The latest official death toll attributed to the disease, updated regularly by the WHO, is 6.9 million people. But many countries did not provide reliable data. The institution therefore estimates that the Covid-19 pandemic has actually caused nearly 20 million deaths, either directly or due to disruptions in health services or changes in care-seeking behavior.
These are years of life lost: 336.8 million in 2020-2021. ” It’s like losing 22 years of life for each excess death Samira Asma, the WHO’s deputy chief for data and analysis, told reporters.
” Significant inequalities »
The potential years of life lost (PYLL) is an indicator of premature mortality which makes it possible to statistically measure the number of years of life lost following a death considered premature. In this case, the 2023 WHO report is based on data available in 2022.
He also points out ” significant inequalities” which implies “the distribution of Covid-19 cases and deaths, as well as access to vaccinations “. The mortality rate shows in particular that the pandemic has disproportionately affected the age group of 45 years and over. Another inequality, in all countries, vaccination was higher among the most educated populations.
Reversal of the trend for malaria and tuberculosis
The WHO reports that the pandemic has contributed to derailing many health-related indicators that had been improving for years in maternal and child health, for example, with deaths falling significantly according to the report. The incidence of infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria has also decreased significantly, as has the risk of premature death from non-communicable diseases. But the outbreak of the health crisis linked to Covid-19 has deepened existing inequalities, reversing among other things the positive trend for malaria and tuberculosis.
(With AFP)
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