Life You Can Save, a non-profit dedicated to reducing extreme poverty and its devastating effects on over 700 million people globally. Through his financial support and leadership, Charlie has helped TLYCS’s Founder, Peter Singer, develop the organization from the ground up. Charlie lives on Bainbridge Island, Washington with his wife Diana, a family physician, who partners in supporting The Life You Can Save. He welcomes discussion and questions at charlie@thelifeyoucansave.org.