Morocco’s COVID-19 Response Hailed as Model for Africa and Beyond

"Africa has so far been relatively spared by the pandemic. But concerns are now growing about the ability of African states to cope with an unprecedented dual health and economic crisis on the continent. [...]. However, we should not underestimate the responsiveness and innovative capacity of some actors on the continent. This is the case, for example, of Morocco," says Jean-Thomas Lesueur, general delegate of the Thomas More Institute, in a free tribune published by Le Point.

"Admittedly, the country is much more developed than the sub-Saharan states, but the keys to its success are not just a matter of means. Rabat has been responsive and has shown a proactive and innovative approach: all attitudes that can be replicated elsewhere," he affirms, adding that Morocco has leveraged its human, financial, technological and industrial assets.

Two actions have caught the author’s attention: the fact of having integrated chloroquine into hospital care protocols, by requisitioning the local production of the Sanofi plant, and the mandatory wearing of masks. According to the general delegate of the Thomas More Institute, Morocco has the merit of having thought about the economic and social aspects by creating, on the instructions of King Mohammed VI, a special covid-19 fund.

"Intended to ensure economic recovery through a deferral of charges, guarantees and loan extensions, as well as financial support for individuals up to 75% of the minimum wage, this fund was initially to be endowed with one billion euros. This amount has quickly been exceeded after a multiplication of donations from private and institutional actors and could reach 3% of GDP, placing the Moroccan recovery in the same order of magnitude as the European plans," he says.